The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1734
Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

In chapter 3 we learned that apart from God, man is no better than the beasts of the field. In fact he often imitates animals, which gives some numbskulls cause to consider evolution more carefully. For example, man often acts like a monkey, or makes an ass out of himself. He horses around a lot and pigs out on occasion. He becomes bull headed and stubborn as a mule and while he thinks he's the king of the jungle all his friends know he's a turkey. He works like a dog and then smells like skunk. But his worst characteristic is that he keeps lion about how great he is. Anyway, you get the point. And after all, we are learning from this Book of Ecclesiastes that we might as well lighten up and enjoy life along the way, right? So laugh already!

OK, feel better? That was "Time #10", from chapter 3, "a Time to Laugh. We turn a little and now it's "Time #9, a Time to Weep a little", because that which follows is a sad commentary on mankind as Solomon continues to consider all that happens "under the sun", i.e. on this earth. Don't worry though, there will come a time to laugh again, because this writer is polarized to #10.

Eccles. 4:1
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Solomon then stepped back and analyzed all the oppressions and tyrannies that exist on earth. Oh, man's inhumanities to his fellow man! He had compassion on those who were oppressed as he witnessed their tears and their state of hopelessness and despair, for he saw they had no one to comfort them or free them from the powerful grip of their oppressors.

And so there is nothing new under the sun as we see the same oppressions and tyrannies today with communism and dictatorial governments. And the tears from man's inhumanity to man flow even this very day as we read this Book of Ecclesiastes. And ultimately they all stem from the tyranny of the one great oppressor, even Satan.

But those who have read His Word know there is an end in sight, for soon the great oppressor, Satan himself, will be bound a thousand years and the tears from tyranny will cease to flow as all governments lay their crowns before the King of kings, and become subject to the kingdom of God, i.e. His government. And so we pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

[2] Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
"And you know what?", says Solomon, "a person is better off dead than living under such oppressions and tyrannies!"  (Of course he's not advocating that a person should end his or her life. He is simply giving emphasis to the sad state of oppressions.)
[3] Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
And more fortunate than both the living or those who have suffered already in the flesh are those who haven't even been born yet, who haven't seen and lived through the wicked deeds that are done "under the sun". Man's inhumanity to man is not a pretty sight! Watched any TV news lately?

Those who study on a deeper level and know the status of the host of heaven, the sons of God, and that both those who have already passed through the flesh, and those still awaiting their turn, have spiritual bodies and are in heaven. So which is better, to be there, or to be here in the flesh "under the sun"? Here's Paul's answer:

2 Cor. 5:6-8
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: [7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Now here's Solomon with another scenario of chasing after the wind.
Eccles. 4:4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
"Every right work" means "success" or "achievements". So Solomon analyzed all the hard work and struggle to "get ahead" and become successful, along with all the strife and jealousy it produces. "Big deal", he says, "one day the big bad wolf, disguised as a federal estate and gift tax official, will come and huff and puff and blow your house down. Then what?"
[5] The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
Then there's the lazy dude who sits back and wastes away to nothing. (Readers of the King James should know that sometimes it's much easier to translate the Hebrew into English than to translate English into English.)

So what's the conclusion? Should we work our "butts off" and participate in the "dog eat dog" road to success, or sit back on our lazy butts and waste away. The answer: If you do either one, you are a "butt head". Here is wisdom:

[6] Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever walked under the sun, says: "It is better to have one handful and peace of mind, than two handfuls of strife and travail and chasing your tail." Of course we flesh minded beings find it easier to be creatures of extreme than to try to achieve balance in our lives.
[7] Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
And then Solomon looked upon another type of "wind sucking" loser.
[8] There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
Here's a lonely miser with no kids or friends, who is a workaholic. He just can't get enough materialism. The more he makes the more he wants and he's never satisfied. Does he ever stop and say "Why am I beating my head against the wall like this?"  Or, "Who is going to benefit from all my riches?"

No, because he lacks wisdom. He may know how to obtain riches from Wall Street but he doesn't know how to obtain riches from the Book of Ecclesiastes. We've got some sad news for him. He's going to die just like a dog. Then what good will his riches do him? Just think, he could have enjoyed himself during his trip through the flesh.

So rather than be a loner, here's a better way to go about it.

[9] Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
It would be better to have a partner or a companion or a teammate and thus become more productive.
[10] For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
For if one falls, or screws up, or becomes depressed, the other can lift up his fellow's spirits, or knock some sense into him, whichever is necessary, while the one who is all alone may end up in "straight jacket".
[11] Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
Note: I've used this verse on my wife before. It really works! However, if I remember correctly from 1 Kings chapter 11, Solomon applied this 1000 times, 999 times too often, and the heat became too much for him and he turned away his heart.

One can also apply this verse in a figurative sense to business or other earthly endeavors. Many times I have gotten together with a partner and by sharing our thoughts we sparked a hot new idea or plan. It's a tough road going it alone.

[12] And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Two against one? It makes sense to me. This verse also makes one think about the threefold Godhead, which is never broken and the best partner one could ever have.
[13] Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
True! True! And we all know people who have more money than brains.

And the rich and powerful will not be admonished! Also true! We can all give witness to that! However, the foolish king will listen to the Gallup, CNN, ABC, Newsweek, etc., polls and act accordingly. The verb "act" means to "act" as in what an "actor" does.

[14] For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
There are a couple of great Biblical examples of this, such as Joseph who was sold into bondage and eventually reigned in Egypt. Daniel, as well, came from prison and almost certain death to reign in Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar.

The point is, however, that even a poor child through wisdom can succeed and even become a great leader.

Eccles. 4:15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
Then Solomon analyzed how on one hand all the people will get behind the successor to the throne who even becomes a greater leader of endless multitudes ...

... and on the other hand, the next generation comes along and says "get rid of the bum" (next verse).

[16] There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
So one day you're a very popular leader with lots of supporters... and then the seasons change... and you wake up, look out the window across the street at the Watergate Hotel, and suddenly your fame and fortune is gone. NEXT!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.



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