Ecclesiastes 3 (3)

Pray Psalm 147.19, 20.
He declares His word to Jacob,
His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His judgments, they have not known them.
Praise the LORD!

Read Ecclesiastes 3.12, 13.

Prepare.
1. From which perspective – “under the sun” or “under heaven” – is Solomon writing these verses?

2. In what sense are life and work gifts from God?

Meditate.
At the beginning of this section Solomon raised the question he had pondered “under the sun” in 2.18-22. Now, however, in the context of his primary theme – life “under heaven” – Solomon’s answer is much more hopeful.

Given the sovereignty of God (3.1-8), His granting men insight into His works (vv. 10, 11), and man’s having been made for eternity, Solomon counsels joy and good works as that with which a man should fill up his life. Life and its many vicissitudes are gifts from God; therefore, men are advised to receive life as such, to use the gifts God gives them as God intends, and to know the pleasure of the Lord in all the work they do all the days of their lives.

Such an approach to life is only possible “under heaven”, that is, looking to God, resting in His eternal and perfect wisdom, and seeking to discern His will for every area of life.

This is life as God intends it – joyful, pleasurable, filled with thanksgiving and good works (cf. Rom. 14.17, 18). This doesn’t mean that we won’t know trials and sorrow; nor does it imply that we will always be able to understand everything that happens to us. God alone is sovereign, omniscient, and all-wise. While people live on the earth they must rest in His goodness and sovereignty, seeking in all they do to discover how God intends for them to live before Him, according to the times and seasons of their lives.

This is the life of faith, of waiting upon the Lord, and of serving Him and His purposes in everything we do.

In these verses Solomon gives us a glimpse ahead to the lifestyle of the redeemed who, as they await the consummation of all things, look to God through Jesus Christ, and offer their lives up with gratitude in service to Him each day.

Reflect.
1. To “rejoice” has a heavenward orientation, while to do good is a more horizontal perspective. Explain.

2. In what sense is it true that “nothing is better” than these two things? Would someone living “under the sun” agree with this? Why or why not?

3. Does God really provide such ordinary, daily things as what we eat and drink? What other gifts does He give us daily? How should we respond to these?

He means here that the beauty of the material world is temporal, not eternal. For, after cleansing, the one who is pure no longer needs to view material things only as a diversion of the mind. Rather, he can also use them in spiritual contemplation. Evagrius of Pontus (345-399), Ecclesiastes 15.3.10-13

Fill me with Your joy today, Lord, and send me forth to do good with all the gifts You provide, especially as I…

Pray Psalm 147.15-20.
Praise God for the power and reliability of His Word, for by it He is making all things new. Where do you need more of His newness today?

Sing Psalm 147.15-20.
Psalm 147.15-20 (St. Ann: Our God, Our Help in Ages Past)
His Word to earth runs to and fro to carry out His will;
He brings the rain, He sends the snow, and none can keep Him still.

His Word He to His Church bestows – His promises and Law.
No other nation God thus knows: praise Him with songs of awe!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).