In 1965, an American folk rock band called “The Byrds” had a number one hit song with “Turn, Turn, Turn” thus making a passage from one of the Bible’s most unusual books one of the most unlikely additions to the pop culture soundtrack of the 1960’s.
Legendary folk singer Pete Seeger wrote “Turn, Turn, Turn,” but in reality, the lyrics are almost a verbatim transcription of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Here’s what that scripture says,
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:The passage’s content, along with its rhythm and cadence, creates the impression of a world set on repeat–of predictable cycles and routines.a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what 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 throw 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 throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
Feast and famine, war and peace, love and hate–round and round go the seasons of life.
But predictably can be a double-edged sword, at times offering comfort and dependability in life’s steadfast relationships and blessings, at others, creating dread and anxiety as we face challenges and pressures that just won’t let up.
The predictable world of Ecclesiastes falls into this latter camp. In fact, I’d go so far as to say the passage from Ecclesiastes is disorienting because it lacks a clear prescription for how to heal what is broken within life’s cycle.
There’s no “should” or “ought to” language here, just a reflection on what is–a perspective that has bedeviled and confused readers of scripture for centuries.
People of faith, after all, crave direction and purpose and often find strength to face life’s unrelenting challenges because we have a sense that we’re at least making progress, or a difference, or doing good work.
But Ecclesiastes tends to withhold such comforts.
Whereas prophets like Isaiah cast a vision of what the world could be if the Faithful changed their ways or lived by love or what will be when God takes decisive action on behalf of the poor and outcast, the Teacher at the heart of Ecclesiastes was laser focused only on what is happening right here, right now–a point of view that has led to charges of nihilism, hedonism, and even godlessness.
Some have asked, where’s hope in this book? Where’s faith? Where’s God?
This morning I want to make this unusual passage into a key to unlock some powerful truths about Advent, waiting, and the relationship between having hope for tomorrow, but being rooted and grounded in the here and now.
So let’s take a closer look at chapter 3 and the song lyrics.
One of the most unsettling aspects of the passage is the inclusion on the list of all things that have their season of forces that we regard as wicked and problematic, specifically killing, war, and hate, for example.
Is Ecclesiastes saying that these aren’t as bad as we’ve been led to believe?
What’s going on here?
I don’t think Ecclesiastes is endorsing destructive actions and attitudes or telling us that they’re somehow part of God’s plan for us.
Ecclesiastes doesn't declare that it’s God’s will that people are going to hate each other so don’t bother trying to change that.
Rather, Ecclesiastes asks a question, “How are you going to live your life in a world where destructive forces like these exist?”
What this passage, this scripture, this Word from God, wants to know, even if your hopes and dreams for peace, justice, and all things holy will be realized tomorrow, what will you do today when those same hopes and dreams look like little more than a flickering candle in a sea of darkness, or, in Ecclesiastes’ famous refrain, when those hopes and dreams look like the “vanity of vanities,” like a cloud of breath dissipating on a snowy morning.
“When you’re waiting for God to move, what do you do in the meantime?” the wise Teacher asks.
One of the readings for this Third Sunday of Advent invites similar considerations.
The Epistle, or Letter, of James addresses a very common phenomenon among Jesus’ followers–the same Jesus who loves and calls people like us has a way of loving and calling people that we don’t care about so much.
Leaders like James and Paul knew that God was molding and shaping the people into something beautiful and important, inviting and empowering them to participate in Creation’s amazing redemption story, but even as the Spirit continued to work within them, old habits died hard among God’s people.
James recognized that one of the most persistent habits was the way the people talked down to and disrespected one another.
He wrote,
In the language of our Methodist tradition, we are going on to perfection, but we still have a very long way to go.
So, what do we do in the meantime?
You know, looking back at The Byrds’ big hit, there were only two lines from the song that Peter Seeger didn’t take directly from the Bible. The first was the title, “Turn, turn, turn.” The second was the song’s last line. That’s where the Seeger shared his own hope for a better world.
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late.
Do you carry in your heart today dreams for peace, or healing, or turning your life around, or making a positive difference in our community or in this church?
Are you hoping that tomorrow will be better than today?
Don’t despair because it’s never too late.
And in the meantime, be patient, strengthen your hearts, and don’t grumble against one another.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pete_Seeger_sings_(cropped).JPG
The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of life, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:6-8)
With this, James had identified the fundamental tension at the heart of Christian discipleship–the tension between the promise that we are a New Creation and will be filled with God’s love, but that we’re still, very much, works in progress.Be patient, therefore, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. (James 5:7-8)
When we’re waiting for God to complete a good work in our midst, be patient, strengthen your hearts, and don’t grumble against one another.A time of love, a time of hate
That might not come from the Bible, but Seeger’s hope wasn’t misplaced.
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