Ecclesiastes 4
Chuck Smith on Ecclesiastes 4
Verse by verse, taught on Sunday nights: the C2000 series, 1979 to 1985, and the C3000 series, 1985 to 1999. Permission granted by The Word For Today.
Sunday Nights, 1979 to 1985 (C2000)
Verse 1
So I returned, and I considered all of the oppressions that are done under the sun: and the tears of those that are oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter (4:1).
The philosophy, Might is right.
Verse 2
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead, more than the living which were yet alive (4:2).
I looked at life and, man, you're better off dead than you are alive. Those that have already died, oh, they've got it made. You still alive, you got the headaches.
Verses 3–6
Yea, better is he both they, which have not been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. Again, I considered all of the travail, and every right work, and for this man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit. The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful with quietness, than both of your hands full with travail and vexation of spirit (4:3-6).
There is a scripture says, "A little that a righteous man has is more than the riches of many wicked" (Psalm 37:16). Now you're better off with just a little and the Lord, the comfort, than having both hands full and being frustrated.
Verses 7–8
Then I returned, and I saw the vanity [or the emptiness] under the sun. There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet there is no end of his labor (4:7-8);
Even the man who doesn't have any children, he can't settle down and just enjoy what he has. He's got to keep on it. Keep laboring. No matter how rich he is, he can't be satisfied. He can't relax and enjoy it. Here's one man alone, he has no child, no brother, no one to inherit his wealth. And yet, he can't get away from the grindstone. There's no end of all of his labor.
Verse 8
neither is his eye satisfied with his riches; neither says he (4:8),
He doesn't consider, "What am I saving all this money for? Who am I saving it for? Why am I saving it? Who am I going to leave it to when I die?" And yet, he's bound to it. He's digging for more and more and more. Striving, struggling. Can't stop working. Pushing, grinding, in order to gain more and yet he doesn't have anybody to leave it to.
Verses 8–13
This also is vanity, it's a sore travail. Two are better than one; because [at least] they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for there's no one to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they can have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevails against him, two will be able to withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king (4:8-13),
Look to those little kids. They're better off than I am. Poor wise child than this old foolish king.
Verse 13
who will no more be admonished (4:13).
I won't listen to anything anymore. No one can tell me anything.
Verses 14–16
For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born of his kingdom becomes poor. I consider all of the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. And there is no end of all of the people, even of all that have been before them: and of all that shall come after they shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit (4:14-16).
It seems that life just goes on. There's, you know, multitudes before me. There's going to be multitudes after me. I'm just in the line here, but it's all so empty.
Sunday Nights, 1985 to 1999 (C3000)
Verse 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 (4:1).
I’ve observed how the strong were oppressing the weak. The oppression, the tears of those who were being oppressed and no one to help them, no comforter and no hope.
Verse 2
Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive (4:2).
You’re better off dead than alive. This is a conclusion of the natural man.
Verse 3
Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been [born], who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun (4:3).
A child that is stillborn is better off, he says, than those, which have the opportunity to see the oppressions and the evil of life.
Verse 4
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation [frustration] of the spirit (4:4).
You try and do the right thing and all you get for it is your neighbor becomes envious of you, the emptiness of it.
Verses 5–8
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation [frustration] of spirit. Then I returned, and I saw vanity [the emptiness] under the sun. There is one alone, and there is not a second; (4:5-8).
He’s by himself.
Verse 8
yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; (4:8).
Here he is all by himself no heirs or relatives to leave his money to and yet he is working like crazy to build up a fortune and he says, “How ridiculous that this fellow should travail and labour and work so hard when all he’s got is himself and no one to really leave his goods to.
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, [emptiness] yea, it is a sore travail (4:8).
So Solomon observes life under the sun, life lived apart from God and the consciousness of God and the emptiness and folly of it. A man without any relatives laboring so hard, trying to get rich and never satisfied, never enough, “the eye is not satisfied with his riches” (4:8).
Verse 9
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour (4:9).
At least you’re feeding someone else.
Verse 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 (4:10).
The loner, no one to help him. If he falls there is no one there to lift him up, no one there to help him up.
Verse 11
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? (4:11).
It’s a cold bed when you are there by yourself.
Verse 12
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly [easily] broken (4:12).
The value of close relationships and not being just a loner.
Verse 13
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, (4:13).
There he sees himself. This poor little child doesn’t have anything but he’s wiser than this old foolish king.
who will no more be admonished (4:13).
Who has seen it all and you can’t tell him anything.
Verse 14
For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor (4:14).
Solomon actually had placed heavy taxation upon the people and they were impoverished by his heavy taxation; it was greater than the people could bear. It was only enriching himself living in this total luxurious lifestyle and he sees now the emptiness of it.
Verses 15–16
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. 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 [empty] and vexation of spirit (4:15-16).
I saw that one passes and another comes and they pass, another comes and see the generations going and it’s not long before you forget. I cannot even tell you the names of my great grandfathers. I can tell you the names of all the grandkids but looking back, you are soon forgotten. He sees life as an empty frustrating rut really. People just get in this rut and emptiness.