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ECCLESIASTES – LESSON THREE

I. THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE (Chapter 3)

A. Antithetical events in life occur in their time (3:1-8)

1. Time to be born – die

2. Time to plant – pluck up

3. Time to kill – heal

4. Time to break down – build up

5. Time to weep – laugh

6. Time to mourn – dance

7. Time to cast away stones – gather stones

8. Time to embrace – refrain from embracing

9. Time to seek – time to lose

10. Time to keep – time to cast away

11. Time to rend – time to sew

12. Time to keep silence – time to speak

13. Time of love – time to hate

14. Time for war – time for peace

B. Antithetical events cause one to contemplate: What profit is there from my labor?

(3:9-10)

                  C.  God makes everything beautiful in its time (3:11-15)

                        1.  God has made man with the ability to think in terms of the past and future- set

                             eternity in his heart (3:11)

                             (a).  But man cannot discern God’s providential work.

             2.  Nothing better to do than to rejoice in the fruits of one’s labor and do good

                  (3:12-13)

             3.  Noting can be added to nor taken away from God’s works – should cause

                  reverence for God (v. 14).  

             4.  God is behind history repeating itself (v. 15).

        D.  There is a time for God’s judgment (3:16-22).

               1.  Wickedness, though seen where justice and righteousness should be , will be

                    dealt with in God’s time (v. 16-17).

               2.  God allows the disorders to occur to cause man to see himself as a beast (v.

                    18-21).

                    (a).  Death occurs to both.

                    (b).  Bodies of both return to dust.

                    (c).  Unseen spirit – breath of life departs for both.

                3.  No better thing to do than rejoice in the fruits of one’s labor, for who can

                     bring him back to do so in the future (3:22).

   

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the Divine purpose for knowing there is a time to be born and a time to die?

2. “He hath made everything ______________________ in its _______________________.”

3. What is meant by “eternity” being set in man’s heart?

4. Though eternity is set in man’s heart, what can man not find out?

 5. There is nothing better than to do what, as man lives his life on earth?

6. What is a gift of God of which we should make sure we receive?

7. What understanding should cause man to fear God?

8. Why is the following a true observation:  “History repeats itself?”

9. What should comfort us when we see injustice in the places justice should be?  

10. What does God allow that has a purpose for making us see we are like beasts?

11. How are we like beasts? How are we different from beasts?

12. What is our portion that we can take from this life?

13. What fact should cause you to enjoy your portion today?