Man Knows Not His Time - Ecclesiastes 9:12

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all”, and in chapter nine and verse twelve of his book Solomon said, “man also knows not his time” where we read,

For man also knows not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.

The verse reads, “For man also knows not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare;” Solomon began with the words, “for man” or “because, since and on account that man, a person whether male or female” “also knows not his time” which means “even so and indeed does not perceive, discern, distinguish or recognize his, the person’s, experience, fortune, occurrence or occasion”: “as the fishes” or “similar and in likeness to the squirming of the fish” “that are taken” which means “which are grasped, seized and caught” “in an evil net” or “within a bad, disagreeable, malignant and unpleasant stronghold, bulwark or hunting implement”, “and as the birds” which means “and similar and in likeness to the flying fowls” “that are caught in the snare” or “which are taken hold of, fastened and seized within the snare, gin or spring sheet”. Solomon said a person is unaware of the occasion when they will perish similar to the way a “fish” is seized by a hunting implement or like a flying fowl is taken hold of by a springing sheet.

 

The verse goes on to say, “so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.” Solomon added the words, “so are the sons of men” or “the same exist as the offspring and progeny belonging to people both male and female” “snared in an evil time” which means “enticed, lured, trapped and caught by bait within a bad, disagreeable, malignant and unpleasant experience, fortune, occurrence or occasion”, “when it falls suddenly” or “at the time and moment it, the snare in an evil time, surprisingly and instantly settles, lies and overthrows” “upon him” which means “on him, the person who is snared in an evil time”. Solomon said the offspring of people are lured, trapped and caught by bait within a bad and disagreeable occasion at the time the “snare” surprisingly settles on them.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how people are generally unaware of their “time” of death, and even like “fish” are caught in the fisherman’s “net” or flying fowls are seized within the springing sheet for trapping them, death may happen at any “time”. God knows our time of birth and our time to expire (See Ecclesiastes 3:1-2; Psalm 139:16; and Job 14:5), and His desire is to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind before we expire. When God raised Jesus from the dead after three days, He made the way for us through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit so we are guided into all truth and prepared to go to be with Him in Heaven whenever our time of death arrives. (See 2 Corinthians 5:6-8)

Next time Solomon says, “this wisdom have I seen also under the sun”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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