Ecclesiastes 3: 5 …a time to gather stones together…

 I just want to point out that Cindie really followed up the last study "a time to cast away stones” with great commentary. Very though provoking. A few comments she made will be used in the weeks study. This week we are looking at "a time to gather stones together”. That last word in that phrase is key. Together! If you are gathering stones together that would imply you are building or constructing something. Something that is taking shape.

Some verses stones were used to build.

Genesis 28:11   And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

Genesis 31:46  And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.

Exodus 28:12   And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

Exodus 28:17  And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

Nehemiah 2:17-18  (17) Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. (18) Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

  I think you can get the drift on the use of gathering stones together. As Cindie mentioned last week, "Stone is mentioned 367 times in the Bible. Rock is mentioned 128 times.”  There will be some importance when something is mentioned that many times. Stone is the strongest building format. Even today we use concrete to use as the equivalent of stone for building foundations. Steel on its own is not good enough but needs a good hard rock foundation to hold it properly.  Look at all the world’s ancient structures made of stone and how they still stand in their natural environment. Without human intervention, it takes years if any for rock to be weekend by nature itself. When the Bible tells us there is a time for gathering stones together that means we should be building for the long haul. The foundations of our very life need to be set on a rock foundation.

Luke 6:48-49: (48) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. (49) But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

 Those verses in Luke are very key for our walk in Christ. Jesus clearly talks about our foundation being built on rock is the key. Now to get to the meat of this study. Jesus is the Rock we need to be gathering. All His teachings show us how to live a moral Godly life.

Matthew 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Luke 8:13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

1 Corinthians 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Isaiah 28:16  Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

1 Samuel 2:2   There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Matthew 16:16-18

(16)  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18)  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

What Jesus tells Peter is what we should be striving to live our life for. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus is our foundation. The stones we gather need to be building that foundation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus is the rock of our foundation.

 No matter the reason or purpose of us gathering rocks, it is to be sure to have a firm foundation. As long as we gather in the name of Jesus for our purpose, we know it will hold strong and withstand anything thrown against them. Every teaching of Christ we need to gather and keep adding to our rock foundation as we saw earlier in Matthew 7:24.