[NEW] Ecclesiastes 3 Meaning Commentary | 3 meaning – NATAVIGUIDES

Now, as we move on to chapter 3 for our Ecclesiastes 3 Meaning article, it seems like God gets back out of the picture again. He isn’t mentioned in the first 8 verses. And yet I think the message of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is still fairly positive. In these verses we see time viewed from a human perspective. And even from a human perspective, time is viewed as orderly. And that’s a good thing.

Season

So, there’s an appointed time – or “season” – for everything. And there’s a time for every activity or event – or as the KJV says, “purpose” – under the sun. Everything that happens on earth has an appointed time. It all happens in such an orderly manner. Again, this is a good thing.

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

Birth and Death

There’s a time when you’re born. And that’s a time of joy. A time of newness. Of beginnings. There’s hope. There are aspirations. Plans are made. Parents prepare themselves to guide this new life through the various twists and turns that the world will present.

2 a time to be born,
and a time to die;

And just like there’s a time for birth, there’s also a time for death. It happens to all. It’s appointed for a man once to die.

Some people like to say that the death process is beautiful. Now, there’s a real sense in which death is very ugly. It isn’t the way that God originally created things. He didn’t make things to die. It’s an enemy and the result of sin.

And yet, even this ugly sad process has a place in life under the sun.

The joy and anticipation of birth is met and – from the vantage point of this life – overwhelmed by the sorrow and pain of death.

The newness of birth gives way to the finality of death.

This can be depressing. But you cannot deny that it’s orderly. Things begin and things end in this life. That’s just the way it is under the sun.

Planting and Uprooting

There’s also a time to plant and a time to pluck up or uproot. Farmers and amateur gardeners know about this.

a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

There’s a time to plant your vegetables. You do so in hope of a harvest. You have plans for what you’re going to do with your vegetables and fruit and such.

And then the end of the season comes – and the very things you yourself planted with your own hands – now you’re uprooting them. And the uprooting happens at a certain time. You don’t just harvest when you feel like it. No – the crops give you signs that its time to uproot. And when the appointed orderly time comes, you do what comes naturally.

And unlike the life/death cycle we just spoke of previously, there’s really no sense of loss or grief with planting and reaping. At the same time, this cycle is just like the previous one – in the sense that it’s orderly.

Killing and Healing

Next, there’s a time to kill and a time to heal.

3 a time to kill,
and a time to heal;

If Qoheleth is looking at this from a perspective of agriculture – maybe he moves on from the last cycle of planting and harvesting crops to now speaking of taking care of animals.

There is a time to kill an animal – a cow or goat or chicken – whatever animals one might have on a farm. You raise that chicken or goat for a while – but the whole time you’re doing it with the end of slaughtering it and eating it eventually.

And yet – if while you’re engaged in that process, the chicken gets sick or injured or whatever – you’re going to try your best to heal it.

Those two actions – killing and healing – seem contradictory. But you and I know that in the cycles of life, these two things can and do happen together constantly. And they happen at the right time – in an orderly fashion.

Breaking Down and Building Up

Further, there’s a time to break down and a time to build up.

a time to break down,
and a time to build up;

I imagine that if we’re still on the farm in Qoheleth’s mind then this is either referring to a wall or to a house or maybe to a temporary shelter of some kind.

Maybe he’s thinking of pulling down an old barn and raising a new one.

Weeping and Laughing

Moving on, Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us that there’s a time to weep and a time to laugh. There are appropriate times for each of these activities.

4 a time to weep,
and a time to laugh;

You wouldn’t necessarily laugh at a funeral. I mean, there might be some real joy in either of these venues. But you would think a person strange who was just spontaneously laughing during a solemn funeral ceremony.

You’d also think it odd if someone was weeping at the joyful birth of his child. Or at his wedding. Not just a tear here or there – but full-blown weeping. You would start worrying about that relationship if the groom was sobbing uncontrollably during the vows.

The point again is that there’s a right orderly time for everything on earth. Time – viewed from man’s perspective – is orderly. And that’s a good thing.

Mourning and Dancing

Similarly, there’s a time to mourn and a time to dance.

a time to mourn,
and a time to dance;

This is similar to the last phrase we looked at. And let me just say that – yes, dancing is good. It’s good – just like music is good or like clothing is good. It’s good when it’s done in a non-sensual manner. David danced. Miriam and the daughters of Israel danced. And it wasn’t wrong of them to do that. When it becomes wrong is when it’s sexualized in public.

So with that disclaimer, yes, there is a time to dance.

There’s also a time to mourn.

There’s an appropriate time for each of these activities.

Throwing and Gathering Stones

Next, there’s a time to throw stones and a time to gather them. Now, it’s simple enough to see what this text says. But it’s rather difficult to get at its meaning.

5 a time to cast away stones,
and a time to gather stones together;

Meaning: Sex?

Some say it’s a euphemism for sexual relations. And that might possibly fit with the next statement about embracing. Though I’m not sure how folks who think that this is what it’s talking about would prove their case. I didn’t see where else this phrase was used of sexual relations. So, I’d tend to think that’s not what this is speaking of.

Meaning: Revenge?

Others say it has to do with the practice of throwing stones into the field of an enemy to ruin his crops. But, I kind of doubt that Qoheleth is sanctioning that kind of destructive unloving behavior.

Meaning: Children’s Game

Or is this speaking more on the level of children’s activites? Maybe he has in mind the games that kids play. There’s a time when they throw the stones. And there’s a time that they need to gather them up… only in order to throw them again! That would fit in well with the cyclical nature of things on this earth — gather them, throw them, and on and on.

Meaning: Death Penalty

The only other possibility I could think of is perhaps this is speaking of stoning as a death penalty. There is a time – in ancient Israel, at least – to throw stones at a convicted criminal. And there would be a corresponding time of gathering those stones together – probably in order to use them again as an agent of punishment.

So, there are a number of interpretative options with that one, but I think it’s probably either referring to kids’ games or stoning as a death penalty.

