Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:16

MAN’S TIMES (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11)

These are orderly and seasonable, but bring no permanent profit, because man is still ignorant of God’s purpose in them all. He does not know how to fit his work into God’s work. The conclusion is in Ecclesiastes 3:12-15.

GOD’S TIME (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22)

There is a suggestion in verse 17 that this is long. It will be a time, too, of judgment and manifestation (Ecclesiastes 3:17-18). Yet, and perhaps because of this, man’s death is not different from the beast (Ecclesiastes 3:19-21); conclusion (Ecclesiastes 3:22).

SUNDRY WRONGS AND VANITIES (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16)

Oppression (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3); envy (4:4-6); the lonely miser (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12); political disappointment (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16).