Ecclesiastes #7

Introduction:

Connection:

Apathy is the farthest away we can get from godliness. Apathy de-humanizes us. Apathy is the opposite of the heart of Christ. Apathy is the poison of true religious affections.

Theme:

Oppression, People, and Thrones

Need:

We need tender hearts, strong relationships, and wise rulers. We need to learn how to live in God’s good, but broken, world.

Purpose:

To affect our hearts with compassion, to strengthen our relationships in life, and to long for wise rulers while trusting in the Ruler of the kings on earth.

Recap:

Last Sunday morning we studies the reality of God’s beautiful plan over all things in his perfect timing, of our proper response of humility to God’s wise sovereignty, to remind us of the coming day of judgment, and to prepare our hearts for the reality of eternity. Now we come to live in light of eternity, in our pilgrimage through this life of hebel.

Open your Bibles:

Eccl. 4:1-16 ESV

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) Oppression Under the Sun should Hurt Us Weepingly - v. 1-6

Ecclesiastes 4:1–6 ESV

Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

(1) Oppression Under the Sun should Hurt Us Weepingly - v. 1-6

Last week Solomon showed us the reality of wickedness where there should be righteousness. In the place where justice should dwell, behold, there was wickedness. Here he shows us that in the place where there should be peace, love, and protection—there is oppression, abuse, and tyranny. In the place where there should be safety—there are powerful and evil men.

He says: I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them (v. 1).

I recently heard from a seasoned pastor that ‘truth must not just be known, but felt. We want to be men and women of felt truth. Where the truth grips our hearts, enlarges our affections, and thus causes us to pour forth in service and devotion’. The more we feel the truth, the more we will live in light of the truth. This goes for the natural and the spiritual realms, the visible and the invisible.

Here Solomon is looking at the world that is under the clutch of Satan, the father of lies, and the great deceiver. Satan, and men who are willfully enslaved to him, use their God given power and authority for harm, abuse, and oppression. This causes damage, it causes pain, it causes destruction, it causes sorrow, it causes trauma, it causes discord, it causes fear, it causes scars—scars that don’t fully heal in this life.

Solomon sees oppressors and the oppressed, and his heart aches within him—with compassion and pity—with anger and fury—with love and mercy.

Don’t misunderstand. Solomon is not a Marxist. Solomon does not believe that everyone is inherently in one of two categories: oppressor or oppressed. This is not what he is saying. But he is saying that it is true that oppression exists, and the tears of the oppressed are quite painful.

We all get squeamish and twisted up when we hear the stories of oppression face to face. Our hearts ache. Our souls lament. And often times we don’t even know what to say. Gibson recounts a story of oppression—the abuse of a helpless child from his own parents:

Peter Connely (referred to as ‘baby P’ during the trial of his parents) was a seventeen month old boy in London who died after suffering over fifty injuries during an eight month period. During that time he was repeatedly seen by health care professionals, who failed to notice the harm he was enduring. He was left in a home of unspeakable abuse and trauma by people who had the power to rescue him … allowing yourself to dwell on such atrocities becomes unbearable. The death of defenseless children is one of the worst evils in our world. It is one of the most upsetting scenes to witness and the most crushing of losses to endure. The smallest coffins are the heaviest”

As we hear stories like these our guts flare up with pain, our stomachs fill with disgust, our hearts break, our souls fail us, and our spirit is perplexed and wearied within.

The oppressors of this world, whether they exist in the nation, in the city, in the church, or in the home—those who yield power with a tyrannical and abusive lordship—they cause tears and pain—and Solomon weeps: there is no one to comfort those who are oppressed. Oftentimes these things rarely come to the light, and people are left to bear the weight of abuse in the darkness of closed doors. But take heart, for our God and Father sees all things—no one can escape his presence—and he bottles the tears of his children. There might be no human to comfort us, but there is the Godman, Jesus Christ—who is moved with pity and sympathy toward all his suffering saints (Heb. 4). Every single tear that has been shed due to abuse—God knows and God will bring justice. And every single ounce of pain inflicted by oppressive men and women will be brought to the light before the judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 4). And behold, says Solomon—not only is there no one to comfort the oppressed, but there is no one to comfort the oppressors in their unrepentant sin. God have mercy, God bring justice, God bring peace.

This leads Solomon to say something quite stark: I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun (v.2-3).

The pain of hebel, this life of vanity, this fleeting vapor of existence—life in this sinful, broken, guilt-laden, shame-bearing, and rebellion-exalting world—life in this cursed and desolate wilderness—when we honestly look at the pangs of life, whether in our own existence, or in the existence of others—the same Solomon who just confessed to believe in the all-encompassing sovereignty of God—is the same Solomon who here says that sometimes it’s better to be dead, or even better: to have never been born.