Embracing or Not

Then we have that there’s a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

a time to embrace,
and a time to refrain from embracing;

And I think this is speaking of interpersonal relationships.

Jesus himself knew what this was like. There was a time when he could rightly embrace each of his disciples. But then a day came when he would say in the words of David, “he who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me,” referring to Judas. There was a betrayal in his life. And so the one whom he would normally embrace is now one he would not embrace.

And I don’t doubt that you personally have experienced that kind of reversal in relationships you’ve had. It’s heartbreaking. But there’s an appropriate time for each action.

You wouldn’t embrace one who has betrayed you – unless there’s been some serious reconciliation, of course. And you wouldn’t refrain from embracing someone close to you.

There’s an appropriate time for each of these postures.

Searching and Calling It Quits

Then there’s a time to get and a time to lose. Or – really – a time to search and a time to give up as lost what you’re searching for.

6 a time to seek,
and a time to lose;

Our oldest son used a pacifier when he was a baby. And there came a time when we wanted to get him to stop using the pacifier. We planned and prayed about how to get him to stop. Because we had heard how difficult it is for some kids to relinquish the pacifier. So, with a lot of prayer and planning, we were going to implement the “de-pacifiering”. But the thing was that one day my wife was with him at the table. And he was eating. My wife was making some food and had her back turned to him. He had his pacifier and he had taken it out of his mouth and it was in his hand. My wife remembers hearing him throw the pacifier to the ground. We looked for that thing for a while. There was – for us – a time to search for it. Not that we wanted it back – we just wanted to know where it was! But as much as we searched, we couldn’t find that thing! We asked our son where it went. He didn’t know. We ended up moving out of the apartment and we still couldn’t find it. So, hopefully someone since then has found it and put it to good use.

I give that as an illustration of the search process and the end of that process when you need to give up on the thing as lost forever. There’s an appropriate time for both events in this life.

Keeping and Throwing Away

Next, there’s a time to keep and a time to throw away.

a time to keep,
and a time to cast away;

My wife and I were in rare form on Friday. We somehow were given grace to go into cleaning mode. Oh, we were throwing away stuff left and right. It was great. I even got rid of some 3 ½ ” floppy drives. You might not even know what those are! Yeah, some of my wife’s old college papers were on them. And I had just kept them – maybe I could excuse my hoarding instincts as biblical. I mean, there is “a time to keep”, after all. No, that’s not why I did it, of course. But there is a time to keep. I mean, sometimes it’s fun to look at those documents. And you never know when you might want to access them. But when you don’t even have a device that can read the files anymore, you know it might be the appropriate time to – as Qoheleth says – throw away. And so, that was our appropriate event Friday – to throw a bunch of stuff out – magazines, old electronics, papers – it was the appropriate time to throw those things away.

Rending and Sewing

There’s also a time to rend and a time to sew. There’s a time to rip a garment apart and a time to sew it back up together.

7 a time to rend,
and a time to sew;

A lot of my old clothing ends up as rags around our house. Sometimes I see pieces of an old shirt and think – oh yeah, I remember that shirt! But then I see that it’s all ripped up and I’m brought back to the reality that the appropriate time had come for that old ratty shirt to be made into a rag. It was time for it to be rent or torn up.

At the same time, I might have a shirt or some pants that have a small tear in them. And it might be more appropriate to sew those back up instead of just automatically rending them and turning them into rags.

There’s a time for either course of action.

Silence and Speaking

There’s a time to keep silence and a time to speak up.

a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;

And we can struggle with this one. When to speak and when to keep silent. There’s a right time for both.

Can you imagine a person that speaks all the time? Well, you actually may know someone like that. It’s not pleasant.

And you also may know what it’s like to have a person that never speaks – and not because he physically can’t. But because he won’t. He remains silent no matter what.

Neither of these people are ideal or healthy. There is indeed a time to both speak and to keep silent. You and I need wisdom to know which activity is appropriate at any given time. But both are appropriate in their appointed time.

Love and Hate

There’s a time to love and a time to hate.

8 a time to love,
and a time to hate;

There’s a balance to be achieved here, too. Someone who loves everything in this world is imbalanced. And someone who hates everything is likewise imbalanced.

That’s because God himself balances love and hate. The Bible tells us that God is love. That’s a direct quotation. But we’re also told that he hates certain things and individuals.

Jesus in the book of Revelation tells us that he hated the deeds of a certain group of individuals. Hate? Yes.

God tells us that he hated the individual Esau and loved the individual Jacob. Hate?? Yep.

The point is that God is balanced. He loves the world so much that he sent Jesus to die for our sins. But he hates the world so much so — that if you’re a friend of the world you make yourself an enemy of God — and he goes on and commands his people to not love the world, just like he doesn’t.

God’s love and hate is balanced. And it should be with his creatures as well. There’s an appropriate time to both love and hate.

War and Peace

And lastly, there’s a time of war and a time of peace.

a time for war,
and a time for peace.

Now, when I lived in Fort Atkinson I used to see a sign between there and the little town of Milton that said “Peace Now. Stop the War.” Now, I think I recall this sign being there from way back in 2004 or so. And it’s still there, the last time I checked. This guy has had this sign up for over a decade. What war is he talking about? I get the sense that he’s probably just against all war and so, it doesn’t matter if we’re talking about the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the war against the Islamic State, or whatever else – if it’s war, there are people who are just automatically opposed to it, no question.

But there is a time for war. We might wish that there wasn’t. And there will be a time when Jesus returns and reigns and then there will be no more war. But in this life there is war. There’s an appropriate time for war.

But there certainly also is an appropriate time for peace. Both activities find their appropriate time or season under the sun.

And so you have these 14 couplets of 28 activities that find their proper time under the sun. And all of them are the exact opposite of the other. And yet, the fact that these activities are the opposite of the one they’re paired with – that doesn’t change the fact that there’s an appropriate time for each of the activities mentioned.

