Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

C. GUIDELINES FOR WORKING WITH GOD UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

1. How to work under oppression Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

TEXT 4:1-3

1

Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.

2

So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.

3

But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 4:1-3

84.

What new inequity does Solomon now observe?

85.

What qualifying phrase (Ecclesiastes 4:1) places the restrictions on this activity?

86.

Give evidence that the oppression was severe.

87.

What increased the tragedy of the oppression?

88.

Did anyone comfort the oppressed?

89.

Who received congratulations? Why?

90.

Who is better off than either the dead or the living?

91.

What qualifying phrase appears again in verse three?

PARAPHRASE 4:1-3

Then I turned to look closely at all the acts of oppression under the sun. Just as I had previously been confronted with the problem of corruption of justice, so now I see the oppression of the helpless. I witnessed the tears of the oppressed. What compounds their tragedy is that they have no one to comfort them, and the authority is on the side of the oppressor. They themselves have no avenger. Both of these inequities were foremost in my mind, so I sang the praises of the ones already dead. I said, Congratulations to the dead who died long ago for they are more fortunate than the living who are still alive. Then it occurred to me that the one who is truly the fortunate one is neither the dead nor the living, but the one who has never existed. He is better off than both of them because his mind has not been filled with the knowledge of the evil activities done under the sun.

COMMENT 4:1-3

Ecclesiastes 4:1 I looked again indicates that he is considering the same theme in this section that he was discussing in chapter three. The again implies that a new illustration of injustice or the inequities of life is under consideration. On two occasions the qualifying phrase under the sun appears in these three verses which indicates that what one observes is apart from heavenly values. The act of social injustice that now arrests Solomon's attention illustrates the vanity of all earthly things and endeavors.

One is confronted with a very basic problem that is common to all men of every age: Why is it that wicked men prosper and often have the authority on their side, while the righteous are often poor and suffer oppression? Since this is often the situation, and it appears to be so in Israel at this time, one is lead to the erroneous conclusion that wickedness pays profitable dividends while godliness results in poverty and affliction. If one interprets the meaning apart from the heavenly values, the conclusions could indeed be very dismal. The extreme statements of the Preacher in these three verses must be understood in this light. If one fails to interpret his observations in the light of the under the sun restrictions, he finds the Preacher contradicting himself later on in his message. However, Solomon knew what we know about the justice of God. He knew that God is patient, long-suffering and correct in all of His dealing with men. It is from this vantage point that he writes, Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13).

Because of similar circumstances today, one of the most difficult things is for the Christian to keep his priorities in order. There are certain values which belong within the inner circle, next to the heart, in one's life. At the same time, there are things which must be kept on the periphery, and constantly challenged to keep them from eroding the truer values or invading the inner circle where things have no claim. Yet, how many people do you know who are living purposeless lives simply because they have allowed themselves to be deceived by the riches of this world, or the pleasures derived from participation in such evil deeds of injustice that meet the Preacher's searching eyes in our text? The extreme observations of verses two and three would be the most plausible in the world if this life were all there is to living. The young man struck down in the prime of his life; the young mother left without guardian, provider or companion; the poor, neglected and often persecuted by wicked men who grow fat from withholding what should be shared with the less-fortunate, or even at times what is rightfully theirs; they all cry out to the emptiness of living and the futility of the life that thousands must endure on the face of the earth. However, such was the situation described in detail by James (Ecclesiastes 5:1-6), and in view of all that Jesus Christ means to the Christian he was able to admonish them to steadfastness and joy with the words, You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door (James 5:8-9).

What is the oppression? In Ecclesiastes 5:8 we are instructed again not to be shocked by such oppression as it may very well be commonplace among us. In any system where men govern men, authority is often corrupted. It may be that in carrying out the necessary instructions of the king in accomplishing his great works (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11), that the result was that which the Preacher now observes. There were many areas where authority could be violated and the process of graft take place. With a king so obsessed with the desire for personal pleasure, many such violations of justice could go unnoticed throughout the land.

The intensity, and perhaps widespread influence, of the oppression was evident in the actual tears of the poor. If they only had a just man who was in an authoritative position to plead their cause. But no! The authority is on the side of those who are persecuting them. They might turn to one another for some word of encouragement, but this would be hurt turning to hurt. They needed healing. Yet, there was no one to heal them.
It is not a picture of a merciless tyrant holding all the people under the authority of his rule. It is rather the picture of a thoughtless king who has only his own interest at heart and closes his eyes to the cries of the innocent who are trampled in his pursuit of pleasure and personal satisfaction. Perhaps enough people in the land were enjoying the superfluity, or overflow, of the king's wealth. In this case those who suffered were not numerous enough to mount any meaningful rebellion against the wickedness of those in high places.

Ecclesiastes 4:2 When the Preacher contemplated such a sight, he quickly decided that the fortunate ones were those who have already died and do not have to share in this travesty of justice. Congratulating the dead is a rather dramatic, picturesque description demonstrating that such behaviour would actually be humorous if it were not so serious.

Ecclesiastes 4:3 Upon more serious contemplation, he decided that there is one who is better off than either the living or the dead, and that is the individual who has never been born! He is not speaking of abortion in order to shut out the life of one before he sees the light of day, but rather the one never conceived or possibly miscarried (Ecclesiastes 6:3). Such a one will never have to feast his eyes upon the evil activities taking place in the midst of what has once been a nation noted for her justice and righteousness.

FACT QUESTIONS 4:1-3

154.

What does I looked again indicate?

155.

Does he consider his observations in the light of heavenly values? Discuss.

156.

What basic problem is under consideration here?

157.

What truth, shared by the Christian, does Solomon explain in Ecclesiastes 8:12-13?

158.

Write out a priority list for yourself as you are living life today? Would it be arranged differently if all things were removed from the top?

159.

What does James teach us that motivates toward steadfastness?

160.

What is the oppression spoken of in verse one?

161.

How could such oppression be explained in the time of Solomon?

162.

Why could not the oppressed people organize their forces to protest the evil?

163.

Did the oppressed have even one just man to plead their cause?

164.

Who had the authority?

165.

Who were the truly fortunate ones? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 4:2)

166.

Is abortion recommended by Solomon in verse three?

167.

What evil thing will never be witnessed by the unborn?