“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Confessions Key Verses in Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 Verse 1: For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven Verse 11: He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Verse 21: Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? In this chapter, we have one of the most well-known portions of the Bible. Pete Seeger wrote a folk song based on the first 8 verses of Ecclesiastes 3 entitled, ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ in the late 1950s and the song became a number one hit for the Byrds in 1965. We know that the author of Ecclesiastes is a wise man. The preacher knows something about life but more importantly he knows something about the author of life, God. In chapter three, we learn about the variety of experiences in life and we are also reminded about the inevitability of death. God has made us, given us life and the ability to enjoy life. God has also implanted eternity in our hearts – deep down we all know there is a God. With God in our lives, we can find meaning and purpose. Without God, there is always something missing. We are restlessly searching for something that eludes our grasp as Augustine captures so vividly in the introduction to his Confessions, possibly the most important Christian book ever written apart from the Bible. So, as you read the reflections of wise Solomon, the key to life, the key to death and the key to what lies beyond life and death can only be found in knowing God. It is only possible to know God through trusting in his Son, Jesus Christ – He alone gives life the way God intended for us to enjoy it. As the Apostle John states in 1 John 5:11–12, "And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 helps us understand and be moved to God pleasing worship. Contrasted with fools worship which is a careless observance of religion, filled with words yet unfulfilled vows to God, God pleasing worship consists of carefully approaching God, humbly intent to listen and undivided walking in His ways. Not worship for (our) gain but worship as (our) gift to God. Other Scripture used: Isaiah 1: 10-17; Exodus 19:9-12; Matthew 6:5-8.

Our passage (7:1-13) seeks to answer the question left us at the end of chapter 6: 'For who knows what is good for a man in life during the few days he passes through like a shadow?'. Qohelet answers it in 7:4 'The one whose heart is in the house of mourning' is wise and will know what is good for a person in life. Often seen as the last taboo, uncomfortable or morbid, Eccl reminds us that death can teach us things no one else can. And as we consider our own limitations we're drawn to the death of Christ. Death humbles us and drives us to God who through Jesus Christ's death on the cross offers us the gift of true life. Blessed are those who mourn and take to heart the destiny of all men.

Eccl 8:2-9:10 touches on similar themes already dealt with earlier in the book: from the randomness and brevity of life to the call to enjoy the life God has entrusted to us as gift. At the same time God is coming more and more into focus. The teacher tells us (9:1): "So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hand." In light of the reality we are limited in our knowledge, insight and understanding and not in control the way we think or like to be, finding ourselves in God's able, guiding, saving hands is a marvelous truth we can cling to in all circumstances. However this re-assurance, security and future prospect isn't ours unless we humbly surrender to Jesus as King.