For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 WEB

The general consensus among biblical scholars is that Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiates. The author identifies himself as the “teacher” or “preacher” depending upon which translation we consider. In addition, the author describes himself as the Son of David, king in Jerusalem. These titles fit Solomon as well as other descendants of David who sat on the throne in Jerusalem. 

The book paints a bleak picture of material human existence. For example, it begins with these words from Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun? KJV” To counter the absurdity of human life, the author teaches that true wisdom and hope only comes from devotion to God. 

The Seasons of Our Lives

In every human life, we experience ups and downs. Nothing stays the same. There is a season for everything. As the author of Ecclesiastes teaches, there is “a time for every purpose under heaven.” But ultimately, the same thing happens to us all. Whether we are righteous or wicked, we die. And after death, God judges each of us. For this reason, the author of Ecclesisates teaches the reader to focus on the eternal, spiritual, good things of God rather than the vain things of the material world.

Teaching that there is “a time for every purpose,” the king gives a long list to illustrate his point. As the seasons of our lives play out, we experience births and deaths, war and peace, laughter and weeping and so on. In other words, in human life, we can expect circumstances to change. Considering these changes in the light of  “a time for every purpose under heaven,” what then is that purpose? As the Lord leads us through these changes, God’s purpose is to draw us closer to him. 

Yesterday’s Devotional: Living Water