There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven- a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; a time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
Shall we all sing “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be) now? Solomon’s fatalistic tribute to time may be beautifully poetic but I don’t believe he was really at his best when he wrote it. He sounds like a tired ruler who has been worn out by his 900 wives (can you even imagine!) and discouraged in his worship of idols. At one point Solomon may have been the wisest man on earth but his unwise choices regarding wives and worship in themselves may keep him out of the Wisdom Hall of Fame. And even though he is past his prime, he continues to journal. Here are a few of his (somewhat tarnished?) gems…
“There is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.”
“God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.” For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.”
It seems Solomon’s capacity for hope has been sacrificed to the idols he worshipped. Regarding the future, he believes God has worked so as to intentionally obscure (or even obliterate) it so that men might focus completely on their three (or 2) score and ten allotment of years. Listen to his sermon…
He has also set eternity in their heart, so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end…..That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.
Humans and animals come to the same end—humans die, animals die. We all breathe the same air. So there’s really no advantage in being human. None. Everything’s smoke. We all end up in the same place—we all came from dust, we all end up as dust. Nobody knows for sure that the human spirit rises to heaven or that the animal spirit sinks into the earth. So I made up my mind that there’s nothing better for us men and women than to have a good time in whatever we do—that’s our lot. Who knows if there’s anything else to life? (MSG)
I am remembering Country Joe McDonald’s impartation of wisdom after his cheerleading debut at Woodstock. Joe may have just listened to the Byrds’ rendition of this scripture passage and been under Solomon’s spell. Indeed, Solomon’s wisdom may have fueled the 60’s moral devolution.