3 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck 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;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw 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 of war,
And a time of peace.
season (v.1) = when a certain event is scheduled to take place (which is appointed by God and cannot be altered). Same word translated as “time” in Nehemiah 2:6 and Esther 9:27, 31. — Grace, page 1170
time (v.1) = the amount of time an event takes
purpose (v.1) = event
time (vs.2-8) = an appointed time
kill (v.3) — never murder, but war or capital punishment
It is the take of all my commentaries, including Grace, that these verses mean that everything is arranged according to God’s providence and sovereignty. These verses cover the total of human experience and show that all of it is up to God. I agree with that except that I don’t think God is orchestrating all our moments and circumstances during the Age of Grace. For us, I think that these verses mean that all these “times” will happen at some point, no matter who we are or how we attempt to order our lives.
