Solomon repeated his former counsel in view of this limited perspective (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:24). "Do good" (Ecclesiastes 3:12) should read "enjoy themselves." We could translate Ecclesiastes 3:13, "If any man eats and drinks and finds satisfaction in all his toil, it is a gift of God." [Note: Christian D. Ginsburg, Song of Songs and Coheleth, pp. 311-12.] read more
The Practical Ideal. Acceptance of the Universal Scheme1-15. God is a God of order. The problem which the writer has set himself is not yet solved. He has found that wisdom, culture, pleasure, are all good, though, even if we combine them, there is still something lacking, and they will not explain the mystery of existence. In continuing to seek for a rule of life that shall lead him to the highest good, he reminds himself that God is a God of order, and wisdom lies in adapting ourselves to... read more
(12) I know.—Literally, I knew: i.e., I came to know. The writer is relating the conclusions at which he successively arrived.To do good.—This phrase is always used elsewhere in a moral sense: “to act rightly.” When enjoyment is meant, the phrase used is, as in the next verse, “to see good;” but the context seems to require that this sense should be given to the phrase in this verse also. read more
Ecclesiastes 3:1 How for everything there is a time and a season, and then how does the glory of a thing pass from it, even like the flower of the grass. This is a truism, but it is one of those which are continually forcing themselves upon the mind. Borrow's Lavengro, xxvi. He is a good time-server that finds out the fittest opportunity for every action. God hath made a time for everything under the sun, save only for that which we do at all times to wit, sin. Thomas Fuller. References. III.... read more
The Quest obstructed by Divine Ordinances. Ecclesiastes 3:1-15The time of birth, for instance, and the time of death, are ordained by a Power over which men have no control; they begin to be, and they cease to be, at hours whose stroke they can neither hasten nor retard. The season for sowing and the season for reaping are fixed with any reference to their wish; they must plant and gather in when the unchangeable laws of nature will permit (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Even those violent deaths, and... read more
SECOND SECTIONThe Quest Of The Chief Good In Devotion To The Affairs Of BusinessEcclesiastes 3:1 - Ecclesiastes 5:20I. IF the true Good is not to be found in the School where Wisdom utters her voice, nor in the Garden in which Pleasure spreads her lures: may it not be found in the Market, in devotion to Business and Public Affairs? The Preacher will try this experiment also. He gives himself to study and consider it. But at the very outset he discovers that he is in the iron grip of immutable... read more
2. Further Results of the Search CHAPTER 3 1. The times of man under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 ) 2. When then is the good? (Ecclesiastes 3:12-15 ) 3. Concerning judgment and the future (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 ) Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 . There is a time for everything. Twenty-eight “times” are mentioned, beginning with the time of birth and ending with the time for peace. Everything has a fixed time: Life-death; seeding-harvesting; killing-healing; breaking-down building-up;... read more
MAN’S TIMES (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 ) These are orderly and seasonable, but bring no permanent profit, because man is still ignorant of God’s purpose in them all. He does not know how to fit his work into God’s work. The conclusion is in Ecclesiastes 3:12-15 . GOD’S TIME (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 ) There is a suggestion in verse 17 that this is long. It will be a time, too, of judgment and manifestation (Ecclesiastes 3:17-18 ). Yet, and perhaps because of this, man’s death is not different from... read more
The Works of the Lord Ecclesiastes 3:0 Coheleth saw that, notwithstanding the confusion which so broadly marked all human life, there was a partially-discovered method underlying everything. Things that seemed to come by chance really came by arrangement, and all the topsyturvy was only on the outside: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" ( Ecc 3:1 ). It is very marvellous, too, how little control man has over the coming and going of things, though... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 3:12
12. in them—in God's works ( :-), as far as relates to man's duty. Man cannot fully comprehend them, but he ought joyfully to receive ("rejoice in") God's gifts, and "do good" with them to himself and to others. This is never out of season (Galatians 6:9; Galatians 6:10). Not sensual joy and self-indulgence (Philippians 4:4; James 4:16; James 4:17). read more