So, we’ve begun to see the human quest for meaning being satisfied.

Enjoy life. It’s God’s gift to you right now.

And think of time as an orderly system in which every activity falls into place and has its appropriate time.

Time

So now, we’ll consider how God views time.

We’ve been seeing that the book of Ecclesiastes is very down-to-earth. Who would have thought that God wants our mindset to be on enjoying the simple pleasures he gives us in this life? Eating. Drinking. Working. We’re supposed to enjoy those things. That’s what we learned so far.

And the key to transform our meaningless, futile life under the sun? God! God is the key in turning the monotony of life into something meaningful. And that means that not even the things that he gives us to enjoy are the key to enjoyment and satisfaction. No – they’re his gifts to us. And we always need to be careful to look beyond the gift to the giver. But as we’re looking to the giver he wants us to enjoy his gifts.

And so now we’re going to be receiving some more counsel from God along the lines of what we’ve just been discussing. What is God’s advice to you regarding what you should do in this world? This is I think what we’ll see in Ecclesiastes 3:9-22 — Enjoy Your Life Now.

Wait. Did I — an Independent Fundamental Baptist — just say that? The title of my message is Enjoy Your Life Now?? This sounds like one of the titles on the racks at Walmart under the Spirituality section right next to Oprah’s new book!

But I trust that what I’m about to proclaim here is faithful to the Scripture. I trust it’s true and if it’s God’s truth then it’s what we need right now.

So let’s be counseled by God on Enjoying Your Life Now.

Verses 9-22 in Seven Sub-Sections

We’ll start by noting that there are 7 sections in Ecclesiastes 3:9-22. Let me just briefly give you the breakdown of this main section and then we’ll come back and consider each one individually.

Verses 9-10

In Ecclesiastes 3:9-10 we have Man’s Work Revisited. Did you notice that through these first 3 chapters the Preacher has been speaking a lot about work? Even when he was trying to pursue pleasure for satisfaction he ended up working! So, the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 3:9-10 comes back to this theme of Man’s Work.

Verse 11

After that, he turns in Ecclesiastes 3:11 to Man’s Relationship to Time and Eternity. He’s already dealt with the theme of time in the Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Remember? A time to be born and a time to die, etc. But he hasn’t mentioned eternity yet. So, that’s what we’ll see in Ecclesiastes 3:11 – Man’s Relationship to Time and Eternity.

Verses 12-13

Then in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, the Preacher restates his thesis that Man Should Enjoy His Life & Work. And the first two sub-sections we just glossed over contribute to that conclusion that Man Should Enjoy His Life & Work.

Verses 14-15

After that, we’ll see the Preacher turning his focus to God’s Work. And he’ll tell us there that God’s Work is Permanent & Continuous in Ecclesiastes 3:14-15.

Verses 16-17

Then the Preacher takes some time to speak of a particular aspect of God’s Work – His Judgement of evil. So Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 speak of God’s Work of Judgement.

Verses 18-21

Next, The Preacher focuses on another work of God. Ecclesiastes 3:18-21 point us to God’s Work of Humbling Man through Death.

Verse 22

And the last of the 7 sections summarizes everything. Ecclesiastes 3:22 – Man Should Enjoy Life & Not Worry About the Future – Enjoy Your Life Now!

Verses 9-22 In Detail

So, now that we’ve laid some groundwork, let’s go a little bit deeper with this section.

Man’s Work Revisited

As I said, Ecclesiastes 3:9-10 speak of Man’s Work Revisited.

3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth? 10 I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.

So, again, we see the Preacher’s focus on work. In some ways these first three chapters at least seem to be the Preacher showing us the vanity and meaninglessness of work and labor and activity apart from God.

But we were led to believe that he was past all that negative stuff about how worthless work is. I thought he was just telling us about how we’re supposed to enjoy work and see it as a gift from God!

Well, then He goes on to ask about the ultimate profit that one can derive from work. Uh-oh. Again, this sounds negative – like he’s getting ready to smash all of our hopes again. But he doesn’t do that. No, look at the next section. It says that God has made everything – what? Beautiful. That sounds pretty positive.

Man’s Relationship to Time and Eternity

So let’s read Ecclesiastes 3:11 and consider Man’s Relationship to Time & Eternity.

3:11 He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.

I would imagine that “everything” here must include man’s work. Everything – including that work, God has made beautiful or appropriate. He’s made everything to fit beautifully in his time – or in its appropriate time. Again, this hearkens back to the Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. There’s an appropriate time for everything. And when an activity is done at the right time, the Preacher is saying that that’s beautiful.

And yet, there’s something beyond that. There’s something more to life than the things done under the sun. And the reason we know that that’s the case is because God has put the world in our heart. The word there translated as “world” is the Hebrew Olam – forever, long time, eternity.

God has put eternity in our heart. We know there’s more than what we’ve experienced thus far in our life. And it’s just out of our reach. That’s what the Preacher says. There’s this eternity out there beyond our comprehension. And it’s just dark enough that we can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning to the end.

We know that things happened before us and we know that things will happen after we’re gone from this life. But what those things were or will be – we don’t know.

But here again – God knows. And that’s what the Preacher wants us to remember. Yes, he focuses on the fact that we can’t know eternity past or future. But even more importantly – God does know those things.

And I think the idea is that you want to know that God. You want to make sure you’re on his side. He’s got work to do from eternity past to eternity future. And you want to be sure that you’re part of that work. I think that’s what he’s getting at.

Enjoy Your Work

So, the Preacher revisited the issue of man’s work. Then he admitted that even work in its time is a beautiful thing – while also adding the element of eternity that he wants his audience to be mindful of. And in light of all of that, in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 he asserts that Man Should Enjoy His Life & Work.

3:12 I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.

So this is the Preacher’s conclusion – rejoice, do good, eat, drink, enjoy your work – in this life. And recognize that this is all a gift from God – both the actities and the enjoyment that you can find in any of those activites – it’s all God’s gift to you. As much as he allows you to have, take it.

