Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 Verse 1

 I do think there is goodness in considering oppression. Most folks just

jump to, “Here he goes again, under the sun thinking and super

negative,” and there is definitely merit to that. However, considering

the oppressed with empathy is totally Godly.

 That is exactly what motivated Jesus to be born into His own creation!

The oppressed, another way to say that is the extorted. Those that are

used, taken advantage of, devalued and uncared for… I think we all

know what that can feel like. God looked at the state of the world and

His heart literally broke for the people. We know that because

eventually He allowed His heart to literally be broken…

 Solomon considers those that are extorted by others. Most of the time,

to be taken advantage of by another implies a relationship, which

makes it all the worse. There is trust. There is love. There is care. And

then, self is more important to them than you. And there’s heart break

there. Maybe that is why Jesus stepped in…, His heart broke for the

heart break He witnessed time and time again…

 And Solomon says they have no comforter. That’s an interesting one

to consider for just a moment. Food can comfort, rest can comfort,

exercise, on and on…, however for the one that has been taken for

granted, taken advantage of, extorted, used, there’s an element of that

that is comfortless. You have to process it, grieve it, accept it, change

the way you see the world (unfortunately), and then move forward.

The grief process…

 The one true comfort in the thick of it all is one that Solomon knows

nothing about as he describes his observation once again as, “under

the sun.” The comfort of a personal relationship with God through

Jesus is remarkably comforting. Why? Because it is your relationship

with God through Jesus. Jesus is the proof that you are worth more

to Him than Himself! Your value is beyond finding out to Him. And it

never changes. That comforts when you feel quite unloved under the

sun.

 He also mentions here, (and I don’t want to miss this), that the

oppressors have no comforter either. That’s interesting and quite

astute, what I would expect from the wisest man that ever lived (aside

from Jesus). Those that do wrong upon others, there is a burden there

as well. To face what you did, you don’t have to, but that’s how you

grow to not do it again…, few take that hard and narrow path.

 In fact, may I be so bold to say, if you go through something with

someone and they don’t completely face it, they are susceptible to

doing it again. They don’t want to, they aren’t bad people, but they

didn’t face what they did the first time. To trust them again is foolish.

 In either circumstance, it’s good to consider the oppressed and the

oppressor. Both for different reasons but to know that you and I are

both of those things sometimes… So, we pray for the oppressed, we

stand for justice and right so there may be less oppressed in the future,

and we forgive and restore the oppressors as they too grieve through

repentance.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 Verses 2 – 3

 He has a point. You can’t deny that. It’s morbid. Definitely morbid.

But if life is so hard, so full of inequalities and hurt, why live it? I

understand his point in his “under the sun” thinking.

 Above the sun thinking is TOTALLY different, however! Entirely,

completely, incredibly different! Here’s the crazy in Christianity!

Suffering pays big time! Hardship profits massively! Doing the

hard things becomes a thing of great promise, excitement, hope, even

expectation! Being used, offended, injustices…, they all become

deposits that amass to great happiness, joy and sustaining wealth!

 I told you it sounds crazy! Paul called it foolishness and worthy to be

pitied! He wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:10-11, “I take pleasure in

infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for

Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I have become a

fool…”

 However, in light of eternity and in knowledge of the code of

creation, anything endured in maturity amasses to great personal

depth. Growth. Strength. Poise. Courage. Calm. Capacity. And,

with each moment of striving for righteousness, without the ability for

human comfort, the comfort of Christ is known all the more. But wait,

there’s more… Great is your reward in heaven!

 Under the sun…, Solomon is completely right and completely

revealing the reason there is so much depression. But above the sun,

totally different vantage point and perspective and the revealing reason

why there is so much joy in the life of someone whose mind is fixed

on the Lord!

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 Verses 4 – 6

 The idea here is that both neighbors work for what they have but both

neighbors want for what they do not have, which Solomon looks on

and implies an equality of possession and yet an absence of

satisfaction.

