A Time to Rend, Sow, Keep Silence and Speak - Ecclesiastes 3:7

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon contrasted different times including, “A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away”, and in chapter three and verse seven of his book Solomon shared about, “a time to rend, sow, keep silence and speak”, where we read,

A time to rend, and a time to sow; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 

The verse reads, “A time to rend, and a time to sow;” Solomon began with the words, “a time to rend” or “an occurrence and experience to tear and pieces or cut out”, “and a time to sow” which means “and an occurrence and experience to sow and affix together”. Solomon contrasted the occasion for tearing versus the occasion to affix things back together.  

The verse continues, “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;” Daniel added the words, “a time to keep silence” or “an occurrence and experience to be quiet, inactive and still”, “and a time to speak” which means “an occurrence and experience to utter, declare, converse, promise, warn and threaten”. Solomon contrasted the occasion to keep quiet versus the opportunity to declare and warn. 

When we think through Solomon’s words in this verse, we see how he continued his list of contrasting activities, and in his redundant manner, he spoke of tearing, mending, being quiet and making declarations. Each of these activities are important in their proper element and “time”, however, God desires to have a personal intimate relationship with us through His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind. When He raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through belief and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit so regardless of whether we are “rending, sowing, keeping silent or speaking” He will be with us and guide us as we live before His eyes. 

Next time Solomon shares about, “a time to love, hate, war and have peace”, 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".