That Time King Solomon Wrote A Hit Rock Song

You’ve probably heard, “Everything happens for a reason.” It is usually shared after a negative event occurs. It is a well-meaning line that has come under fire by some others with supposedly well-meaning purposes. It seems that this concept can offer encouragement, but usually only after the negative experience has passed. While it can be an insensitive way to try and help someone make sense of a tragedy, it is grounded in truth that God is overseeing all of our activities and can bring about the purpose He desires... even out of a bad situation. And that makes the phrase valuable.

But not only does everything happen for a reason... everything has a season. One of the more popular songs over the last 60 years is Turn, Turn, Turn, written by Pete Seeger and made popular by The Byrds. Except for the title and the last line, it is basically taken verbatim from Ecclesiastes 3.

To everything, turn, turn, turn.
There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to be born, a time to die.
A time to plant, a time to reap.
A time to kill, a time to heal.
A time to laugh, a time to weep.

To everything, turn, turn, turn.
There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to build up, a time to break down.
A time to dance, a time to mourn.
A time to cast away stones.
A time to gather stones together.

To everything, turn, turn, turn.
There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time of love, a time of hate.
A time of war, a time of peace.
A time you may embrace.
A time to refrain from embracing.

To everything, turn, turn, turn.
There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to gain, a time to lose.
A time to rend, a time to sew.
A time for love, a time for hate.
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late.

The song was written in the late 1950s, but became popular in the turbulent 1960s. It hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart on Dec. 4, 1965. It has been covered or performed in concert by dozens of the top names in the music industry, and has the distinction of being the #1 hit with the oldest lyrics, as King Solomon wrote 99% of the lyrics we find in Turn, Turn, Turn. Seeger basically added the music and a title.

King Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. Like the book of Proverbs, it is full of wise sayings and good philosophy. This passage reinforces the idea that life is full of good and bad. It is a balance. While we would rather there not be death, war, losing, hating, etc. each season has its purpose in a broken world. God is making things new. But in the process, He often has to break some stuff. In the process, we often break stuff.

One of the first things we find God doing in the Creation of the universe is stipulating that there will be seasons… times for various activities including growth and decline. One of the more difficult things about seasons is remembering that a new one is coming when you are in the middle of the one you are going through now. Basically, we should enjoy and endure the season in which we find ourselves. I wish I did better at this. As the world turns, or orbits around the sun, we enter into new seasons. As our lives turn, or orbit around the Son, we enter into new seasons.

Today you are in a season of your life. You may be sowing, or you may be reaping. You may be laughing, or you may be weeping. You may be at peace, or you may be in conflict. Something may be coming alive, or something may be dying. Do not get bogged down in the negativity of your season, or get out of balance by the positivity of it. Be sober-minded, taking it for what it is. Like the weather, your season will change soon enough. Be ready for that by being content with where you are at all times.

Here are King Solomon’s words…

There is an occasion for everything,
and a time for every activity under heaven:
a time to give birth and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to tear down and a time to build;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
a time to search and a time to count as lost;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to be silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

[Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.]

Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry.

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