Psalm 180 from Beyond Psalm 150
The book of Ecclesiastes shares Solomon’s personal journey of trying to find meaning and purpose in his life. It’s a dismal saga, discouraging and void of hope.
Early on Solomon shares a pessimistic view about the seasons of life. He opens acknowledging there’s a time to be born and a time to die. He ends the passage stating there’s a time for war and a time for peace. If someone wasn’t discouraged before reading Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s words could easily bring them to that point.
We’ll treat this passage as a psalm, a song even. Others have done just that, with the song becoming an international hit by The Byrds in 1965.
Here is the biblical portion of this psalm turned hit song.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 (WEB)
a time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to break down,
and a time to build up;
a time to weep,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance;
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 seek,
and a time to lose;
a time to keep,
and a time to cast away;
a time to tear,
and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence,
and a time to speak;
a time to love,
and a time to hate;
a time for war,
and a time for peace.
Reflections on to Everything There Is a Season
Similar to the perplexing nature of this passage, weaving its way throughout the book of Ecclesiastes is a meandering path of discouragement and disillusionment.
Given this, it’s easy to miss the last two verses of the book, which put everything into perspective.
Solomon concludes his search for meaning by saying that we are to fear God and obey his commands; this is our duty—the meaning and purpose of life (see Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).
Does this psalm from Ecclesiastes lift us up or pull us down?
Does it fill us with hope or overwhelm us with despair?
What role does God play in our answers?
What role should he play?
May our purpose in life be to love God and obey him.
Explore the other psalms—sacred songs of praise, petition, and lament—scattered throughout the Bible in Peter’s book Beyond Psalm 150.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.