Ecclesiastes 4
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Transcript
Handout
Ecclesiastes 4
Ecclesiastes 4
Evil Under The Sun
Evil Under The Sun
1 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.
2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4 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.
5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
8 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.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
10 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!
11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.
14 For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor.
15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place.
16 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.
English Standard Version Chapter 4
4 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. 2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
4 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.
5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun: 8 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.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 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! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. 14 For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. 16 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.
Oppression and the Lack of Comfort
Oppression and the Lack of Comfort
(Ecclesiastes 4:1-3)
(Ecclesiastes 4:1-3)
1 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.
2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
**Old Testament Context**: The Preacher observes the oppressed and notes that they have no comforter. He even goes so far as to say that the dead are better off than the living, and those who haven't been born are best off of all.
Solomon paints a bleak picture of oppression, almost a cry of existential despair. It's a vivid illustration of the world gone awry, a recipe where all the ingredients have spoiled.
**New Testament Fulfillment**: In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61, stating His mission to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives, and sight to the blind. This proclamation illustrates that Jesus is the ultimate Comforter and the liberator of the oppressed.
**New Testament Fulfillment**: In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61, stating His mission to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives, and sight to the blind. This proclamation illustrates that Jesus is the ultimate Comforter and the liberator of the oppressed.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.
17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
**Application**: Here, Jesus explicitly states His role as a Comforter and Advocate for the oppressed, showing that His ministry is a continuation and fulfillment of the liberation themes present in the Old Testament. He is the transformative element, akin to a crucial ingredient that turns a failing recipe into a masterpiece.
In this passage, we see Jesus not just alleviating the symptoms of oppression but addressing its root causes—sin, systemic evil, and even death. In declaring His mission, He's saying that He has come to radically redefine and reorder society around the principles of God's Kingdom.
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How does God view oppression, and what comfort does He offer to the oppressed?
**Answer**
In the Old Testament, God hears the cries of the oppressed and seeks justice on their behalf. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon acknowledges the grim reality of oppression but offers little solace. The New Testament, however, brings Jesus into the picture as the ultimate Comforter and Liberator. He explicitly states His mission in Luke 4:16-21 to bring good news to the poor and liberty to the captives. This shows God's unwavering commitment to justice and relief for the oppressed.
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In what ways does Jesus fulfill the Old Testament cries for comfort and justice?
**Answer**
Jesus doesn't just offer temporary relief; He provides eternal comfort by conquering sin and death. He fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and expectations by enacting a kingdom where justice rolls down like waters, fulfilling the hopes and laments expressed in Ecclesiastes.
Envy and Vanity (Ecclesiastes 4:4-6)
Envy and Vanity (Ecclesiastes 4:4-6)
4 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.
5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.
**Old Testament Context**: The writer talks about how envy fuels the toil and achievement in life, yet it’s all “chasing after the wind.”
Solomon observes that most labor and achievements are motivated by envy, similar to chefs constantly trying to outdo each other with ever more elaborate dishes, yet never feeling satisfied.
**New Testament Fulfillment**: Jesus often warns against envy and urges us to seek treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Paul's teachings on contentment (Philippians 4:11-13) and the futility of comparing ourselves to others (2 Corinthians 10:12) also resonate here.
**New Testament Fulfillment**: Jesus often warns against envy and urges us to seek treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Paul's teachings on contentment (Philippians 4:11-13) and the futility of comparing ourselves to others (2 Corinthians 10:12) also resonate here.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
In contrast, Jesus advises us to feed on 'heavenly food,' to focus on internal growth, and to seek the Kingdom first. This is the 'secret sauce' to a fulfilling life that worldly envy can never offer.
**Application**: Address the never-ending cycle of envy and dissatisfaction that plagues our modern world. Even in areas of culinary achievement or academic pursuit, the drive to be the best can become an idol, pulling us away from God.
For modern people, this could relate to the obsession with comparison on social media or the cutthroat nature of some workplaces. It's like endlessly tweaking a recipe, hoping the next version will finally make you feel accomplished. The only way out of this cycle is through Christ.
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How does envy impact our spiritual and emotional well-being?
**Answer**
Envy disrupts our spiritual peace and shifts our focus from God's providence to worldly comparisons, akin to chefs distracted by each other's dishes rather than perfecting their own recipes. Solomon warns against this in Ecclesiastes, and Jesus redirects our focus to "heavenly food" in the New Testament.