God’s Work is Permanent

That’s the conclusion regarding man’s work. And with that, the Preacher turns to consider God’s work. In particular, he asserts that God’s Work is Permanent, Complete, & Continuous in Ecclesiastes 3:14-15.

3:14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.

So, God’s work is permanent. What a contrast we see between man’s work and God’s work. Man’s work can grant a certain amount of joy. And God wants us to enjoy it as a gift from him. And yet it’s fleeting. It ends at some point.

On the other hand, God’s work lasts forever. Isn’t that interesting?

The work of man, at its best remains for a while and is given to others after the death of the man who did it.

But what God does endures forever.

And I think the question that the Preacher extends to the man under the sun who has hitherto had no interest whatsoever in spiritual unseen realities is – “Don’t you want to know this God? The one whose work is eternal?”

God’s Work is Complete and Perfect

So, God’s work is permanent.

Further, God’s work is complete and perfect. You can’t put or add to it. There’s nothing lacking from what God does – unlike the work of man. With human work, there’s always something that could have theoretically been done to improve on it. Not with God’s work, though.

And you can’t take away anything from it. It’s not as if he does anything inappropriate that needs to be corrected or taken out of his work. God’s work is complete and perfect.

Fear God

And we humans are supposed to take a lesson away from this fact of God’s permanent perfect work. We should fear before him. We should stand in awe of his work. We should see the great contrast between what God can do and what mere man can do.

Again, I think this is another chance that the Preacher is using to draw the natural man to the true God.

God’s Work is Perpetual

And lastly in this section we have that God’s work is continuous or perpetual. What happened in the past is happening now. And what will happen in the future already happened in the past. And the Preacher has used this line of argument before to discourage the natural man from being comfortable in seeking true fulfillment in the stuff of this life. But now he’s going to use this statement to point to God’s work and this attribute of it – that it’s continuous or perpetual.

I think that’s so significant. The same bare facts without God being placed properly in view can lead a man to despair. But put God back into the picture where he rightly belongs – and all of a sudden this is a good thing. Again, God makes all the difference. He makes the difference between you and me living a life of vanity and emptiness or living a life of fulfillment, being fulfilled by the only one who can provide that for us.

God’s Work of Judgement

But now we can move on to the next section in Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 where we’re directed to consider God’s Work of Judgement.

3:16 And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there. 17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

So, the Preacher’s eye turns to the fact of injustice in this life.

Now, it’s one thing when the injustice is perpetrated by individuals who are then judged in the place where that society designates as the place of justice – the place where justice is served out. The place where the righteous should be vindicated and where the wicked should be punished.

But that’s not what the Preacher observes. He observes the total overthrow of an institution. Because that’s what happens when you have an institution in a society that’s designed to mete out justice against evil-doers… when in fact the ones who are given such a charge are the evil-doers themselves!

And our minds jump immediately to perhaps several decisions made in our Supreme Court where it appears that there was wickedness and iniquity in the very place designed to condemn and stop those things. And this is a problem in our day. But we should be a little comforted – the Preacher experienced these exact same dynamics.

Now, I’ll just point out that this is one more reason that I think the author of this book doesn’t want to be too closely linked with Solomon. Because, if Solomon the king were to see injustice in places of judgement, you’d think that he’d do more than just say something in his heart – which we’ll see in the next verse.

Right? He could and would have been required to put an end to the injustice as the king. So, that’s another reason I would caution against equating the Preacher immediately with no distinctions with King Solomon.

So, the Preacher sees this injustice and iniquity and he does just like we do. He needs to work this out in his heart. It can be so distressing to see wicked men do the exact opposite of what even our consciences know is right and just. And here’s how the Preacher handles it.

He consoles himself with the undeniable and unavoidable fact that God will judge the righteous and the wicked. It’s going to happen. And – see – that conviction of future judgement is something that the natural man doesn’t have at his disposal. Because even if he does try to take comfort in it – he needs to come to terms with the fact that he’s a worthy recipient of that same judgement.

In the Preacher’s mind, his observation that there’s a proper time for everything to be done means that surely judgement is coming some day. Judgement is another activity – though when it comes to God’s judgement of course it won’t be under the sun. And yet just like every other activity, God has ordained a time for it to happen.

God Humbles Man

So the Preacher started considering God’s permanent, continuous, and perfect work. Then he zeroed in on God’s work of judgement. And next he’s going to lead us in considering God’s Work of Humbling Man through Death in Ecclesiastes 3:18-21.

3:18 I said in my heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts. 19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?

So, the Preacher is kind of working backward in his thinking now.

He started speaking of God’s work of judgement. But when does that judgement occur?

Well, it’s not in this life. The New Testament book of Hebrews tells us – “it’s appointed unto man once to … die.” And then what? “After this – after death – the judgement.” That’s the order of things. Death. Then judgement.

We’ve considered judgement, which is the end of the road. But how does one get to the judgement? Through death.

And so that’s the Preacher’s logic. He spoke of . Now it’s time to speak of the vehicle that conveys men to judgement – death.

And the Preacher says something in his heart again in Ecclesiastes 3:18. He muses about the estate of the sons of men. I think in the context this is speaking of the universality of death – the very matter he’s going to get to in this section. And concerning death, God has made it this way to humble men – by showing us that we’re beasts.

And of course this isn’t some hint of molecules-to-man evolution that was dreamed up by Charles Darwin. We are beasts in the sense that – Ecclesiastes 3:19 – as beasts die, so does man.

You might think that you’re above mere beasts. You might think you have some advantage or preeminence over – say – your dog. And yes in some ways you and I are higher than animals. We were made in God’s image. And yet, both you and your dog or cat or parakeet or your pet scorpion – both you and they will die some day.

