The Tyranny of Time
For Meditation
Humans have an uncomfortable relationship with time. Even though we often live like we have plenty of it, deep down we are all aware of how little we have of it. We say things like “There's not enough hours in the day,” or “Make the most your time,” acknowledging the limitations of it. We know deep down that we are really out of control of what time we have, and yet we do everything we can to control it. What would Qohelet have to say about all this?
Well, turns out he has a lot to say. In what is probably the most famous portion of this book (made famous by Pete Seeger and the Byrds), he offers a beautiful meditation on what it's like to be human within the confines of time in this world. He talks about all the various things that happen to us in the different seasons of life, from birth to death. And he ultimately asks, what is all this for?
His reflections lead us on the one hand to face honestly the limitations and finititude of our lives. But ultimately his invitation is to surrender to God as the one over all time, and to find in our lack of control a pathway to real contentment and peace. It's only when we surrender to the one who holds all time that we can find peace within the time God has given us.
In preparation for worship, read and meditate on Psalm 90. What would happen to you if you released your entire life, past present and future, into the hands of God?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.