A time to …

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I remember when I first heard these verses. It was in the mid 1960’s and the folk/rock group the Bryds sang the song, Turn, Turn, Turn. I was not a Christian and had never read the Bible. My best friend told me the words were from the Bible. She proceeded to take the Bible and find the verses, together we read them. At the time I had little interest in the Bible other than to read the words of the song. Praise God He had a different path for my life.

Everything has it’s time. There is a reason for everything, even if we do not understand. God knows. God makes no mistakes. Sometimes we can’t understand but God is in complete control. Trust Him.

Let’s look at each verse separately:

1  There is a time for everything

2 Time to be born and a time to die

God knew when we were going to be born – He knows when we will die – Are you ready?

A time to plant and a time to plunk up the plants

There are seasons for planting and reaping. We know this by the weather and the areas where we live.

Who made the seasons and weather?

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. 
Genesis 8:22

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Psalm 104:19

3 A time to kill and a time to heal

Killing as in war but there will also be a healing

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. 
Psalm 147:3

Time to breakdown and buildup

Speaking of the breaking down and building up of cities i.e. Jerusalem

4 A time to weep – we all have sad times

A time to laugh – we have good times and happy times

A time to mourn (in the Hebrew it means: to tear the hair and beat the breasts)

No one likes to mourn but God knows we need to.

A time to dance (in the Hebrew it means:  to stamp to spring about – dance, jump, leap, skip) a time of rejoicing

5 A time to throw stones – to cast out of fields, vineyard

And a time to pick them up – to build walls and fences – John Gill

There are times to hug and times we shouldn’t hug

Ask God for wisdom to know what to do in times of doubt. Even during mourning some people prefer not to be hugged.

6 A time to get and a time to lose

John Gill says it could be talking about getting and losing riches

Or

God’s sheep (Israel) lost and to seek them again

7 A time to rend (cut out, tear)

A time to sew

A time to keep silence and a time to speak

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. Proverbs 8:6

Teach me Lord the correct times to speak and to keep quiet.

8 A time to love and a time to hate

A time of war and a time of peace

In each situation God is in control – not us – but God.

Trust God in all the different situations you find yourself, He will never fail you.

Have a blessed day, 
Donna