Gibson says: “The happiest state of all is not even to exist in the first place”

God hasn’t given us all the answers. We can’t choose to be born—that is God’s prerogative. These are real-life pains of life in the real world. These are real-life questions in the real world. And biblical integrity does not erase them—rather—it enlarges them—and it should affect us even more deeply, as it did to Christ, who wept over the lost, who wept over death, who wept over the pain of this fallen world.

Let it sink in—and then take it to the Cross—the only place where we can ever make sense of the problem of evil and suffering—only at Calvary’s Cross—where the Godman bore the oppression and abuse of sinful men, where Jesus paid the penalty for our iniquities, where Christ secured mercy and eternal life for all who believe—only at Calvary is there hope for those whose hearts ache within—only at Calvary is there hope for both perfect justice and radiant mercy.

Not only does physical oppression hurt Solomon, but so too does his sight of societal abuse, of relational envy and pride. He then says: I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and striving after wind (v. 4).

Not only do people suffer physically or emotionally or mentally under abuse—people suffer spiritually in their own souls by sinning, living in envy, and wreaking havoc on other people who are made in the image of God.

Did you know that this verse summarizes the American Dream? Get to the top, ascend the world of corporate success, envy others and seek to be better and bigger than them—and to this Solomon says—it is vanity, it is vapor, it is fleeting, it is a mist—it is not the way of the good life under the Sun.

Envy and sinful jealousy lead many to sacrifice their lives and families upon the altar of their work, trying to get the promotion—but they never stop to consider that it’s all a mist, it’s all going to perish, and it’s all selfish. (Not godly work—but envious work). But Solomon doesn’t just call out the workaholic, but also people who are lazy. Both sins cause Solomon’s heart to ache:

He says: The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh (v. 5).

If the workaholic and man of envy is a man of vain vapor—so too is the lazy fool. Think about this image that Solomon gives us. While some oppress others physically, some oppress themselves through laziness. The fool folds his hands and arms—he doesn’t engage himself in work and vocation—he sits back and waits for the government cheques—he sits on the couch all day, or all night—and Solomon says he eats his own flesh, he destroys himself, he ruins himself, and he feeds into his own sinful addiction to slothful pleasure.

Alas, Solomon concludes this section by saying: Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind (v. 6).

You could also translate quietness as rest. It’s best to have a handful of rest, of peace, of calm, of quietness—resting in God and his good gifts, including work and recreation—than to have two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. It’s better to slow down in the pursuit of God and his glory, than to fill yourself with vanity. Such a vain pursuit is like trying to shepherd the wind, like trying to gather in the fog of the morning, like trying to catch the smoke of a candle that has just been put out.

Borgman says: Do not be consumed with envy and rivalry and work your life away because you want to be richer and better than your neighbour. But don’t sit at home and play Candy Crush all day either, boasting how non-materialistic you are. The way to really live this life which God has given you is to balance your toil with rest. Take a day off. Remember the Sabbath, the Lord’s Day]. Rest and relaxation are vital for enjoying the gift of life which is filled with so much labor.

Don’t be a workaholic, and don’t be a slothful laziac! Rest in God with a hand full, honour the Lord’s Day, so your other hand is freed to be generous and loving to those around you, who need you more than you know.

Weep over physical oppression, weep over spiritual oppression, weep over existential agony, weep over workaholics, weep over slothful laziacs, rest in God, and slow down, fear God, and keep his commandments. How are you doing in these areas?

(1) Oppression Under the Sun should Hurt Us Weepingly - v. 1-6

This leads us to our second point:

(2) People Under the Sun should Help Us Warmly - v. 7-12

Ecclesiastes 4:7–12 ESV

Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

(2) People Under the Sun should Help Us Warmly - v. 7-12

Solomon here shows the sadness of a lonely life, before he shows the joy of a relational life.

First, he shows us the sadness of the lonely life of vanity: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil (v. 8a).

This man or woman is an only child, or perhaps all of their siblings have died and they alone are left. They are not married, they are not working to provide for their family or household, they are merely working to spend all their income on self. This is not merely about singleness. You can be single and not be the person described in this text, because of true fellowship. However, the person described here is lonely, working for self, working long hours, working late shifts, and he gets home, there is no one to fellowship with, there is no one to love, there is no one to chat with, there is no one to play games with, there is no one to eat with—yet there is no end to all his toil.

Solomon adds: His eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks ,for whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure? This also is vanity and unhappy business (v. 8b).

