the point is clear that all the events that take place under the sun are determined by God. Every birth, every death, every word, every deed, whether constructive or destructive, whether good or evil, happy or sad, comes from a divine appointment……God has made everything beautiful in His time” ……. God has not given us the capacity to figure everything out and understand the reason why things happen the way they do. God has not allowed us to look upon the canvas and see the full picture of what is being painted…God calls us to trust Him and fear Him as our sovereign God, who is over all the details of our lives. – Brian Borgman

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 

 This passage has served as a chart topper at least twice. The first was for the Byrds in 1965 with “Turn, Turn, Turn.” The second was for Ray Stevens in 1970 with “Everything is Beautiful.” This poem on time in 3:1–8 is probably the most famous part of Ecclesiastes. But its function in the book serves a larger and more profound purpose than radio play.

Qoheleth has laid out his first conclusion in chapter two. Success, wisdom, achievement, pleasure, and even wisdom cannot change the fact that life is a vapor. None of those pursuits provide the advantage that Qoheleth was looking for. Trying to mitigate hebel with hebel is a bust. The first glorious discovery is that although life is a vapor, it is a gift, and the gift is to be enjoyed. Perhaps Qoheleth could have ended the book there, but if he did, he would not be a faithful guide to the end of the journey. He will not let us off the hook so easily. He is not going to stop exploring his nagging question from 1:3: “What is the advantage in our toil?”

He still has more to teach us, and he begins the next lesson with a beautiful poem that is designed to bring about some more hard turns, bumps, and jolts. Maybe even a bruise or two. The opening line is an unwavering declaration. The NASB is more straightforward than the ESV here. It reads, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.” This truth will be echoed in 3:11 and 3:17. Who sets the time for everything? Who plans for every event under heaven? It is God who does this (3:11).

the point is clear that all the events that take place under the sun are determined by God. Every birth, every death, every word, every deed, whether constructive or destructive, whether good or evil, happy or sad, comes from a divine appointment. Qoheleth holds fast to the sovereignty of God. He will revisit it in coming chapters, however, Qoheleth uses this beautiful poem not to comfort us, but to press us hard with another question…… The nagging question of 1:3 is repeated in 3:9: “What gain has the worker from his toil?”

Eternity in the Heart (3:9–11) Qoheleth tells us that he observed the “business” or the “task” that God has given to the children of men to keep them busy. But what is the task? Walt Kaiser sums it up, “God has also implanted in the hearts of men a desire to know how his plan makes all the details fit together.……In other words, we are wired to want to understand God’s plan. Here is what we know: “God has made everything beautiful in His time” ……. God has not given us the capacity to figure everything out and understand the reason why things happen the way they do. God has not allowed us to look upon the canvas and see the full picture of what is being painted.

God calls us to trust Him and fear Him as our sovereign God, who is over all the details of our lives. As we ache to know the reason for the painful events of our lives, God tells us that He knows that we want to know, but He won’t let us. Instead of being a great cryptanalyst, deciphering the work of God, He calls us to enjoy this short life, live for Him, trust Him, keep the right perspective on life, and know He will not forget any of the things of the past. All things will be made right. God is making all things beautiful in His time. How can we be sure?

Because in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son (Gal. 4:4–7). Because at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6). Because when God called each of us, He called us at the acceptable time (2 Cor. 6:2). Because God exalts the humble at the proper time (1 Pet. 5:6). If you are suffering, be confident since God is the cosmic artist, making everything beautiful. Trust Him as the One who has written you into His story. Trust Him as the One who is over the details of your life. Trust Him because He has already given His Son for you. Lean on Him.  -Brian  Borgman

Soli Deo Gloria!