PENTECOST XXI
October 13, 2024
“For Everything There is a Season”
One of the most enjoyable aspects about writing the weekly devotional articles is the pleasant surprise of learning something new. Most of us know better than to believe we know just about everything, but it’s easy to forget how rewarding it is to come across information and insights that inform us and broaden our outlooks. This happened just the other day as I settled on using the familiar, thoughtful words of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3 — the “to everything there is a time” verses.
My study Bible is an excellent resource, and as I read the introductory material to this Old Testament book, (barely a page and a half) I discovered more enriching, inspirational information than I could have imagined! Ecclesiastes is written as a memoir attributed to King Solomon, in which he shares both advice and reflections from his long life. There are complaints and laments, along with reminders to enjoy and appreciate the beauty and pleasures of God’s creation; in other words, these are the reflections of a thoughtful human on his life.
Reading and considering the “seasons” verses has always seemed to me especially appropriate in the autumn, and guess what — reading Ecclesiastes at this time has been a tradition in the Jewish community for centuries. The Festival of Booths, or Ingathering (harvest) occurs in the fall, and celebrates God’s care for the people of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness and the joy that can be found in life, even through challenging and frustrating times. The message is to trust in God, knowing his loving care for us is unchanging.
So, Old Testament Bible Study students, as we read these familiar words, let’s envision King Solomon, aged and wise, as he reflects across the centuries these words of insight, perspective, wisdom, and understanding:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 14)
Grateful for the times we share,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers