Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Ecclesiastes 4:1-16. In case you’re wondering, since I believe that Qohelet, known as the “Teacher” and the main speaker in Ecclesiastes, is best identified as King Solomon, I will refer to him interchangeably as Qohelet or Solomon.
Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 (NIV)
1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed– and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors– and they have no comforter.
2 And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive.
3 But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
On verses 1-3: Some who argue that Qohelet can’t be Solomon point to verses like verse 1 and say, “How can Qohelet really be King Solomon when he talks about oppression this way, like a bystander who can’t do anything about it? Surely a king wouldn’t talk this way.” My response would be two-fold. First, Qohelet does say that he was king of Israel (see 1:12), so whether one thinks a king would say something like this or not, the fact is Qohelet is saying it. Second, Solomon was the most internationally connected king in Israel’s history. He visited and was familiar with other nations (and especially their women) and must have seen things in other countries that weren’t happening in his own kingdom. I suspect Solomon saw horrible oppression in other countries that did not necessarily exist in his own country.
It seems that whenever Qohelet begins to focus on what he saw or what he observed, the things he mentions are often not positive or hopeful. Here Qohelet is so disgusted by the evil he has seen in this world that he draws two conclusions: First, those who have died are better off than those who are now living because the dead don’t need to see any of that evil anymore (v2). Second, those who have never been born are better off than anyone else because they’ll never need to see any evil at all (v3). Verse 2 is debatable, but in any event I believe this statement is more about how great is the evil that exists in this world than Qohelet really advocating anyone to end their life early or never be born, as if that were even possible.
What can we learn from this? We all want to live in a world where evil does not exist, and yet evil is real. Praise God that one day God will put an end to evil once and for all. But if we want to be with God when that day comes, we need to let God deal with the evil that is in us, first and foremost by receiving Christ and allowing His blood to cleanse us of evil and unrighteousness in us.
Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 (NIV)
4 And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
5 The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.
6 Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
On verses 4-6: If I had to explain how verses 4 to 6 fit together, I’d explain it this way: Instead of burning yourself out trying to keep up with or get ahead of those you envy, which is meaningless (v4), and instead of not working at all and being lazy, which is a recipe for ruin (v5), just work hard and be content with what you have (v6).
Ecclesiastes 4:7-8 (NIV)
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless– a miserable business!
On verses 7-8: It’s sad when you have wealth but no ability to enjoy it and no one to enjoy it with.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:
10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
On verses 9-12: Here we have some of the finest verses in the Bible on the power of teamwork. When verse 12 says that “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (v12), we can treat this as a reminder that a close relationship can be made so much stronger when both parties intertwine Jesus as the third strand in the relationship.
Ecclesiastes 4:13-14 (NIV)
13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.
14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
On verses 13-14: Through this story of a poor but wise youth who becomes a king, Qohelet seems to be saying that when you have wisdom, you can go places, no matter what your background. In contrast, you may have great wealth and power like a king, but if you are foolish and no longer know how to take a warning, your only trajectory for the future is downward.
Ecclesiastes 4:15-16 (NIV)
15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
On verses 15-16: In Qohelet’s story, the youth who succeeded the king was extremely popular for a while (v15-16a), but as the youth got older, a new generation of subjects didn’t like him (v16b). What can we learn from this? Just because a person is popular and well-received in one generation or in one place doesn’t mean that person will be popular and well-received by every generation and every place. In His sovereignty God determines the times and places where we should live (Acts 17:26) and with that the amount of influence we will have. Using what God has given us, and not worrying about what God has not given us, may we serve God’s purpose in our generation (Acts 13:26).
Thank You Father that I get to be part of an amazing team called Your church. Thank You for all the strength, support, encouragement and help we as Your church can give to one another, and how we are stronger together than apart. Using what You have given us, may we serve God’s purpose in our generation. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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