We have the same breath that God gives and God takes away some day. Our bodies are all made of dust. And that’s interesting, because in Genesis we’re explicitly told that man was made of dust. And Genesis does tell us that God ordered the earth to bring forth living creatures. And between that reference and the one we have here in Ecclesiastes we discover that that process involved beasts being made of dust as well.

So, we’re all made of dust. And when that one breath we all have is removed we all go back to the dust.

And I think that last verse – Ecclesiastes 3:21 – is aimed at the man under the sun, who has no interest in spiritual realities. How do you really know – oh natural man – whether your end is any more special than the end of beasts?

And yet, if that natural man has been listening so far, he knows that there’s a judgement coming – and really, animals don’t seem to be a part of that judgement. So, there is a distinction between man and beasts – man is judged in the end. And yet in this life with what the natural eye can see, it appears that both man and beasts just cease to exist. Their bodies stop operating and they return to the ground from where they were originally created.

Enjoy Life and Don’t Worry

And in light of all that – in light of the fact that man will die just like a beast and that there’s a judgement to come and that all of this is God’s work and that it cannot be prevented and it cannot be changed – and certainly in light of man’s relationship to time and eternity – the Preacher returns to his assertion that Man Should Enjoy Life & Not Worry about the Future in Ecclesiates 3:22 to end this section.

3:22 Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him back to see what shall be after him?

Let’s start with that last statement. This is key – there will be events that occur after your death. And you’re not going to see them. You’re limited as a human. You die – as we’ve just been reminded of. And so, given that fact, you should enjoy your life now. Don’t worry about what’ll happen in the future. Just concern yourself with the present. And keep it in mind that the enjoyment of work and activity is your portion. It’s your inheritance. And like an inheritance, someone is leaving it you. Who would that be? Yeah, it’s God.

Conclusion

So, enjoy your life now – realizing the main role that God plays in it all – and reverencing him for that fact.

Meaning of Number 3

Number 3 is the number of good fortune.

The Pythagoreans taught that the number three was the first true number.

Three is the first number that forms a geometrical figure – the triangle.

Three was considered the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding.

Three is the number of time:

Past Present Future

Birth Life Death

Beginning Middle End

Three is the number of the divine.

Three is a sacred number in many religions.

In ritual many actions are preformed three times.

Three is the Number of Magic

We are all familiar with the expression “third time lucky”.

In fairy tales three is often the magical number.

Heroes and heroines are often offered three choices or three tests. They overcome difficulties on the third try.

Ethical Principles

In Zoroastrianism there are three ethical principles

1. Humata: to think good
2. Hukhta: to speak good
3. Huveshta: to act good

Muslim Divorce

Under Muslim law a man can divorce his wife by repeating the phrase “I divorce thee” three times.

Utopian City

Plato divided his Utopian city into three populations: Laborers – Guardians (warriors) – Philosophers (rulers)

The Borromeam Rings

The three Borromeam Rings are three rings that are interlocked.

If any single ring is removed, the two remaining rings will fall apart.

This has been used as a symbol of “strength in unity” for centuries in many parts of the world.

The symbol of the three rings that are interlocked is also known as “The Tripod of Life”. Christians may use “The Tripod of Life” to symbolize the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Nobel Peace Prize

On the Nobel Peace Prize Medal there is engraved a picture of three naked men. The inscription reads: Pro pace et fraternitate gentium, translated ” For the peace and brotherhood of men”. The medal was designed by Gustav Vigeland.

Valknut

The symbol of three interlocked triangles is called Valknut.

It was used in Viking times as a symbol for the slain dead.

Valknut is associated with the Norse god Odin.

The Vikings believed Odin would protect the dead warriors who died in his name. They believed they would spend their afterlife in Valhalla belonging to Odin.

The name means “Knot of the Slain”.

Primary Colors

Only three primary colors are needed to mix most other colors; red, yellow and blue.

3 Lies

According to Benjamin Disraeli (British Prime Minister, 1804-1881) there are three degrees of lies: Lies – Damned Lies – Statistics

Anniversary

In the Western world, leather traditionally marks the third year anniversary.

The Triple Goddess

The Triple Moon/The Triple Goddess.

It shows her three aspects as maiden, mother and crone.

It is often used by Wicca.

Astrology and the Tarot

Gemini is the third astrological sign of the Zodiac. (May 21 – June 21) Number three is the number of Jupiter.

Number three is lucky for Sagittarius.

In the Tarot, three is the card of the Empress.

The Empress stands for creation and growth. Reserved it warns of inaction.

The Shamrock

The Shamrock, the three-leaf clover, is a symbol of Ireland.

Saint Patrick taught Christianity in Ireland. He used the three-leaf cover to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (The Father, Son and Holy Ghost) in Christianity.

Saint Patrick died March 17, 461.

March 17 is celebrated as his feast day and named Saint Patrick’s Day.

The Leprechaun: Three Wishes

In Irish folklore there is a saying:

“If you catch a Leprechaun and set him free, the Leprechaun will grant you three wishes.”

Petals of the Iris Flower

Picture from Botanical Magazine, 1792  

The iris flower was a symbol of power in ancient Egypt.

It was often placed on scepters of rulers and kings. The three large petals of the iris flower symbolize:

Faith  – Wisdom – Courage

The iris flower is named after the Greek messenger goddess, Iris. She was also seen as the rainbow. Iris flowers were planted on the graves of women.

The ancient Greeks believed that the goddess Iris would lead the dead women to the Underworld.

The Troika

Lithograph (1819) artist: Aleksander Orlowski. The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

The word “troika” is a Russian word for threesome, triplet or trio.

A Troika is three-horse harnessed sledge.

Troika is also the name of a traditional Russian dance. The dancers dance in groups of three.

A Troika also means a committee consisting of three members.

During the rule of Stalin, the Troika was used to speed up the prosecutions of people accused of political crimes.

In that meaning a Troika consisted of three judges and replaced the normal legal system.

Three Grains

An old superstition from Britain states that it is lucky to find three whole grains in a loaf of bread.