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What does Christ offer as the antidote to the envy and dissatisfaction we often feel?
**Answer**
Christ offers a new paradigm where our worth is not determined by our achievements or possessions but by our identity in Him. In Him, we find our ultimate purpose and satisfaction, thus removing the need for envy and worldly striving.
Isolation (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12)
Isolation (Ecclesiastes 4:7-12)
7 Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
8 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.
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
10 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!
11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
**Old Testament Context**: The writer talks about the futility of working alone and how “two are better than one.”
Solomon observes that working alone is like cooking a large meal with no one to share it with—a hollow and unsatisfying endeavor.
**New Testament Fulfillment**: Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs (Mark 6:7) and established the Church as a body of believers to support each other (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
**New Testament Fulfillment**: Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs (Mark 6:7) and established the Church as a body of believers to support each other (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,
25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Jesus, by establishing the Church, gives us a banquet of believers. He makes sure that no one has to eat alone, echoing the communal nature of the Last Supper.
**Application**: Emphasize the importance of community in Christian life. Here you might bring in your anthropological insights, discussing how food often serves as a gathering point for community and how essential these gatherings are for emotional and spiritual well-being.
In anthropological terms, food and community are often intertwined. A church potluck can serve as a microcosm of the heavenly feast, a tactile reminder that 'two are better than one' and that God intended us to live in community.
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Why is community essential in the Christian life?
**Answer**:
Ecclesiastes highlights the futility of going it alone, likening it to cooking a large meal with no one to share it. Jesus establishes the Church, a community of believers, to show that we are made for relationships and community, fulfilling the innate desire for companionship Solomon describes.
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How does the New Testament Church embody the solution to the isolation described in Ecclesiastes?
**Answer**:
The Church is not just a gathering; it's a body that functions only when all its parts are active and integrated. As Christ's body on earth, the Church is a living answer to the isolation and individualism warned against in Ecclesiastes.
The Instability of Political Power and Popularity (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16)
The Instability of Political Power and Popularity (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16)
13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.
14 For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor.
15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place.
16 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.
**Old Testament Context**: The writer reflects on the fleeting nature of political power, saying even a poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king.
The fickleness of public opinion is akin to food trends—they come and go, and yesterday's delicacy is today's has-been.
**New Testament Fulfillment**: Jesus was the epitome of a leader who wasn't focused on earthly power but on heavenly impact (Philippians 2:5-11).
**New Testament Fulfillment**: Jesus was the epitome of a leader who wasn't focused on earthly power but on heavenly impact (Philippians 2:5-11).
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christ's Kingdom is not of this world. He didn't chase popularity but focused on doing the will of His Father—the ultimate recipe for true and lasting impact.
**Application**: Use this as a chance to discuss the transient nature of worldly achievements, whether it's political power or social media following. The focus should always be on the eternal impact of our actions and words, aligning with Reformed doctrines that emphasize God's sovereignty over all earthly events.
In the grand feast of life, it's easy to get caught up in the 'trending dishes' of worldly success and public opinion. However, these are fleeting. What's not fleeting is the eternal banquet Christ has prepared for us.
What does Ecclesiastes teach us about the ephemeral nature of power and popularity?
**Answer**:
Solomon's observations in Ecclesiastes remind us that worldly achievements, including political power and popularity, are fleeting. They are like food trends that come and go, offering no lasting satisfaction.
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How does Christ present an alternative to the world's obsession with status and influence?
**Answer**:
Christ's Kingdom is eternal and not built on worldly acclaim or power. Jesus, although He was God, took the form of a servant, showing that true greatness in God's Kingdom is measured in love and service, not worldly status.
Final Questions
Final Questions
How do the existential questions posed in Ecclesiastes find their ultimate answers in Christ?
**Answer**:
Christ is the embodiment of wisdom, the final answer to the questions and dilemmas Solomon wrestles with in Ecclesiastes. He is the "time for every matter under heaven," fulfilling the seasons and times Ecclesiastes describes.
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How should Reformed doctrines of God’s sovereignty, grace, and glory shape our understanding of these life issues?
**Answer**:
God's sovereignty assures us that all events, even the painful and perplexing ones, are under His control. His grace shows us that despite our flaws and failings, we have hope and comfort in Christ. God's glory is the ultimate end of all things, even the difficulties we don't understand, reminding us that our lives are but small threads in the grand tapestry of God’s ultimate plan.