New Mercies: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
3 For everything there is an appointed time. There is an appropriate time for every activity under heaven: (Ecc 3:1)
Martin Luther, "All human works and efforts have a certain and definite time of acting, of beginning, and of ending, beyond human control. ... Everything comes and goes at the time that God has appointed" (AE 15:49).
2a time to give birth and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot plants, (Ecc 3:2)
10 I have seen the task which God has given the children of Adam to keep them busy. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Yes, he has also put eternity in their hearts, yet it is not possible for man to understand the work that God has done from beginning to end. (Ecc 3:10–11)
And, just as it is appointed for people to die only once and after this comes the judgment. (Heb 9:27)
3a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, (Ecc 3:3)
22 By the mercies of the Lord we are not consumed, for his compassions do not fail. 23 They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. (La 3:22–23)
4a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, (Ecc 3:4)
When the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came to the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked out through the window. She saw King David dancing and celebrating. (1 Ch 15:29a)
God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away. (Re 21:4)
5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace and a time not to embrace, (Ecc 3:5)
When Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet Jacob. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. (Ge 29:13a)
Why should you be led astray, my son, by an immoral woman? Why embrace a woman who is not your wife? (Pr 5:20)
Do you see these large buildings? There will not be one stone here left on top of another. They will all be thrown down. (Mk 13:2)
6a time to search and a time to stop searching, a time to keep and a time to throw away, (Ecc 3:6)
When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Mt 13:46)
7a time to rip and a time to sew, a time to be silent and a time to speak, (Ecc 3:7)
9 A person who quarries stones may be hurt by them. Someone who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10 If the ax is dull and no one sharpens its edge, the person chopping must apply more strength, but an advantage of wisdom is that it gives success. (Ecc 10:9–10)
Remember this, my dear brothers: Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak. (Jas 1:19a)
5b Consider how a little flame can set a large forest on fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. It is set among the parts of our body as a world of unrighteousness that stains the whole body, sets the whole course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. (Jas 3:5b–6)
8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecc 3:8)
For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16)
