Sermon Notes for Ecclesiastes 3

I have not edited these notes. This just how I took them during the sermon.~Marsha

Subject: Holy Bible Notes for Ecclesiastes 3

Feb. 17, 2013
Eccl.  3:9-15
M. Kelly

V 1 An appointed time for everything....the list is sandwiched between "a time for everything" and v. 11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time"

We see our own experience in this list.  This is how life is experienced...a season for everything and God is the one who appoints a time to everything.

Time moves in one directions....nothing is permanent. Everything is always changing and God has ordained it.  God deals with men in time in His Word and in His works of Providence.

The motions of life find us doing opposites as listed in the list at the beginning of Eccl.

Nothing is ever out of time.  There is no bad timing. God is in charge of all time.  Bad theology to say it was bad timing.

We experience a full range of emotions as we experience all of the opposites in the first few verses.

V. 15 Every moment is a passing moment.  God seeks for those things that are passing by.  He works in those things that pass by.  Who can through the free acts of men ordain all that comes to pass? God!  He is worthy of worship, our time and efforts. Time does not bring random events.
All these things work for our good.  All of them.

What are we to make of this up and down life?  What is our posture to be?  We know why things happen but it doesn't exempt us from experience the wide ranges of emotions involvled. However we can have comfort in the midst of it all.

1. There is profit in knowing that everything is beautiful in God's timing~understatement of the world! V. 11
Many things are outside of our control and happen to us and they are beautiful in their season.  We need to understand our place in all of these things to bring glory to God in them.
It is better to know the God who ordained all these things than to just know that God ordained them.
Be humble (still) and know that He is God. We are often exploding or imploding as a result of our circumstances. We need to know that God is in control of all and be still before Him in it.

We don't always see the beauty or appropriateness of our circumstances, but God does and He says it is beautiful in its time.  

1 Thess 5:16-17...if God has made everything beautiful in its time can we not rejoice in everything?  How can we give thanks for everything when it's so painful?  Because in it's time God has made everything beautiful! Faith attaches itself to truth.  It is never blind.  Rejoicing and giving thanks for all things is according to truth.  Romans 8:28~and we KNOW.  The comfort is in the knowing. Faith lives according to truth!

Job~the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away!  He didn't give credit to second causes.  The Lord is in control of it all!  

God's plan is from beginning to end.  We only see a fraction of His plan.  It's like standing nose close to a painting and can't see the grand work.

2. Man understands eternity. v. 11 He has set eternity in their heart.  To know that there is eternity and meaning but can't find it is the task that man is given.  It's a grievous task. Sin took away our eternal life and left eternal punishment. We know that there is meaning to life and that our life fits into a larger context.

Do animals wonder why they exist and why some die and others are left to live?  NO!  Cows do not long for meaning to life.  Why do we do these things?  It's because God has set eternity in our hearts.

3. Meaning can not be found outside of God. v.11  
We can not even as God's people find out God's plan from beginning to end.  But we know that God has a plan and it will be beautiful in its time.  We look for meaning and long for it.  No one has to teach us to look for meaning in life.  Don't we find ourselves pursuing everything under the sun to find meaning in life?
Eccl.1:13-15

4.) God gives us our work to do.
He is the one bringing the succession of moments and placed all where they are.  Solomon has the over all picture of life.

What is God's will for us right now.  It is the exact set of circumstances and emotions of the time....it is God's work that He has brought to us for that moment in time.  It might even be through the sins of others or ourselves, God brings our circumstances through that means.  He directs all these contraries for good. It's hard for us to grasp.
Don't look for endulgence where He intends discipline.
Do not neglect useful in the place that God has put us.
Eating and drinking is one of the things that Solomon brings up.  We are to enjoy what is good....the beauty of the ups and downs.  God does all things well. We can be content in any and every circumstance.  They are fixed...no one can add to them. No one can take away from them.

This should lead to godly fear and humility.  We need not get stumped by the second causes. We must look to the One Who sent the agents of the second causes instead of looking at the agents of second causes.

5.) God is to be feared. v. 14 -15  God has ordained all things and it should produce reverential fear in our hearts.  Nothing can be subtracted or added to His work. Anything that man tries to do works to fulfill God's purposes. Anything Satan and his minions have done to thwart the work of God is only worked to fulfill His work and they will spend eternity in torment on that fact.
God is never frustrated with anything....all is working according to His purposes.  
Isa 55:11  God's word will accomplish what He desires.
When God's word is ignored as we share it, it is still accomplishing His purposes. We just don't know what the end of it will be.  God is not frustrated.

God is to be feared in His works of providence.  God seeks what passes by....He is decree comes to pass in those things.  He is in control of it all.  If you want to see what God is doing all you have to do is look to yesterday.  Who will put an end to God's purpose?

6.) Let us cultivate a strong faith in God as we encounter our circumstances.  
We see that God is in control, but do we live according to this truth?  Our first response should be, "I wonder what God is doing?"  What does He want me to learn, know, mortify?  What is God's will for your life?  Your sanctification!

We need to be more like drift wood rolling with the waves, instead of a wall for the sea to beat against.

We all have control issues.  Phil 4:6-7 is what we are supposed to do.  Be anxious for nothing. Whatever happens is what God has ordained.  What if the worst case senario happens? It was ordained by God....so don't worry and be anxious and His peace will reign in your life.

Don't worry about tomorrow, it has enough worry of it's own....when we worry about tomorrow we are neglecting the work we have to do today.

Luke 12:22-31  v.25 we can't even add an hour to our life. Why worry about other matters!?

Do not worry is a command of Scripture!!!

Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you.

7.) It is by grace that we understand the meaning of life. We have found meaning in the difficulties of life because God has found us and revealed it to us.

1 John 4:19 We love because He first loved us.

Luke 19:10  We were all lost and God came and saved us.

Luke 15:31  Lost and found.  God has found us and revealed these things to us.

Luke 15:4-7  Lost sheep found.  Sinners found.

Romans 9:15-16  God will have mercy on whom He has mercy.  It is by His mercy that we know the meaning of life.

Prov. 19:3  The foolishness of man rages against God....

Jer. 31:3  God has drawn us with loving kindness

John 15:16  It's all of God that we are able to see the meaning of life.

1 Cor. 4:7


           ⛄Marsha⛄

But none of these things move me, (not knowing what shall befall me v. 23) neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24 KJV)