Ecclesiastes - Chapter 4
The tragedy of oppression (1):
After a brief look at hope in the beginning of chapter 3, Solomon turned again to despair at the chapter end and continues that view in chapter 4 when he considers the problem of injustice. Now he considers all the oppression of the world (under the sun).
Compassion for the oppressed is a common theme in the Old Testament:
Oppression of people by a king (Proverbs 28:16)
Oppression of a servant by his master (Deuteronomy 24:14)
Oppression of the poor by the wealthy (Proverbs 22:16)
Oppression of the poor by bureaucrats (Ecclesiastes 5:8)
Oppression of the poor by other people (Proverbs 28:3)
Oppression of the outsider, the fatherless, and the widow (Jeremiah 7:6)
Oppression by charging high interest rates (Ezekiel 22:12 & 29)
Oppression by using false weights and measures (Hosea 12:7)
Solomon thinks of the painful lives of the oppressed in this world (under the sun) where this life seems to be all there is and men and women seem not to give thought to a world to come. The tears of the oppressed are bitter and they have no comfort.
Because of oppression and sadness man is better off dead (2-3):
The thought of both the oppressors and their victims finding no justice in eternity was so bitter to the preacher that he thought the dead were fortunate. In their world the dead do not have to think on such painful things. He could only praise the dead in this way because he in his time had no certain knowledge of a world to come, and he wrote most of Ecclesiastes with a worldly view. If he knew and accepted what happens to the unrighteous dead, he would never have said such things.
He takes the idea of praising the dead even further, to where he praised even those who never were born into the oppression of this life. There is nothing sadder in the whole book than the words in these verses pointed at the dead and the unborn.
Success often brings the envy of one's neighbor (4-6):
The preacher thought of those who gain success through toil and skillful work and how it brings envy and sometimes hard feelings from others. The common jealousy of success made life seem like vanity (empty) and it was like grasping for the wind.
He also speaks of the ones who envy to be lazy. He says they fold their hands and do nothing and so waste away. These people consume their own flesh.
This expression means they destroy themselves, or the phrase may also be translated to bring ruin upon themselves.
What is the value of contentment? It is better to have less and be content (with quietness) than to have more and be constantly grasping for even more than you have.
Solomon weaves together some profound themes:
Hard work and success are good and are not to be envied.
Laziness is wrong and destructive.
Even the one with full hands must learn contentment.
What good is success if you cannot pass it on (7-8)?
Solomon thinks of a man who is alone, without family or friends. The man he is describing works hard and wants to gain more and more.
The preacher thought this type of life which is unexamined for happiness, with no one to share it becomes vanity and a grave misfortune.
He was correct from a worldly view. Under that view there is no place for an eternal accomplishment. Here is a picture of lonely, pointless busyness, somewhat like the jealous rivalry of verse 4 and it shows there seems to be no blessings for hard work while here.
Without a friend, accomplishments are vain (9-12):
Solomon thought how even in our world, living alone made life worse. He develops this idea by saying that two are better than one with some good reasons.
Two working together can accomplish more than each could alone. The sum will be greater than the parts. When two work together they can help each other in difficult times. They can bring comfort to the lives of each other. They can bring security and safety to each other. If one may be overpowered, two together can withstand.
These four verses show us the great value of human relationships, that two are better than one. Living and working together is a great advantage to living and working alone. Being together adds the following to our lives:
Productivity (they have a good reward for their labor)
Help in need (if one fails, the other will lift him up)
Comfort in life (they will help and keep each other warm)
Safety & security (two can withstand where one may not)
In a final thought, Solomon gives praise not to a twofold cord for its strength, but praises a threefold cord, and the idea is that two with God are stronger than two alone.
The vanity of fame and its short lifespan (13-16):
The preacher says that it is better to be poor and wise and young than to be old and foolish with wealth. A young man rises from obscurity to become king with great status and wealth yet those who come after him will not rejoice over him. Even if his fame lasted his entire lifetime, it would be gone as soon as he was.
He says again that this is vanity and grasping for the wind. Another example is given of an empty achievement.
This chapter is a long cry for justice. This cry was heard by Jesus almost 1,000 years later as He ministered on the earth. Not only did he hear this cry over what was wrong with human life, He also did something about it. He acted in force and love, and became the rewarder of those who believe and the final judge of those who do not. In Him exists no vanity.