Another bread superstition says it if you take three loaves of bread out of the oven at one time, a death of someone you know will occur within a year.

Rosetta Stone

The Three Languages of the Rosetta Stone The Rosetta Stone contains inscriptions in three languages: Demotic (Egyptian), Hieroglyphic and Classical Greek.

The Rosetta Stone helped reveal the secrets of Hieroglyphic writing. It is on display at the British Museum in London.

Dead Kings

Three English Kings have died in battle. 1. Harold II – October 14,1066  2. Richard the Lionheart – April 6, 1199  3. Richard III – August 22, 1485

Third President

Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States. 1801 – 1809.

Jefferson was the principle author of the Declaration of Independence.

He owned many hundred slaves. Jefferson passed a law in 1807 to abolish slave trade.

He was strongly against the Bank of America saying that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.

Animals

The octopus has three hearts.

Camels have three eyelids.

Cats have a third eyelid. It is called the haw.

Sonnet 3 By William Shakespeare

Number 3 in the Bible

Three is the number of The Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Three Wise Men came to Jesus bearing three gifts; gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Jesus spread Christianity for three years – according to the Gospel of John.

Jesus predicted that Peter would deny knowing him three times before the cock crowed. (Luke 22:34)

Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.

Jesus spoke of his threefold role:

the way – the truth – the life

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Saul’s (Paul) Conversion to Christianity

Saul was on his way to Damascus when he fell to the ground hearing the voice of Jesus asking: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

When he opened his eyes he could not see anything. “And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank”. Acts 9:9.

Saul converted to Christianity and was later known as Paul.

Paul suffered “Three times I have been beaten with rods. Three times I have been shipwrecked.” 2. Corinthians 11:25

Three Angels

• Three angels visited Abraham announcing that his wife, Sarah, was to give birth to a son. (Genesis, chapter 18)

Three Sons

• Noah had three sons: Shem – Ham – Japheth The story of Noah is in Genesis chapter 7 -10

Jonah in the Whale

Alter piece by Nicholas of Verdun, Klosemeuburg, Austria

Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale.

“And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” The Book of Jonah 1:17

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40

3 Days in Prison

Joseph was made governor after he had successfully interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh.

When his brothers arrived in Egypt to buy grain, they did not recognize Joseph. Joseph put them in prison for three days. Genesis chapter 42.

The Temptation of Christ

After Jesus was baptized, he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert.

During this time Satan tried to tempt Jesus three times. Satan was unsuccessful.

1. Satan asked Jesus to turn stone into bread. Jesus answered: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

2. Satan asked Jesus to jump off a pinnacle and rely on the angles to save him. Jesus said to him, “Again you shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Matthew 4:7

3. Satan asked Jesus to worship the devil in return for all the kingdoms of the world. Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! for it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Matthew 4:10  

Jesus raised three people from the dead

1. The only son of a widow from Nain. Luke 7:11-14

2. The daughter of the religious leader in Jairus. Mark 35 – 42

3. Lazarus of Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha. John 11:1-44

Parable of th Good Samaritan

“A man was going down from Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving   him half dead.” Luke 10:30

Three people arrived at the site where the man lay half dead:

1. A priest – passed without helping

2. A Levite – passed without helping

3. A Samaritan – showed mercy and took care of him

Number 3 in Buddhism: The Three Jewels

We find the number three in the Buddhist Tiratana. The Tiratana is also known as the Three Jewels of Buddhism.

The 3 circles are symbolic for:

 1. The Buddha

 2. The Dharma (his teachings)

  3. Sangha (his followers)

The symbol of The Three Jewels shown on a Buddha footprint.

Squabbling Day

The third day of the Chinese New Year is often called the “Squabbling Day”. People will avoid visiting family and friends on this day as it may result in quarrels. A visit to the temple is a better choice.

Buddhism – The 3 Cardinal Faults

At the very center of the Samsara, The Wheel of life, there are three symbols of the cardinal faults of humans.

The pig symbolizing greed

The snake symbolizing hatred

The rooster symbolizing delusion

The Holy Trinity in Hinduism

Three is the holy number for the Trimurti /Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

These three gods make up the One Supreme God, Brahman:

Brahma – the creator of the world

Vishnu – the preserver of the world

Shiva – the destroyer of the world

A tilak is a religious mark on the forehead. Devotees of Shiva may often be seen using a tilak of three horizontal lines. (Devotees of Vishnu use a tilak of two upward lines.)

At the beginning of religious ceremonies, it is common that the priest takes water in his right hand and drinks it.

This is repeated three times. This clears his throat before the chanting starts, he can do so with clarity and is absolved of sin. This is called “Aachman”.

3 Wise Monkeys

Japan – The Three Wise Monkeys

Hear No Evil

Speak No Evil

See No Evil

The Three Wise Monkeys – Toshogu Shrine, Japan. The Three Monkey Philosophy:

Kikazaru: covering his ears to hear no evil.

Mizaru: covering his eyes to see no evil.

Iwazaru: covering his mouth to speak no evil.

Baku – The Dream Eater

Baku has its origins in Japan and China. It is a strange, but cute hybrid creature featuring many different animals.

Baku has the power to eat nightmares.

Bad dreams go through Baku’s digestive system and are totally eliminated, leaving serenity in its place.

Baku will consume nightmares on request.

Superstition has it that a person experiencing nightmares must call out three times to Baku; “Eat it, Baku”.

The River of Three Crossings – Japanese Buddhism

The River of Three Crossings is also called the Sanzu River.

It is the river the dead must cross. There are three different places the dead may cross the river.

The karma (good and bad deeds of the person) determines at which point the dead may cross the river.

1.  The Bridge – the dead person with very good karma may use the bridge to cross over to the other side.

2.   The Ford – the dead person with good and evil deeds may wade across the river at this point.

3.   The water polluted with gruesome serpents.

The dead person with evil doings must wade across the river at this point.  

