Cast It Off Or Hug It -- Friends Sharing Scripture

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Subject: Cast It Off Or Hug It

Author:
Hillbilly

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Date Posted: 20:00:01 03/12/13 Tue

Ecclesiastes 3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Seemingly disconnected thoughts are given in this verse. Casting stones means to send them from you. To throw, toss or hurl them away from you or to pitch them from you. To gather stones together is to bring them into one place for what ever the purpose of gathering is. Embracing is bringing close or agreement. A person can embrace an idea. You can "wrap" or embrace your mind about a cause. To refrain from embracing is to push away from a person or idea. So we see there is some continuity of thought here.

Some of the times to cast away stones would be in removing them from a field that is to be plowed and planted. David picked up five smooth stones (1 Sam. 17:40) and cast one with a sling and brought down Goliath. (vs. 49) Stoning was the method of execution for many crimes in the Old Testament. It was a casting of stones to administer justice. Stones often have been used as weapons where they are cast and then there are the instances where they were gathered as landmarks, fences and buildings.

There is a time embrace as an embrace of love. There is a time to refrain from embracing as is given in a few places in the Bible. When God met with Israel at Mount Sinai in the wilderness He commanded: "And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives." (Exodus 19:15) Paul gave similar instructions in 1 Corinthians 7:4-5 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Pushing away or throwing away. Gathering together or embracing. Seems there is a harmony in this after all.

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Replies:

[> Subject: Excellent, Mr. HB!
Author: dori [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 22:13:06 03/14/13 Thu You brought those seemingly opposite commands into harmony. Thank you!

[> Subject: Thank You Hillbilly
Author: Caren [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 14:14:04 03/16/13 Sat I don't always comment but I am back reading and learning.

[> [> Subject: Comments and or questions
Author: Hillbilly [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 19:37:57 03/16/13 Sat are always appreciated but certainly not necessary. I appreciate a "hi" once in a while and the acknowledgment that you are out there still reading. Thank you very much for checking in. God bless,

[> [> Subject: Hillbilly
Author: Gerryb [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 14:29:45 03/19/13 Tue I'm out here reading and learning. I enjoy your posts very much Hillbilly. Please keep it up.

[> [> [> Subject: Thank you Gerry
Author: Hillbilly [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 15:53:38 03/19/13 Tue and all who read. As long as there is interest and God allows me to write I will continue. Everything done is for God's glory and honor. I have nothing to give but what God has given to me.

[> [> [> [> Subject: Hillbilly
Author: Connie [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 14:53:29 03/20/13 Wed I'm still here reading too. No excuse for not letting you know your posts are not vain. Me bad!

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Thanks Connie
Author: Hillbilly [ Edit \| View ]	Date Posted: 07:51:50 03/21/13 Thu I know you are back there in the shadows and it's good to see you come out into the sunshine every once in a while.