Did you just start singing the Byrds? Let’s plunge into the Deeper Waters and find out.
Something amazing about the Teacher is that he has a way with words. The Teacher says things that even read in English have a beautiful poetry to them. More than 2,000 years after in 1962, a song was released called Turn, Turn, Turn and was aside from those three words and a call for peace instead of referring to a time for war, every word came straight from this passage.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
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;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
We could analyze every bit of this easily, but I do not think it would be that edifying since I think the Teacher here is simply speaking of a rhythm of life. This was something that was pointed to in the first chapter talking about the sun rising and the sun setting and that there is nothing new. This does not mean anything such as new inventions or ideas, but actually a rather scientific idea that the natural order runs and it doesn’t deviate.
There are some aspects of the above that could be worth commenting on. Some people might be surprised to hear there is a time to hate, but this is definitely so. Our culture speaks of hate in such a way that it is always bad and it speaks of love in such a way as if it is always good. This is not so. You should love that which is good and you should hate that which is evil. If you tell me you don’t hate anything, I will point to realities like murder, cancer, and starving children and ask if you hate those or not.
I also do think there is a time for war, but the end goal of a war should be peace. War should be used to deal with those damaging the peace just like police do the same on a local level. War is a sad reality in our world and it should be a last resort, but when the time comes, I do think it is appropriate for a nation to defend itself and/or its own allies.
Next time, we will talk about work and joy more.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
(And I affirm the virgin birth)