This person is only set on increasing the balance of his bank account. He is consumed with storing up treasures on earth. He is taken up with the love of money. And because of this he is never satisfied in riches, he is always and ever coveting more and more, bigger and better—this leads him to slave away for money, for work, for riches—and it leads him to never even ask the question: what is the point of all of this? Why am I toiling? Am I toiling for money? My money will one day perish.

Materialism is one of those accepted sins in Christian churches. Materialism is one of those respectable sins in Evangelical circles. It has a great grip on many of us—if we were to step back and examine our lives—what do we live for? How do we use our money? Where is our treasure? What makes our heart beat? Do we live for riches? Or do we live for eternity? Only you can answer that question in your heart. Where are your true riches? Where your heart is, there your treasure will be.

Materialism is a fleeting pursuit—it cannot satisfy—and Solomon says it is an unhappy business. Loneliness and Materialism is a sad life. So secondly, he shows us why solid-relationships are better than lonely riches.

He says: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But who to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! (v. 9-10).

Two are better than one. Two are better than one in every way! We were made for relationships. We were made for community. We were made for fellowship. We were made to help each other. We were made to encourage each other. And for those men and women who attended those retreats in the past two weeks I hope you can say a hearty amen to this! When you have family and friends to work for, when you have brothers and sisters to fellowship with, you have purpose in your work and life—working and living to provide and lavish others with good gifts, like your Father who is in heaven. The key to happiness in this broken world is not being a hoarder, but a generous giver. Not being an isolated fool, but a wise friend.

When you stumble, fall, sin, and trip up—good relationships are the means to getting up again. Fellowship is the rope to grab ahold of when you are in the sinking sand. Relationships are key to pressing on in the race of faith. Woe to the one who is alone, who is the lone ranger, who is the solo Christian, who thinks that he can get to glory in his own strength—he will soon find out that lonely Christianity leads him to selfish Spirituality. When you are separated from the Body of Christ, failing to use your spiritual gifts for the edification of the Body, when you are not in the covenant-community—you life for me, me, me, instead of us, us, us. And in so doing, you deny the faith—you deny the fact that salvation is not merely individual but corporate. We are saved into the people of God, the body of Christ, the temple of God, the household of faith, and the church of Jesus Christ. Woe to him who is alone, and has no one to lift him up. Woe to him who neglects church membership. Woe to the one who neglects the warmth of Christian fellowship and godly relationships.

Solomon continues: If two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken (v. 11-12).

Fellowship and Relationship warms the body and soul during this journey of life. This world is a battle ground, and we need each other to fight the good fight of the faith. When enemies arise, we need to arm ourselves with Christian brothers and sisters to withstand the evil one, doing all to stand firm. We need to confess our sins, build each other up, and lock arms in this warfare.

We need the strength of a threefold cord woven together into our lives by the grace of the Triune God. Oh to be men and women of triune strength in the triune God, in godly relationships as we march onward toward Zion! If we neglect this we neglect the warmth that God has provided to heat us up in the cool of the desert night.

Two nights ago Dave Moore convinced a couple of us guys to stay out on the island overnight before the men’s retreat—which led me to be preaching two sermons the next day on 3 hours of sleep! It was quite cold—to the point where I had to get up at 12:30am and start the fire to stay warm. When we are far from the fire of God’s people, we quickly lose our spiritual heat.

Bridges says: The live coal left alone soon loses its vital heat. But heap the coals around it, and we have a warm atmosphere. The most lively believer left alone is in danger of waxing cold in selfishness. But the precious communion of saints warms the Christians from the very centre. All is sound, when the members of the body have the same care for one another. Oh let us ponder well the deep responsibility of our social obligations. Are we discharging them as unto the Lord—for the honour of his name, and for the edifying and increase of his Church? Did we but pray for each other as we ought, what a brotherhood would the family of man be! The time is short. Opportunities are passing away. Happy those, who have been fellow-helpers on earth! They shall rejoice before their gracious Lord with joy unspeakable.

A mentor once said to me: ‘God doesn’t need us, but oh do we ever need each other’. Oh the importance of good relationships—on the natural side of things in this created world—and on the spiritual side of things in the life of the church. Relationship is the means to persevering in this pilgrim journey to the celestial city, to a fruitful life in this fallen world, and to a joyous community as God’s beloved children.

(2) People Under the Sun should Help Us Warmly - v. 7-12

This brings us to our third point:

(3) Thrones Under the Sun should Protect Us Wisely - v. 13-16

Ecclesiastes 4:13–16 ESV

Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

(3) Thrones Under the Sun should Protect Us Wisely - v. 13-16

Solomon has started with oppression under the sun, then relationships under the sun, and now he moves to politics under the sun. He writes to remind us that political saviours are quite poor saviours after all. Even as one who was the covenant King of Israel, there is no eternal hope in any such kings, even Christian Kings—our only hope is in the King of Kings whose kingdom cannot fail, whose kingdom endures forever, whose kingdom is founded upon the blood of the everlasting covenant of grace. Nonetheless, Solomon has a story of political success and vanity to share with us, to remind us that wisdom should mark our rulers, but to remind us that wise and godly rulers still leave us shackled to the snares of death and hebel.