 Life can be like that. I can’t remember what conversation I was in but

just the other day the subject came up that you never really appreciate

something until you don’t have it anymore. And as sad is that is, it’s

true and there’s not much you can do about it emotionally, but there is

something you can do about it intellectually.

 What I mean by that is nothing will be so loved as when it’s gone. And

that’s just the way it is because until its gone, it’s not… But

appreciating what you have now is possible, it’s just not automatic.

This is Solomon’s observation.

 2 Corinthians 8:12 says, “For if there is first a willing mind,” that

speaks of intentionality, of intellect, “it is accepted (favorable)

according to what one has, and not according to what he does not

have.” Don’t fall into the extreme sin (because it ruins so much) of

wanting and giving your best self in terms of desire and effort to what

you don’t have… It’s good to have goals and to have dreams and to

have aspirations, but if you can figure out how to physically, actively,

intentionally and intellectually appreciate what you do have, you put

an end to the grasping for the wind that Solomon talks about…

 Because I wonder if someone knows…, if you’re not appreciative of

what you have now, even if you get that other thing, you won’t

appreciate it either as soon as the shine of newness wears…

Ecclesiastes Chapter 8 Verses 7 – 8

 If all of our work is to benefit ourselves, (we aren’t working for the

benefit of others and even more, we aren’t working in such a way as to

honor the Lord), Solomon in his wisdom reveals to us that state is a

“grave misfortune.”

 I love that translation. Grave speaks of death and misfortune speaks of

a sadness in loss. To work to become a self-made man, or to make a

name for yourself or to prove yourself worthy, all of those things are

devoid of God in thinking…, and you do all the things, and maybe

even achieve all the titles, and after spending your life you look on it

all and exhale, what was it all for? It doesn’t satisfy…

 Don’t get to the grave before you figure our true fortune. That’s the

massive message heralded not only in these verses but throughout the

scripture. Jesus captured it brilliantly saying in Mark 8:36, “What

good is it if a man gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

Ecclesiastes Chapter 8 Verses 9 – 12

 Building on what was said in verses 7 and 8, Solomon gives a

practical reason why human relationships and partnerships are not

only how we are designed, but they just make practical sense. Two

together working on the same cause can accomplish more than the

sum of the two working alone.

 In addition to productivity, there is help if one needs it, comfort during

the work, and an insurance policy of sorts to ensure the work gets

accomplished. And then he makes this incredibly prudent statement

that a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

 You can take this and apply it in so many ways. The most powerful

way this is contemplated is to wrap the partnership in the Lord.

Having you, the other person, and the Lord as the threefold cord. A

cord speaks of safety, strength, something that holds, enables,

empowers, boundaries and it speaks of restraint. Let the Lord and

His Word be all those things for you in a relationship and it will surely

not be quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 8 Verse 13

 Man, how I love that because it flies in the face of what everyone is

chasing in this life. “The pursuit of happiness.” The statement in and

of itself implies a constant state of unhappiness! Better to be poor

and wise than be a king that is a fool. And even better the sooner you

figure that out in life… That’s why Solomon throws youth in there…

Ecclesiastes Chapter 8 Verse 14

 There it is… Not sure if Solomon realizes the weight of even what he

is saying, but he just said the wise king realizes he had his kingdom

since birth. The foolish king sees his kingdom as a prison, just to get

out of his current prison to enter into his next…

Ecclesiastes Chapter 8 Verses 15 – 16

 Someone will come after me…, in all my positions and places on this

earth. Possessions, praise and prestige… Nothing I have is really mine

in the end… It’s all given to me for a time and a season. And most

spend their time and season wanting something more, not realizing

that more is just the same.

 Better to exit the current of this fallen world and find joy in the breath

of the moment. Realizing all that has been handed to you by a good

God who desires for you to find the depth of joy in simply being as He

created, in what He created.

 Someone named Kidner once said, “You reach the pinnacle of human

glory, only to be stranded there.” HA! Wow, and yet Romans 11:33-

36, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of

God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding

out! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become

His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid

to him?” For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to

whom be glory forever. Amen.”