The Doll Festival

The Japanese celebrate Hina Matsuri, (Doll Festival) on March 3, the third day of the third month. The Doll Festival is also known as “Girls’ Day”.

Earlier it was believed that dolls could ward off evil spirits and illness. Dolls were sent floating down the river, to carry away trouble.

Now dolls are displayed on special platforms in the home. Dolls are also sent out to sea.

This is a special day devoted to the happiness and protection of girls.

Sun Goddess – 3 Symbols

Shinto – The three symbols of the sun goddess

The Mirror – symbol of truth and wisdom

The Jewel symbol of compassion

The Sword – symbol of strength and courage

These symbols are associated with the sun goddess, Amaterasu.

Culture Day – Japan

In Japan they celebrate Culture Day on November 3rd.

It is a National Holiday and the prestigious award “Order of Culture” is presented to a praiseworthy person who has promoted arts, science or culture.

The award is handed over by the Emperor personally.

Culture festivals are held throughout the country.  

The Tomoe symbolizes the three foundations of Shinto philosophy.

The three flames of the Tomoe symbol represent the Earth, Heavens and Humankind.

Number 3 in Mythology

In Mythology – they often come in groups of three…

Creating Mankind – Mayans

According to the Popol-Vuh, it took three attemps to create mankind. 

1. The first man was made of clay, but it was destroyed by a flood.

2. The second man was made of wood, but was washed away in a storm.

3. The third was made from maize, from whom we are all descended.

Inanna – Rose from the Dead after 3 Days

Inanna Rose from the Dead after Three Days and Three Nights – Sumerian

Inanna, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, descended to the Underworld to attend her brother-in-laws funeral. 

Ereshkigal (her sister) was the Queen of the Underworld, which was a dark and gloomy place. After arriving Inanna was killed.

For three days and three nights her corpse hung on a hook.

Enki (the god of freshwater, magic and culture), created two sexless creatures and sent them to the Underworld to save Inanna.

On the third day, Inanna returned to the world of the living. Her sister had demanded that someone was to take her place in the Underworld.

When Inanna discovered her husband, Dumuzi, had not mourned her death she was furious and ordered him to take her place in the Underworld.

Dumuzi was terrified and tried to escape, but a fly conveniently informed Inanna where he was to be found.

Dumuzi’s sister was in great despair and offered to take his place.

It was finally agreed that Dumuzi was to spend one half of the year in the Underworld and his sister the other half.

Manuk Manuk – Sumatran 

Manuk Manuk was the name of the fabulous blue chicken. This blue chicken belonged to the supreme god. On day Manuk Manuk laid three huge eggs. From these three eggs emerged three new gods. These three gods created the three different levels of the universe;

1. The heaven (upper world),

2. The earth (lower world)

3. The underworld.

The god/spirits of the entrance 

In Ancient Rome there were gods and goddesses for almost everything. The entrance of a home was protected by three different gods. They had the power to keep evil demons from entering the house. Cardea was especially good at keeping small children safe at night.

The three gods were:

1. Forculus – god of doors

2. Cardea – goddess of hinges and door handles

3. Limentinus – god of thresholds

Ancient Babylonia  

Ancient Babylonia told stories of the trinity creator gods.

Their names were:

 Anu – Bael – Ea

The 3 Rulers in Greek Mythology

In Greek myth three bothers Zeus, Poseidon and Hades were each rules of their worlds.

 1. Zeus – ruler of the sky

2. Poseidon – ruler of the sea

3. Hades – ruler of the underworld

Their equivalents in Roman myth were Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto.

The 3 Graces / Charities

The three Graces (Roman myth) were followers of the goddess Venus.

In Greek myth they were called the three Charities and were followers of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite was the goddess of love. In Roman mythology she goes by the name Venus.

The three Graces gave beauty to the world.

Every attractive human being could thank the three Graces for the gift of beauty. They chose the humans who would receive the gift of physical beauty.

The Moeraes

In Roman mythology the Moeraes were called the Fates.

1. The first was known as “The spinner”. She spun the life web of the humans. Her name was Clotho in Greek Mythology and Nona in Roman Mythology.

2. The second was known as” The Apportioner”.  She decided how long each human was to live. Her name was Lachesis in Greek Mythology and Decima in Roman Mythology.

3. The third was known as “The Inevitable”. She cut the thread of life when it was time for someone to die. Her name was Atropos in Greek Mythology and Morta in Roman Mythology.

In Norse mythology there are parallel goddesses called the Norns.

The ancient Romans and the ancient Greeks believed that the first seven vowels were invented by the Moeraes/Fates.

The Erinyes

The Three Erinyes were goddesses of revenge. In Roman myth they were called “the Furies”.

They were greatly feared as they showed no mercy.

They were particularly upset with anyone who killed a family member.

The 3 Hesperides

 “The Garden of the Hesperides” 1892 Painter: Frederic Leighton

In some versions of the myth there are Three Hesperides. In other Versions of the myth, there are Seven Hesperides .

They were the daughters of the Evening Star, Hesperus. Together with the serpent, Ladon, they guarded the tree with the golden apples.

The garden with the tree was located far west, beyond the sunset.

Atlas carried the celestial globe on his shoulders close by the garden.

 The tree with the golden apples was a gift from Gaia (mother Earth) to Hera (queen goddess) when she married Zeus (chief god). The three Hesperides were: Hespera – Ægle – Erythea

The Sacred Tripod of Ancient Greece

The tripod was sacred to the god Apollo.

In the Oracle of Delfi the priestess, Pythia, would take her seat on the tripod before going into trance.

Tripods were also widely used by ordinary people as alters.

Cerberus

“Cerberus” by William Blake (1757-1827)

Cerberus was the hideous three-headed watchdog of the Underworld.

His job was to stop anyone trying to get back to the land of the living.

Cerberus was the offspring of the monsters Typhon and Echidna.

The Judges of the Underworld

“Abduction of Europe” Rembrandt, 1632. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA.