He says: Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice (v. 13).

Oh to never get to the point in our lives when we think we have reached the apex of wisdom and knowledge, that we have plumbed the depths of the Scriptures, that we have reached sinless perfection—no, no—we are ever in need of growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We, as well as political rulers, must never become unteachable due to pride.

He continues this story about the wise youth who ascended to the throne: For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he has been poor. (v. 14).

God has lifted this wise youth to a position of honour and dignity. With wisdom lavished in his heart, to rule in the fear of God—he ascends to the throne to lead. He knows the poor, because he was once poor. He knows justice and mercy and he has great prospect of saving the nation.

Solomon adds: I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led! (v. 15-16a).

This was a great kingdom of great numbers, eager and excited to be led by this wise and young ruler. Finally our political party will rise up to end oppression, to bring back the good old days, to restore the land to peace and prosperity (all of which are good and noble things)—but none of which have the power to save us from this vanity and vapor of life. And so Solomon concludes:

Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind (v. 16b).

Eventually he will die, the political success will be overturned by the next party and candidate—all his work will return to the gutter—he will be forgotten in the coming ages—all his wisdom and experience will not rewrite the fabric of hebel. Yes, this too is fleeting, yes this too is trying to shepherd the wind.

Godly politics, is a godly thing, and a godly task—but it is not a godly Saviour. For such a thing we need a greater King, a King who can free us from the shackles of oppression in this world, who can restore us to true relationship with God, who can give us strength to withstand the evil one, who can grant us citizenship in an eternal kingdom, who can rule us with infinite wisdom and perfect leadership, who lives with the power of an indestructible life.

Blessed be God for Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Jesus Christ came from heaven as the eternal Son of God, who enjoyed eternal bliss and pleasure in the arms of God the Father (Prov. 8)—who became poor, become a true human, body and soul (2 Cor. 8:9). He suffered the affliction and oppression of wicked men (Acts 2:23). He obeyed the law, with good works, with true love, with proper motivation, and perfect fulfillment (Gal. 4:4-5). He went to the Cross to satisfy the wrath of God, to redeem us from our sins, to restore us to right relationship with God, to reconcile us to our Creator, to adopt us into the family of God, to give us the right to call the Father of Christ, our Father in Christ (Rom. 5-8). He rose from the dead to send the promised Holy Spirit who would be poured out to make us new creatures, to give us new life, and to fill us to live for the Eternal Kingdom of Christ that cannot fail (John 14-16). And we receive this gift of salvation by free and sovereign grace, received by faith alone, and joined with a repentant heart. Turning from sin, trusting in Jesus—receiving the gift, and resting in His promises (John 1:1-14).

Oh this King is no vain king, this King is no fleeting King, this King is no shepherd of wind—He is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, He is the Shepherd of the Church, He laid his life down for His Sheep, and He is leading them home to the green pastures of Zion—where abuse will be banished, where death will be vanquished, where brokenness will be made whole, where relationships will be restored, where the King will dwell in the midst of his people, and we shall worship Him world without end, singing:

Revelation 5:9–10 ESV

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

So indeed we sing this morning: worthy is the Lamb who has freed us from the shackles of hebel, has given us a living hope, and has given us the living Word and Spirit to lead us through this wilderness of hebel on the way to the promised land of the heavenly Zion. Earthly kings should rule in wisdom, but only our heavenly King rules in grace and salvation—and one day he will reign in justice and righteousness in the New Jerusalem.

(3) Thrones Under the Sun should Protect Us Wisely - v. 13-16

This leads us to our conclusion:

(C) Oppression should Hurt Us, People should Help Us, and Thrones should Protect Us—but only Christ can Save Us.

Oh to have soft and tender hearts, like Christ our Lord—who wept over sin—who triumphed gloriously over it—and who will return to bring justice to the nations.

Borgman says: We should not ignore oppression or injustice. We should not tolerate envy, greed, or isolation. We should not be consumed in politics as if it were our only hope or only interest. Instead, we should receive rest and companionship as gifts from God’s gracious hand. With grateful hearts, we should look to Him alone. As David said, ‘some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God’ (ps. 20:7).

Titus 3:4–7 ESV

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Hebrews 12:28–29 ESV

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

(C) Oppression should Hurt Us, People should Help Us, and Thrones should Protect Us—but only Christ can Save Us.

Amen, let’s pray.