Ecclesiastes 3

V1–8: TIME The Preacher observes that in life there is a time to do everything. V 9–15: TOIL Knowing this, he asks what the point of human toil is and answers that there is no point and that God has put eternity in men’s hearts. However, he knows that what God does will endure forever. God is sovereign and to be revered. V 16–17: TRAVESTY He also sees that justice and judgement are turned to wickedness by man. This travesty of justice concerns him, but he perceives that God will judge things righteously in His time. Man has time to do what he wants, but God will judge him for what he does. V 18–21: TEST Viewed simply from an earthly perspective, man is no different from an animal. He is born, lives, and dies. He suggests that God tests man so that he can see his animal existence has an end without a purpose in itself. Again, this leaves out the question of eternality and spirituality, which cannot be seen ‘under the sun’, without the help of God’s Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. V 22: TEMPORARY Realising that man has only a temporary earthly existence, he concludes that all he can do is to rejoice in his works before giving way to the next generation.