When and Why? -- Friends Sharing Scripture

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Subject: When and Why?

Author:
Hillbilly

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Date Posted: 19:10:57 02/14/13 Thu

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Much of Ecclesiastes can be confusing if not down right unbelievable to those who don't take time to study closely the writings of Solomon in this most unusual book. One of the key elements to understand is that much of what is written is from the natural and not spiritual standpoint. Over and over you will see the phrase "under the sun". Here in verse 1 of chapter 3 we see the phrase "under the heaven" and should reckon it identical to under the sun.

Everything that happens "under the sun" has a purpose and time. Much of what happens is ordained of God and what is not is in His permissive will. Note I said permissive will and not explicit will. Man sinning was in His permissive will. It was not God's will that he sin. God did not stop it from happening although He could have. To have done so would have denied man a free will to follow God or deny God. For example: " O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! " (Matthew 23:37)

Jesus dying as the perfect sacrifice for sin was in God's explicit will. God ordained it before the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) No thing nor any created being could stop this that God had ordained to remedy the fall of man.

When Solomon says that everything has a time and season he is speaking in the terms in the verses following verse 1. In addition to those things listed there are enumerable things that have a time and purpose that God assigned to them. The birth of Jesus had a set time in history for it to take place. It could not happen before nor after the set time that God had ordained for it to happen. Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Jesus crucifixion was set in time before the world was created and Jesus was aware of the exact time He must die. John 7:6-8 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. The full time of Jesus death had to correspond exactly with the passover. He died on the day of the killing of the passover lamb.

God set the time of the exodus and bringing in of the law.(Gen. 15:13) Think even of events such as Jonah being swallowed by a whale. God had to prepare the whale. It had to be in the exact location Jonah would be cast overboard and it had to spit him out at the right spot for him to make his journey the Nineveh. Not only that but God ordained the time spent in the belly of the whale so it would match exactly the time Jesus spent in the heart of the earth after His crucifixion. Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The verse we are looking at says time and purpose. Nothing is done without there being a purpose to it. We may not know or understand it but God does. I am reminded of how Ahab was told he was going to die in battle and he disguised himself as a common soldier to keep the enemy from identifying him as the king of Israel. An enemy soldier drew his bow "at a venture". (1 Kings 22:34) The man who killed Ahab did not know he was part of the time and purpose set for Ahab's death. It was in God's time and purpose for him to die when he did and then God prepared everything for the dogs to lick his blood as it had be prophesied.(1 Kings 22:38 with 1 Kings 21:19)

When I look at verses such as verse 1 and meditate on their implication I try to think how I fit in God's plans. Hopefully He will use me for His purpose in His time. I know I have an allotted time "under the heaven" and I hope to be a tool and vessel in the Master's hand until I am no longer under the heaven but in Heaven. Hopefully this little exercise will cause you to ponder your time and purpose under the heaven.

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Replies:

[> Subject: Hillbilly
Author: Gerryb [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 15:15:29 02/15/13 Fri AMEN!! Another fine lesson.

[> Subject: Thank you Gerry
Author: Hillbilly [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 16:10:34 02/15/13 Fri I truly appreciate your saying so. It always means much.

[> [> Subject: Yes...
Author: Bill [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 06:06:29 02/16/13 Sat Mighty fine you always seem to do. Even a Bill can understand your teachings. Glad I be that you are not the type that would get a big fat head about a "Thank You". Mostly I just keep my mouth shut...for I be here to learn stuff :-) Thank You! luv,

[> [> [> Subject: Hey hey,
Author: Hillbilly [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 07:43:51 02/16/13 Sat Good to see you are still around and "suckin air". Well I do hope some of the "stuff" blesses you. If you do get anything from it then just thank the Lord for I have nothing to offer but what He gives it to me first to pass along to others. I feel mightily inadequate to do even that. Hope all is well with you. God bless.

[> [> [> [> Subject: Hillbilly, you crack me up!
Author: dori [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 13:16:21 02/18/13 Mon I wish I were even HALF as "inadequate" as you are, if that is how you see your studies. Just trust us when we tell you we learn much from you and receive a great bounty of blessings. xoxo

[> [> [> Subject: Bill
Author: Gerryb [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 15:03:44 02/16/13 Sat Are you still running that forum of yours? If so, can I get the address and whatever password I need to get in. My email address is bankert9589@chrter.net in case you need it.

[> [> [> [> Subject: Yes...
Author: Bill [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 19:42:19 02/16/13 Sat It is still there. No posts since Aug. 2009. I scared to post there for that would get it started up again and add to the number of sites I have to check daily :-) Shall go email you that addy soon. I don't know of any password stuff...let me know if you can not get in. luv,

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Bill
Author: Gerryb [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 20:58:39 02/16/13 Sat Thanks.