As we look at this book of Ecclesiastes we must remember: First of all, that the chapter and verse divisions were not in the original writing. This is continuous instruction from “the Preacher.” Solomon is not starting a new subject with a new chapter. Also, at the end of chapter two he has just declared that the best that one who lives “under the sun” can do is “eat, and drink, and . . . make his soul enjoy good in his labor.” And for those who live “above the sun,” God has “wisdom, and knowledge, and joy.” In vv. 2-8 Solomon presents us with 14 pairs of opposites that will take place in our lives. These are seemingly random “seasons” that will occur. "Season" refers to an appointed occasion, or a portion of time. "Time" speaks of the beginning of a period. (It speaks of a duration of time.) So, Solomon is saying that we are all going to have to endure times that are good, and pleasant, and profitable. And we're going to endure times that are unpleasant, and sad, and difficult to endure. (Remember his question, "For what hath man of all his labour . . . under the sun?") We are not going to spend a lot of time on these 14 pairs of opposites because to do so might cause us to come to some completely incorrect conclusion about the nature of this passage. We may view these as random events, but in reality they are not random at all. In His complete sovereignty, God allows (or appoints) all of these in all of our lives. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:45, “. . . your Father which is in heaven . . . maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Also, it is no accident that there are 14 pairs of opposites here. In the Bible seven is the number of completion. God created the world in six days, and on the seventh He rested. All was complete. So, as a multiple of seven is used here, we have an overall picture of our lives. As one writer put it, they picture the “human experience.” But they also reveal to us that ultimately God is in control of life. Let’s quickly look over this list of “seasons,” or periods, in our lives, and I want to begin by spending a few minutes on the very first one – “A time to be born, and a time to die.” This one phrase, “A time to be born, and a time to die,” sets for the “boundaries” of life. Birth and death are not accidents. They are divine appointments! Hebrews 9:27 says It is appointed unto man once to die. Psalm 139:16 -- “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 90:10 tells us that our days are numbered. As soon as we are born, we begin to die. And all that he names through vs. 8 will take place between these two “brackets” – birth and death. Without going over every one of these 14 opposites, I’ll just share a couple of examples. There is “a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted . . . ” Solomon’s readers might have understood that in an agricultural sense. But in our lives, there are times that some things need to be added, and there are times when we just need to get rid of some things ("Also put off all these" – Colossians 3). There is “a time to kill, and a time to heal.” The word for “kill” is not the word for murder and probably refers to sickness and disease. There will be times when God heals us and that final time when the doctors say, “We’ve done all we can do.” There is “. . . a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing . . . ” There are times we just need a hug from a loved one or from a good friend. There are times when that friend needs to put us at arm’s length and confront us with the hard truth – i.e. “I can’t agree with you. You are wrong in what you are doing.” There is “a time of war, and a time of peace.” There will be times when we have to battle – to fight tyranny, etc. and times to simply stand up and stand strong for our principles, God’s truth, or a good friend. And, there will be times that we can experience the blessedness of a peaceful heart and life. I repeat: God, in His sovereignty, has allowed all of these "times" in all of our lives. That goes for the bad, the difficult, and the painful as well as the pleasant, the comfortable, and the delightful. It all comes from God (whether by His allowing it or His providing it) even when none of it makes sense to us. And Solomon tells us why in vs. 14: “I know that, whatsoever God doeth . . . God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” “Fear” here is used as in other verses that tell us how to respond before God. It is not a cowering fear. "Fear" means reverential awe; reverence. So, I want to share a couple of thoughts with you based on the remaining verses and then share how we should respond to the “seasons” of our lives.

I. LIFE CAN BE GLIMPSED BUT NOT GRASPED – VV. 10-11.

II. LIFE CAN BE MANAGED BUT NOT MANIPULATED – VV. 12-13.

III. SO, HOW DO I RESPOND TO THE “SEASONS” OF LIFE?