In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break 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”, and in chapter three and verse five of his book Solomon shared about, “a time to cast away stones, gather stones, embrace and refrain from embracing”, where we read,
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
The verse reads, “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;” Solomon began with the words, “a time to cast away stones” or “an occurrence and experience to throw, hurl and fling rocks, carbuncles and plummets”, “and a time to gather stones together” which means “an occurrence and experience to assemble and collect rocks, carbuncles and plummets with one another”. Solomon contrasted the occasion when rocks are discarded and when they are collected.
The verse continues, “a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;” Daniel added the words, “a time to embrace” or “an occurrence and experience to clasp and fold the hands”, “and a time to refrain from embracing” which means “an occurrence and experience to remove, become distant and far away from clasping and folding the hands”. Solomon contrasted the occasion when a person uses their hands to clasp with an occasion for removing and becoming distant from clasping.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon continued to contrast activities which seem opposite to one another. He included throwing away and collecting “stones” as well as “clasping versus not clasping”. Each of these have their purposes and are important at the time, and God knows we may be involved in each of them. God desires to have an intimate personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead after three days. When we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and accompany us with His Holy Spirit regardless of whether we are “casting away, collecting, embracing or keeping from embracing” as we live in the world.
Next time Solomon shares about, “a time to get, lose, keep, and cast away”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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