There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. (3:1-8)
If you’re feeling especially philosophical about the election, COVID, racism, or just 2020 in general, then there is no better place to go than Ecclesiastes. It is definitely the book for philosophers. However, you have to keep the context and author in mind. This book was written by Solomon on his quest for even greater wisdom and understanding. In truth, some things about God’s ways are too lofty for us to fully grasp with our tiny minds and, honestly, Solomon was not in the best place spiritually when He wrote this book. Oh, it is God’s word and there is truth in it, but you can sometimes hear the sarcasm, and even cynicism, dripping off of Solomon’s pen as he writes.
With that caveat about the grain of salt needed to digest his words, it is somehow comforting to know that there is nothing new under the sun. This world has been through good times and it has been through bad times. Solomon’s whole point is that you have to take the good with the bad. We often want to focus on the “good side of the list” like birth, planting, building, and laughing and brush over the other side of that list that contains things like death, weeping, and mourning. Solomon goes to a dark place at times and gives some poor advice about living for the moment and embracing the futility of it all. I think a better approach is to consider the big picture and realize that, no matter what, God is in charge and He is trustworthy.
Solomon says the same thing a few verses later in the same chapter, “I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him.” (1:14) No matter how dark things seem God’s plan will be established and His word will endure forever. He is more concerned with His glory than with our happiness. I think we all need to read that sentence a few times over until we get our minds around it. Yes, He loves us and yes, He cares about us. In the next verse, Solomon says that God seeks justice for the persecuted. Still, at the end of the day, it’s not about us—it’s about Jesus. No matter how dark the day seems or how bright tomorrow might be, let’s lean into that; There is nothing new under the sun, God is not wringing His hands wondering what He should do, He is completely in control.
