BIBLE STUDY-33

 

Peace Methodist Church 2022. 1. 2.

 

God’s Providence

 

 

◎ Ecclesiastes 3:1~14 (ESV)

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted...

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;

13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil - this is God’s gift to man.

14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

 

◎ Explanatory Notes

CEB – Although he believe there must be an appropriate time for anything and everything under the heavens(vv. 1~8), the Teacher says mortals are not privy to this information(v. 11). Instead of working hard to try to change what God has done(vv. 9, 14), we should be happy and enjoy ourselves by eating, drinking, and taking pleasure in our work(vv. 12~13).

 

Verse 1

a season - A certain time appointed by God for its being and continuance, which no human wit or providence can alter. And by virtue of this appointment of God, all vicissitudes which happen in the world, whether comforts or calamities, come to pass. Which is here added to prove the principal proposition, That all things below are vain, and happiness is not to be found in them, because of their great uncertainty, and mutability, and transitoriness, and because they are so much out of the reach and power of men, and wholly in the disposal of God. (Wesley)

 

Verse 2

a time to die - As there is a time to die, so there is a time to rise again, a set time when they that lie in the grave shall be remembered. (Wesley)

 

Verse 11

he has put eternity into man’s heart – God has given man an eternal perspective so that he can look beyond the routine of life. Nevertheless, God has not revealed all of life’s mysteries to man. (NAS)

 

Verse 12

there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good... - Since God has so disposed the affairs of this world, that the great events of providence cannot be accelerated or retarded by human cares and anxieties, submit to God make a proper use of what he has given: do thyself no harm, and endeavor as much as possible to do others good. (Adam Clarke)

 

Verse 13

this is God’s gift to man - Men should enjoy thankfully the gifts of God. (Adam Clarke)

 

Verse 14

What God does is for ever - All God’s counsels or decrees are eternal and unchangeable. (Wesley)

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

 

God has done it, so that people fear before him - “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” (Psalm 14:2 NKJV)

“There they are in great fear, for God is with the generation of the righteous.” (Psalm 14:5 NKJV)

 

◎ Summary

[A] There is a time to be born and to die.(2)

[B] What we will see last only a short time.(11)

[C] Rejoice and do good.(12)

[D] What belongs to God is eternal.(14)