The Three children of Europa (Greek myth)

The three judges of the Underworld were the three sons of Europe and Zeus. Their names were Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Sarpedon.

Europe was the granddaughter of Poseidon (the Sea god). Zeus saw her on the beach in Phænicia (Lebanon).

He changed himself into a beautiful bull.

Europa climbed on the back of the bull (Zeus). The bull jumped into the water and swam across the sea all the way to the island of Crete. Zeus revealed who he really was on the shores of Crete.

From their union three sons were born. These three sons ended up as the judges of the Underworld, after they died.

Hecate, the three-faced goddess

(Hecate – Greek myth, Trivia, Roman myth)

Hecate by William Blake, 1795. Tate Galley, London

Hecate was goddess of farmland, earth and fertility during daytime. She could also help women during childbirth.

She was also said to have offered protection to travelers, because she could see in all directions at dangerous junctions.

Three-faced statues of Hecate were often found at forks in the road looking in three directions.

At night she was a moon-goddess. During the night she was associated with magic and witchcraft.

She was the protector of witches, sorcerers and wizards. Hecate could appear quite sinister. She was accompanied by a pack of ghostly and scary dogs. 

The ancient Greeks would offer food at these places to please Hecate or if they needed to do some magic act which needed her approval and blessing.

Hecate was associated with the three phases of the moon.

Number 3 in Norse Mythology

Picture by Ludwig Burger, 1882

The three Norns were the goddesses of Destiny.

Their names were

1. Urd (Fate),

2. Verdani (Present)

3. Skuld (Future).

They sat spinning the thread of life and had the power to decide the fate of every human being, god, giant and dwarf.

In Greek and Roman mythology there are parallel goddesses called the Moeraes and the Fates.

The 3 Roots of Yggdrasil – The Tree of Life

1. The first root went to Asgard, where the gods lived. Under this root was the well called Urd.

The Norns poured water from this well over Yggdrasil to keep the tree healthy.

2. The second root went to Jotunheim, where the Giants lived. Under this root was Mimes well. Mime was considered to have great wisdom.

Odin (the chief god) once traded an eye for the privilege of drinking from this well and thus gaining great wisdom.

3. The third root went to Niflheim, the horrible Underworld.

The well under this root was called Hvergelmir.

The Creation Story in Norse Mythology

In the beginning of time, before the world was created there were three different areas:

Niflheim – Land of mist

Ginnungagap – the great void between Niflheim and Muspelheim

Muspelheim – Land of fire

In Ginnungagap the first Jotun (troll) was formed. His name was Ymir.

Also in Ginnungagap the primeval cow named Audhumla resided. Ymir enjoyed drinking milk from the teats of the cow. Audhumla loved salt. The cow found a salty rock and started to lick it.

1. On the first day hair came out from the rock.

2. On the second day a head grew from the rock.

3. On the third day the rest of the body emerged from the rock.

The very first god (Aesir) had been created. His name was Buri. Buri was to become the grandfather of Odin.

Creation of the World – Norse Mythology

Three brothers created the world. In Norse myth the three brothers, Odin, Vili and Ve, killed the first living monster called Ymir and created the world from his body parts.

The blood became the oceans.

The flesh became the land.

The bones turned into mountains.

The teeth turned into stones.

The hair turned into plants.

The brain they threw up into the air and that was how the clouds were created.

The brothers created the first two humans. The three brothers were walking on the beach.

Picture of Ask and Embla by Robert Engels (1866 -1920)

They found two trees; some say two pieces of wood from two trees. From these two trees the three brothers created the first two humans.

They named the man, Ask. He was made from the Ash tree.

They named the woman, Embla. She was made from the Elm tree.

1. Odin blew the breath of life into Ask and Embla.

2. Vili gave them movement and intelligent minds.

3. Ve gave them shape, hearing, sight and speach.

The 3 Fimbulwinters

The Fimbulwinters were three hard and extremely cold successive winters with no summer in between.

The three Fimbulwinters were the last three winters before Ragnarok (the end of the world).

Fimbul means “great”. It may be noted that there was a climate change in the Bronze Age around 650 B.C.

Heimdall

 Three Nights – Three Lovers – Three Social Classes

Heimdall was the god who guarded the rainbow bridge (Bifrost). He was the son of nine mothers.

Once he disguised himself as a mortal, calling himself Rig.

1. He visited a poor couple and dined with them. He was invited to sleep in their bed. Three nights he slept in their bed. When the husband was sound asleep he made love to the wife. Nine months later the wife gave birth to a son. This boy became the ancestor of the serfs.

2. The second couple he visited was better off. The same thing happened in this house. The wife gave birth to a son, he became the ancestor of the peasants.

3. The third couple lived in a wealthy home. Again he spent three nights making love to the wife when the husand was sleeping. Her son became the ancestor of the nobility. This is how the Vikings explained that the three social classes were created by the Heimdall, the rainbow god.

The 3 Children of Loki

Loki was a jotunn (giant) and a god. He lived with the gods and caused them much trouble. He had three well known children.  

   1. Hel – She was the ruler of the Underworld called Niflheim. Those who died of sickness or old age were sent to Hel. It was not a pleasant place.

2. Fenrir – Fenrir was the gruesome wolf, who would eventually kill Odin (the chief god) at Ragnarok, the end of the world.

3. Jormungand (Midgard Serpent) – The huge and monstrous serpent. Odin threw the serpent into the sea that lies around all lands.  Hel, the ruler of the Underworld had a three-legged horse. The three-legged horse was called Helhest.

Gullveig – Died 3 Times

Died Three Times and Rose from the Dead Three Times Gullveig was a master of witchcraft and black magic.

She showed up mysteriously in Asgard (the home of the gods).

She was filled with greed for gold and power.

Gullveig was described as an evil woman. The gods decided to kill her.

The gods stabbed her with a spear and threw her into the flames.

Three times they burned her. Three times Gullveig came back to life.