Part 5 of 8 of the theme "Lessons from Ecclesiastes.' by Gijs van den Brink
The preacher also speaks on the theme of providence. "For everything that happens there is an hour, a time for everything under heaven" (3:1). God has determined that there is a time for everything, but man cannot oversee those times, no matter how much he searches for them.
That God determines the times and not man is an important theme in Christian doctrine. In the Bible, history is seen as the result of God's work. Right through all human and other influences, God works with grace and judgment to His purpose. Jesus says that even the hairs of our head are counted and no sparrow falls from the roof without the Father (Mat. 10:29-31). Paul says "And we know that for those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose, everything contributes to good. (Rom.8:28)
God alone oversees the times and everything that happens in the world. Man himself has no control over this; only God does. That He controls everything in the world has a purpose, according to the preacher, which is that we have reverence and awe for Him. 'Everything God does, I have determined, He does forever.' There is nothing to add to that, nothing to subtract from that. God does it so that we may be in awe of him.' (3:14).
For the preacher, God is not a God who stands at a distance. It is He who gives man possessions, and food and drink. It is God who wants man to enjoy the good that he has. We read this in Ecclesiastes 5:17-18 "Therefore, I have seen, it is good and beneficial for a man when he indulges in food and drink, and enjoys all that he has acquired. For this he toils under the sun during the mere number of days of life that he has received from God; this is what has been allotted to him. When a man enjoys wealth and property, when it is granted to him by God as his rightful portion, and he rejoices in all that he has laboriously acquired, that is a gift from God.
Next time: Part 6 of the series of lessons from Ecclesiastes is entitled 'Oppression and injustice'
See also: Part 4 of 8 of the theme 'Lessons from Ecclesiastes' 'A human cannot fathom the universe'
Author: Gijs van den Brink
From: Study Bible Magazine
This is part 5 of 8 concise blog on the theme "Lessons from Ecclesiastes" from Study Bible Magazine, Some of which we will be posting online in the near future. We hope this will help you understand the Bible better!
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