What do Hezekiah and David put in the place of this restless quest and

probing into things that are hidden?

'Let Israel hope in the Lord

From henceforth and for ever' (Psa. 131:3).

Hope that is seen is not hope.  Faith endures because it sees Him Who is

invisible.  Like Abraham it may have to go out 'not knowing whither'.  We see

by means of a mirror, in an enigma now.  We shall see face to face in that

Meanwhile in the presence of these things that God in His wisdom and

His love has purposely left unexplained or only dimly indicated, we bow

before His Fatherly care -- as a weaned child who does not think of

questioning the Father's care, rests in hope -- knowing that in God's

good time the rough places will be made smooth, every inequality and apparent

injustice completely rectified, and in the day of glory complete

understanding and satisfaction will be accorded to the redeemed family of

God.  Let us imbibe the spirit of Psalm 131 and know something of its peace.

'He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also He hath set the

world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God

maketh from the beginning to the end' (Eccles. 3:11).

Here is another passage from Scripture that makes it clear that some

element of obscurity, especially regarding 'the beginning to the end' is by

no means accidental.  God has actually arranged that man should not be able

to comprehend the whole purpose of the ages, but focuses the attention of His

believing people on that portion which belongs particularly to the present

phase.  The key to the teaching of this passage is to be found in the

continual insistence upon 'time':

'Everything is beautiful -- but only "in His time"'.

The world, that is set in the heart of men is the Hebrew olam, the age.  From

the beginning to the end, are the extremes, within which time operates.  Man,

destined for eternity, is purposely limited.  Let us examine this passage a

little more closely.

'Time'.  Generally speaking, time may be defined as 'the measure of

movement', 'the sensible measure of any portion of duration', 'the perceived

number of successive movements'.  But the notion of time includes more than

this.  It may mean 'an age', or it may mean 'the fit or opportune time'.  It

may indicate this present life, etc.  Before we can understand the intention

of Ecclesiastes 3:11, we must be certain what aspect of time is intended.

Limiting ourselves to the Old Testament we find that the Hebrew

language suggests the following aspects or phases:

Time, as measured by days.  Hebrew yamim (Gen. 4:3).

An appointed time.  Hebrew moed (Exod. 34:18).

A fit or opportune time.  Hebrew eth (Job 39:2).

A beat or a step.  Hebrew paam (Gen. 33:3).

A foot.  Hebrew regel (Exod. 23:14).