Ecclesiastes 3:8 (ESV Strong's)
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
There is a Time for ...
The opening verses in chapter three are all about, “There is a time for ______ and a time for ______.” In all eight of the verses there is a strong contrast, like the one above. Solomon will, in just a couple of verses from the above, write:
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV Strong's)
He has made everything beautiful in its time ...
God can make everything, based upon His decree, “beautiful.” Even what we read above. There is a time to “love” (most would think this is the ultimate choice we make) but, there is also a time to “hate” (most would think there is a never a time to hate). There is a time for “war” and a time for “peace.” Yet, most would believe that there is never a time for war and peace should always be what we desire and “fight” for. Yet, God in His wisdom and His plan makes sure that these contrasts are always in harmony and are always in His plan and for His glory. We ought not to go to one extreme or the other. We are to hate what God hates; we are to love the way God ways; we are to war for God’s kingdom; we are to have peace by God’s Spirit. This is all God centered. When it is, we can understand the balance. When it is in the flesh it is out of balance and the extremes are dangerous. We are to love and hate and war and seek peace in God’s manner and for His glory.
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