3:1 To
every [thing there is] a a season, and a
time to every purpose under the heaven:
(a) He speaks of this diversity of time for two
causes first to declare that there is nothing in this world perpetual: next to
teach us not to be grieved, if we have not all things at once according to our
desires, neither enjoy them so long as we would wish.
3:10
I have seen the labour, which God hath given to the sons of men b
to be exercised in it.
3:11 He hath made every [thing] beautiful in its
time: also he hath set the c world in
their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the
beginning to the end.
(c) God has given man a desire and affection to
seek out the things of this world, and to labour in it.
3:13 And also that every man
should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it [is] the d
gift of God.
(d) Read (Ecclesiastes
2:24) and these places declare that we should do all things with sobriety
and in the fear of God, as he gives not his gifts to the intent that they
should be abused.
3:14 I know that, whatever God doeth, it shall be
for e ever: nothing can be added to it,
nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before
him.
(e) That is, man will never be able to prevent
God's work, but as he has determined so it will come to pass.
3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is
to be hath already been; and God f
requireth that which is past.
(f) God only causes what which is past, to
return.
3:17 I said in my heart, God
shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time g
there for every purpose and for every work.
(g) Meaning, with God, however man neglects his
duty.
3:18 I said in my heart concerning the state of the
sons of men, that God might h tempt
them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
(h) And made them pure in their first creation.
3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men
befalleth beasts; even one thing i
befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one
breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.
(i) Man is not able by his reason and judgment to
put differences between man and beast, as concerning those things to which
both are subject: for the eye cannot judge any otherwise of a man being dead
than of a beast, which is dead: yet by the word of God and faith we easily
know the diversity as in (Ecclesiastes
3:21).
3:21 Who k
knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that
goeth downward to the earth?
(k) Meaning, that reason cannot comprehend that
which faith believes in.
3:22 Wherefore I perceive that [there is] nothing
better, than that a man should l rejoice
in his own works; for that [is] his portion: for who shall bring him to see what
shall be after him?
(l) By the often repetition of this sentence as
in (Ecclesiastes
2:24,3:12,22,5:17,8:15) he declares that man by reason can comprehend
nothing better in this life than to use the gifts of God soberly and
comfortably: for to know further, is a special gift of God revealed by his
Spirit.
Ecclesiastes 3 Bible Commentary
The Geneva Study Bible
(a) He speaks of this diversity of time for two causes first to declare that there is nothing in this world perpetual: next to teach us not to be grieved, if we have not all things at once according to our desires, neither enjoy them so long as we would wish.
3:10 I have seen the labour, which God hath given to the sons of men b to be exercised in it.
(b) Read (Ecclesiastes 1:13).
3:11 He hath made every [thing] beautiful in its time: also he hath set the c world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
(c) God has given man a desire and affection to seek out the things of this world, and to labour in it.
3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it [is] the d gift of God.
(d) Read (Ecclesiastes 2:24) and these places declare that we should do all things with sobriety and in the fear of God, as he gives not his gifts to the intent that they should be abused.
3:14 I know that, whatever God doeth, it shall be for e ever: nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth [it], that [men] should fear before him.
(e) That is, man will never be able to prevent God's work, but as he has determined so it will come to pass.
3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God f requireth that which is past.
(f) God only causes what which is past, to return.
3:17 I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time g there for every purpose and for every work.
(g) Meaning, with God, however man neglects his duty.
3:18 I said in my heart concerning the state of the sons of men, that God might h tempt them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
(h) And made them pure in their first creation.
3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing i befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.
(i) Man is not able by his reason and judgment to put differences between man and beast, as concerning those things to which both are subject: for the eye cannot judge any otherwise of a man being dead than of a beast, which is dead: yet by the word of God and faith we easily know the diversity as in (Ecclesiastes 3:21).
3:21 Who k knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
(k) Meaning, that reason cannot comprehend that which faith believes in.
3:22 Wherefore I perceive that [there is] nothing better, than that a man should l rejoice in his own works; for that [is] his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
(l) By the often repetition of this sentence as in (Ecclesiastes 2:24,3:12,22,5:17,8:15) he declares that man by reason can comprehend nothing better in this life than to use the gifts of God soberly and comfortably: for to know further, is a special gift of God revealed by his Spirit.