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Defer to Caleb
Tonight’s passage is in a chunk of Ecclesiastes where Solomon writes about his observation of the world around him (contemplating life)
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.
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.
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.
Pray
Are any of you “people watchers?”
What about people watching makes you a “people watcher?”
I really like to people watching at the Airport
So many types of people and walks of life merging in one place
They're all so different but also all kind of the same…
In a sense Ecclesiastes 4 is Solomon “people watching”
Not at one place and one time, but over the course of his life
It’s him watching the world around him and contemplating life
Trying to make sense of all of this, “what’s the point?”
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.
What is the first group Solomon observes?
The oppressed and the oppressors
What does he notice about them?
They are mistreated and there is no one to comfort them (injustice)
The bad guys have power (injustice)
It’s hard to understand!
Have you ever been there?
I have. God this doesnt make sense! Why God!?
Maybe you feel like the one who’s been cheated in life while you watch the worldly be seemingly blessed
Solomon witnesses this and comes to the conclusion that the dead are better off
Really those who were never born are the luckiest
Let’s look at the next group.
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.
Who is Solomon people watching here?
The workaholic and the lazy bum
One guy work and works just to keep up with everyone else (rat race)
How do you see the rat race in the world around you? In yourself?
You see it in adults who work to much just to keep up with the Jones’s ( need that new car, bigger house, nicer vacation, bigger retirement)
You do it too (new phone, new brands, gotta be the best at whatever I’m into, need the cool truck, best grades)
Whatever it is for you ask yourself “why do I feel this unrealistic pressure?” “Am I trying to keep up?”
Then there’s the other guy (no motivation, no drive, avoids anything difficult at all cost)
Where do we see this around us?
People who can work but live off of the government
It’s not just adults, it’s in your world too (never study, barely getting through school, only interested in immediate gratification, i want the same reward as everyone else with none of the effort)
“Eat their own flesh” their lifestyle leads to their own wasting away (like a man who takes a nap and starves to death)
Solomon does give some direction though in verse 6
Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
Not empty hands of the sluggard or the two fistfuls of the workaholic but contentment with having what I need (this is pointing us to the greater truth at the end)
He tells us the “better way” but how to get there (maybe he wants us to anticipate the answer)
Ok next group…
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.
Ok who are we looking at?
The Self Seeker, a wealthy Loner who looks out for number one (finds worth in his bank account, give him security, his selfishness means he has no companion[by his choice and other choice] he wont let anyone be close)
It may look like he has friends but really people just like to be around the rich and powerful. (No real family or friends)
Think Ebenezer Scrooge
It doesn’t have to be money it can be anything that puts us on top
Robin Williams was the most successful comedian but he was empty and isolated and miserable enough to kill himself
Think Justin Bieber who has everything he worked for but wrote “lonely”
Again Solomon shows us the “better way”
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.
He’s talking about more than just having friends
He’s talking about brothers and sisters in faith
“fall” our brothers help restore us when we fall into sin
“Keep warm” brothers and sisters in Christ encourage us to love and trust Jesus not being cold in our affections
The enemy can easily “prevail” against a lone believer but two can stand because two is really three (you, your brother, and Jesus)
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.
Who we looking at?
Youth that’s poor but wise and the king that’s old but foolish
Maybe Joseph and Pharaoh
You might the smartest person in the room but “pride comes before the fall” (Pr 16:18), God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Pt 5:5), Never be wise in your own sight (Pr 3:7), His thoughts are higher than yours (Is 55:9)
By the grace of God get over yourself
Keep going…
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.
Not the same youth but the same king.
We’re looking at the people of the kingdom and the heir to the throne
The old arrogant king died and the people followed his son. He had success and popularity with the people and then then he didn’t…
Status is as fickle as the people who lead and the people who follow
8 years ago the Republican Party loved Donald trump, 4 years ago they wouldn’t associate with him, now some of those same people are his followers again
It’s like a house of cards… so delicate and fickle
So once again Solomon the encourager lifts our spirits
Life isn’t fair (the weak are oppressed and the oppressors are powerful)
Don’t waste your life being a workaholic but don’t waste your life being a lazy Bum
Be a self seeker who seeks his own happiness and die miserable and alone
Sometimes the poor and young are wise and the Old and powerful are foolish
A kingdom or country is as solid as an inconsistent hier/leader and the wish washy people of the kingdom
We join Solomon as we cry out “what do we do?” “Nothing makes sense” “it’s hopeless” everything seems so pointless…..
That’s precisely the point:
If your faith, your hope, your foundation, your happiness, your security, your love is set on this world it is vanity.
None of it means anything if God isn’t your everything
None of us love God perfectly, none of us trust Him perfectly, but if He isn’t the center of our world then our world is chaos
Doctrinal Depth Tour
Doctrinal Depth Tour
(Purpose)
“The Chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” - Westminster Shorter Catechism
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Pray
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