November 14, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ecclesiastes? Here’s today’s reading:
Ecclesiastes 4 (NIV)
Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness
1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
and they have no comforter.……Continue Reading
So Solomon summizes here that in the meaningless of life and for all the pointless chasing after the wind we do perhaps we are better off dead. He also seems to acknowledge that there are some of us that are already dead despite the fact that we walk the earth. Those that give up on the idea of even trying out of jealousy and overwhelmed by the pointless nature of trying.
Despite starting with a seemingly defeated attitude toward life, he does acknowledge the importance of human relationships. If we must live this life we might as well do it together if for nothing else for functionality. To him it just makes sense to help each other and there is our glimmer of faith for this chapter. That God made us to be in relationship not only with each other but with Him and the value that has beyond any “stuff” we can gain.
Ecclesiastes 4
Ecclesiastes 4 some people are driven by envy and greed, while others are lazy and it says both are foolish they don’t gain anything. It’s better to take time and enjoy the gifts God has given you. Also it is better not to be alone we need others in our lives, when you fall and fail a friend can pick you up and help you. We are here to serve others and serve our God..
I love verses 9 and 10:
“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!”
Tons of wisdom in this verse, though it may seem self-explanatory…but it applies very much to our Christian life. God never intended us to walk this life alone. He gives us his own Spirit to be with us always, and we are IN Christ, but He also encourages us, and even commands us to not forsake gathering together. This is because in order to live in a manner that is contrary to the world around us, we need to support one another. Indeed, James 5:16 commands us to “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.” That is what these two verses of Ecclesiastes bring to mind for me. Healing comes when sin is de-shamed, acknowledged, repented of, and we commit, with one another, to pursue righteousness because God has told us that is who we are!
Ecclesiastes 4
This passage reminds me of Job’s lamentations, specifically his complaints that oppressors keep their power and never seem to receive justice while the poor are left hurting.
Also, I like the YouTube videos by The Bible Project about the book of Ecclesiastes because they describe how the Hebrew word Hevel that is commonly translated to meaningless has a much deeper meaning than we often think:
When we read “meaningless” we just think pointless, but “Hevel” more directly translates to smoke or vapor. Smoke is mysterious, it appears solid yet when you try to grab it it slips right through your fingers like it isn’t there. It is difficult to grasp both literally and figuratively. It is also hard to see clearly if the smoke is thick enough. So the point the original author was trying to make isn’t that life and it’s various aspects are completely without meaning, but rather that the meaning is never clear.
Ok. You can’t read chapter 3 without thinking of the song of the 60’s by the birds. Turn Turn Turn. Read chapter 4. And it’s Kansas. Everything is dust in the wind. By the way the group Kansas became Christians after writing that song. Chapter 4. 9-12. So many people have isolated themselves from society and others. Not trusting others. That’s not how we were designed. We are here to serve others if needed to pick each other up and encourage each other that in turn. Serving God. The law of Christ
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NKJV
Solomon considers how wicked this world is. For the oppressors have all the power. What else would we expect from a fallen world. For we are all sinners and need the Grace of God to bring us to Christ. Only He can make it possible for us to change. 2 Corinthians 5;17 [ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are past away; behold all things are become new.] But we are still living in this wicked world where everyone did what was right in his own eyes. I like verses 9,10 for God has made us to have a relationship with others and with God our Creator. I am so thankful that God has given me a wife. [ Melodye] to help each other through hard times. That we are both believers that want to follow Him. He has to be the center of our marriage and every day of our lives. I fail so much but this is where He always needs to be. May we daily put our trust in Him.
How true it is that an evil and unfortunate aspect of the history of humankind is the strong taking advantage of the weak. And in some desperate and unchanging oppression one could imagine it would be better to be dead than alive, or even better to not be born. Yet once again, it is a very human assessment without the reality that God is the author of life and death. And He is the defender and consolation of the poor and downtrodden. And how sad it is to be alone and have no one to live with and for. What pity there is for those who fall and have no one to help them up. And that is what makes good family and church relationships essential. It is good that we as a church can be a gap filler for those who may not have someone in their lives, and even for those who do, to be a support in the way these verses here describe. In fact we used to have a three strand chord ministry where people would come together to help people out with projects at their homes. Maybe it is something for us to revitalize as God provides those willing to serve in that way.
Ecclesiastes 4
Ecclesiastes 4