Ecclesiastes 3:1–15 presents a poetic structure of the cycles of human existence followed by a brief commentary explaining that, within these transient cycles, God has set eternity on man’s heart. The rhetorical question in Ecclesiastes 3:9 suggests that man’s “toil” is included in the transience of life’s seasons, and Qoheleth concludes that it is a gift of God for man to take pleasure in his “toil” (3:13b). From God’s eternal perspective, all the seasons of life are fixed (3:1–9, 14–15), and yet humans live within those seemingly endless cycles with eternity on their hearts (3:11). How does humanity prosper in light of this dichotomy? What practices has God put in place so that mankind can both thrive in the everyday cycles of “toil,” and also yearn for eternity in the fear of the Lord (cf. 3:14b; 12:13)?
As one considers the concept of time in ancient Israel, surely the Sabbath would come to mind. Michael LeFebvre, in his book The Liturgy of Creation, shows how the agricultural calendar was derived from the creation week and also influenced the festival and work calendar for Israel. Sabbath was an important part of Israel’s liturgical calendar to remind them of both God’s provision and also of Creation rest. While Sabbath provided an important understanding of “time” generically, it more specifically related to “toil” and “labor.” Hence, the day of rest balanced the toil of life such that man could enjoy his toil as Ecclesiastes suggests. Prosperity was not a matter of health and wealth without work, but rather, it was about enjoying seasons of labor precisely because God is the one who provides rest, even eternally.
Bringing this concept of Sabbath into Ecclesiastes 3:1–15 we now see how Qoheleth’s movement to eternity relates to life’s “seasons.” The author of Hebrews interprets that “the promise of entering [God’s] rest still stands,” (Heb 4:1) and “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” (Heb 4:9). As Christian readers of Ecclesiastes 3:1–15, we find that in addition to the sabbatical cycles of daily life, remembering our eternal rest, as a return to Creation rest, also fuels genuine prosperity. In other words, a clear recognition that God is our Provider in the cycles of life and in eternal rest allows believers to find pleasure in their toil in this life and to rest securely in God’s sovereignty over the seasons of life. Therefore, Sabbath is also a reminder to God’s people “that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man” (Eccl 3:13).