Ecclesiastes Chapter Three, Many Seasons

 Ecclesiastes 3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; [6] A time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; [7] A time to tear, 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.

The preacher continues his list of building verses tearing down. Of note there is the time to embrace, or refrain from it. The idea of embracing here does not suggest a lover’s embrace specifically, but the notion of accepting the camaraderie or affection of another. It even seems to intimate the idea of clasping hands, as in the unspoken token of agreement between parties.

There is also the time to speak or to keep silence. It is a fine line and must be dictated by godly wisdom rather than servile fear. It is written in Jeremiah, “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay,” Jeremiah 20:9, KJV. The prophet considered withholding the words of the Holy Spirit, until they burned in him, compelling him to speak despite his fear of adding to his derision for being at odds with such a contrary people. Solomon warns, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe,” Proverbs 29:25, KJV. Sometimes we may refrain from speaking because we are simply scared to. We do not want to offend, or draw attention to ourselves, or risk being made a fool of. The writer of Hebrews reminded his readership that our Lord Himself was not exempt from such derision, Hebrews 12:3. If the Master is subjected to this hostility, we who belong to Him must not succumb to this kind of fear. It is God we seek to please out of love, and men who will benefit from that love’s expression.

Conversely, sometimes speaking is not the wisest course of action. Perhaps we are not versed in what would be wise to say in a situation and need reflection and study before conversation begins. Perhaps the situation itself is just not the correct place to engage someone. Or the saint himself is unfit for the engagement. Temperament can be a very valuable thing, and I have met my share of saints (and been guilty of the same on occasion) of speaking words out of time, or in a spirit other than love for our fellow man. Jeremiah’s message was invaluable to Israel whether they heeded its contents or not, and history attests that largely they did not. But the prophet sacrificially spoke out of love for decades. Imagine if instead his revelation produced an intellectual arrogance, and Jeremeiah began to berate the Jews for their stupidity, lording over their heads the immense knowledge and wisdom he possessed and they inherently lack. Many well meaning Christians have likely destroyed many opportunities to witness because they were not led by the Spirit, but the flesh. Again, I am unfortunately guilty of this crime as well.

There is also a time or season to love, and one to hate. We are to hate what God hates as His saints. We are to hate sin and how it corrupts mankind. We are to hate sin that has encroached into the lives of His saints, destroying the good works God intends for us to accomplish once we have been saved, Ephesians 2:8-10. Love here is not just intimate love between a husband and wife. God is love, and He brilliantly expressed that love on the cross for all of mankind. In our Lord’s words, if we are to love as He does, we are to, “go and do likewise,” Luke 10:37. The axiom to love the sinner but hate the sin is absolutely true. The sin is what keeps the sinner from accepting the truth of the gospel and being born again. We are to hate what is contrary in this life to God’s will. Whether that is something far reaching like a political platform that champions what is evil, or close to home with a weakness or temptation that we or a loved one grapples with. We are to mortify the flesh and walk in the Spirit, letting God’s Spirit lead us as we are free from sin’s power in our daily lives, the essence of sanctification.

Finally there is a time for war and a time for peace. Jesus Christ being the Prince of Peace will visit a lasting and righteous peace on the earth during His millennial reign. And when time gives way to eternity there will be genuine and perfect peace everlasting. But for the time being we are on this sin cursed earth and war is an everyday occurrence. God even led Israel out of Egypt and into war when He cast out the seven nations comprising Canaan, to give Abraham’s seed in the flesh the land He promised them under Joshua; likewise the residue of Canaan was used by God to teach a new generation in Israel war, Judges 3:2. There have been numerous Christians ancient and modern who have debated the validity of the conquest in Canaan. Joshua was even accused of being an “ethnic cleanser.” But the people that dwelt in Canaan had hundreds of years from Abraham to Moses to amend their ways, having had Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelling among them until that fateful journey to Egypt. Rather than repent and believe in Abraham’s God, they waxed worse and worse until their sin could not be ignored any longer and God expelled them from the land. Their sins consisted of homosexuality, rebellion, sexual perversion, bestiality, witchcraft, demon worship, necromancy, child sacrifice, etc. God warned Israel not to emulate the things the Canaanites did, because this was why they were being driven out, Deuteronomy 9:4.

The saint is told, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men,” Romans 12:18. We are to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, bearing with one another in love, Ephesians 4:2, 3. The passage from Romans deals universally with all men, saved or unsaved. The Christian is called to live in peace, subject to the government under which they live and practicing love toward one’s neighbor. The passage in Ephesians refers to fellow believers, and how we must walk in love toward one another, desiring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. I do believe that the NKJV is quite correct capitalizing Spirit. This is not a reference to brotherly unity through shared goals; it is a call to hearken to and submit to the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth. If we are humbled, walking in love, we will submit to His teaching as the word of God reveals and peace within the confessing church will be the natural result. Of course genuine peace begins within, and that can only be given by God as He recreates us in His image and frees us from what we were, remaking us into what He desires. Twice the prophet Isaiah records, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked,” Isaiah 48:22, 57:21. The wicked are those who reject God’s will and continue to rebel against Him. In fact, this verse may well be the summary of the book we are currently studying as the preacher considers life under the sun. But as far as temporal peace goes, the preacher wisely observes that this world has a time for its presence, and its absence. And all of this is bound to continue until eternity intrudes and the present heaven and earth are dissolved; see Genesis 8:22 for the cyclical nature of life on earth.