Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 The Byrds and the Dogs

Ecclesiastes 3
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Verses 1 through 8 describe the opposites of life. Man spends a great amount of time doing one to prevent the other, all the while unable to stop the inevitable. How many men have we seen attempt to keep peace, only to find themselves in war? Solomon sees that there will come a time for both, one way or another.

In verse 9, Solomon repeats the mantra, "What profit?" Solomon is questioning what profit there is for efforts of the guy who works for peace only to have war break out on him. There seems to be none, in this life without God.

Verses 10 and 11 describe God’s curse on man, Genesis 3:17, the "travail." God has cursed the ground and put a longing for the afterlife in man. God wants man’s direction to be focused on him and the hereafter.

In verses 12 and 13, Solomon discusses the only profit in this world, enjoying the fruit of your labor and doing your best. This verse shows the "common grace" God has for all men. God allows men to find enjoyment in what they do, even as his enemies. The gifts and talents that unregenerate man has are still yet from God.

Verses 14 and 15 show God’s sovereignty, order and providence. God has done it, it shall be. God has said it, it shall be.

Verses 16 through 21 show the absurdity of trying to find righteous judgment consistently in this life. Solomon longs for a time when God will judge rightly. Solomon foreshadows the Final Judgement, and we can trust that it is sure to come. That will be a comfort to God’s people, but it should strike fear in the ungodly.

Solomon goes on to explain that God is humbling men and showing his power. He is showing that, without him, men would be mere animals who share the same fate with dogs.

We know in our day that some truly advance this, and, as God points out, rightly so, if there is no God. But, they are wrong. God is, and he is the judge of men. He will hold men accountable, especially since they are not dogs. They have been shown undeserved grace, no less than common grace, and have spit upon the giver of it. He will hold them guiltless.

In verse 22, Solomon again points out that the only thing man can do on his own, but not really on his own, is find some pleasure in the work he does.

Christians may also find enjoyment in what they do, seeing how what they do and how they do it are gifts from God. But, Christians should be looking to do things that will matter after this life is over. They should use their gifts and talents to do God’s work, enjoy it and please him.

God gives this very chapter to his people in order to make them aware of the things common to life, so they will not be caught off guard. They will be looking for it and seeing God in it. They will have comfort for life.