Ecclesiastes 3

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 .

Earthly pursuits are no doubt lawful in their proper time and order ( Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ), but unprofitable when out of time and place; as for instance, when pursued as the solid and chief good ( Ecclesiastes 3:9 Ecclesiastes 3:10 ); whereas God makes everything beautiful in its season, which man obscurely comprehends ( Ecclesiastes 3:11 ). God allows man to enjoy moderately and virtuously His earthly gifts ( Ecclesiastes 3:12 Ecclesiastes 3:13 ). What consoles us amidst the instability of earthly blessings is, God's counsels are immutable ( Ecclesiastes 3:14 ).

1. Man has his appointed cycle of seasons and vicissitudes, as the sun, wind, and water ( Ecclesiastes 1:5-7 ).
purpose--as there is a fixed "season" in God's "purposes" (for example, He has fixed the "time" when man is "to be born," and "to die," Ecclesiastes 3:2 ), so there is a lawful "time" for man to carry out his "purposes" and inclinations. God does not condemn, but approves of, the use of earthly blessings ( Ecclesiastes 3:12 ); it is the abuse that He condemns, the making them the chief end ( 1 Corinthians 7:31 ). The earth, without human desires, love, taste, joy, sorrow, would be a dreary waste, without water; but, on the other hand, the misplacing and excess of them, as of a flood, need control. Reason and revelation are given to control them.

2. time to die--( Psalms 31:15 , Hebrews 9:27 ).
plant--A man can no more reverse the times and order of "planting," and of "digging up," and transplanting, than he can alter the times fixed for his "birth" and "death." To try to "plant" out of season is vanity, however good in season; so to make earthly things the chief end is vanity, however good they be in order and season. GILL takes it, not so well, figuratively ( Jeremiah 18:7 Jeremiah 18:9 , Amos 9:15 , Matthew 15:13 ).

3. time to kill--namely, judicially, criminals; or, in wars of self-defense; not in malice. Out of this time and order, killing is murder.
to heal--God has His times for "healing" (literally, Isaiah 38:5 Isaiah 38:21 ; figuratively, Deuteronomy 32:39 , Hosea 6:1 ; spiritually, Psalms 147:3 , Isaiah 57:19 ). To heal spiritually, before the sinner feels his wound, would be "out of time," and so injurious.
time to break down--cities, as Jerusalem, by Nebuchadnezzar.
build up--as Jerusalem, in the time of Zerubbabel; spiritually ( Amos 9:11 ), "the set time" ( Psalms 102:13-16 ).

4. mourn--namely, for the dead ( Genesis 23:2 ).
dance--as David before the ark ( 2 Samuel 6:12-14 , Psalms 30:11 ); spiritually ( Matthew 9:15 , Luke 6:21 , 15:25 ). The Pharisees, by requiring sadness out of time, erred seriously.