4:1 So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.
Solomon looked at all of the governments of the world. He saw that every government oppresses their people. There was no one comforting the people. The Messiah will establish the only government on earth which will not oppress the people.
4:2 So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.
Many people today say “I wish I were dead.” Solomon’s human wisdom saw that it was better to be dead than alive. Divine wisdom says that it is better to be alive and serving God.
4:3 But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.
Many people today say “I wish I would have never been born.” Solomon’s human wisdom saw that it was better not to have been born into this world, because all is hopeless. This is Satan’s world. Divine wisdom says that it is best to be born, to serve God, and to earn rewards in heaven. Christians are born into this world as soldiers and ambassadors for God. They fight the war, spread the news of the Messianic King, complete their mission, and then return to their Creator.
4:4 Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless—like chasing the wind.
The skilled worker who is motivated by competition becomes a workaholic for nothing.
4:5 The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.
The foolish man quits working. He wants everything handed to him. Many social programs tax those who are working and gives to those who are too lazy to work. The Bible teaches that all men should work. There are no free handouts. The lazy man would rather eat his own arm rather than work. There are these types of people in the world. Liberalism supports them. The Bible says that it is foolish to support these foolish men.
4:6 Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.
It is better to be somewhere in the middle of a workaholic (verse 4) and a free-loader (verse 5). The answer that the Apostle Paul gave is to become a bond-slave of Christ. A bond’s slave is one who has been freed, but he chooses to serve his Master forever.
4:7 So I again considered another futile thing on earth:
Selfish greed is emptiness.
4:8 A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!
It is emptiness for a man to refuse to share his wealth with his family and friends. It is foolish to not leave your wealth to an heir.
4:9 Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.
Solomon gives a selfish reason for marriage and partnership. Two people will accumulate more wealth if they join together. This is the wrong motive. Two should pair up to glorify Christ. The purpose of marriage is to glorify God. Todd Wright’s Marriage That Glorifies God is a book which every single and married couple should read.
4:10 For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.
If two people are together, then they can help each other up when they fall. It is not good for an elderly person to live alone. If she falls, then someone needs to help her up. It is not good for a young woman to live alone. In ancient Israel, the young woman lived with her father until she was married. In this way, she was protected by the male family members. If a woman is widowed and left alone, then the family should take in the widow. If the family refuses to take in the widow, then the church is responsible for taking in the widow.
4:11 Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?
Three people were stranded in a blizzard. One man was injured and could barely walk. One of the men took off alone, because he did not want to be slowed down. The other two men stayed together. When they slept, they had to huddle up to stay warm. As they walked further, they saw the other man who left them. He was dead, frozen stiff in the snow. Husband and wife need to sleep together to keep each other warm.
4:12 Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.
If two is company, then three is better. We live in a big, bad world. Liberals have passed so many laws to protect the criminals, that it is not safe to walk on the streets anymore. When man gets away from the Word of God, then laws become less lenient. Society educates more rapists, child molesters, murderers, and thieves. Society passes more laws to protect these godless criminals. The result is a godless and lawless society where the streets are not safe for men, women, and children. Solomon understood the total depravity of man and warned others to travel in crowds. There is safety in numbers.
4:13 A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.
Solomon was both a wise child and a foolish king. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Materialism drives one away from divine viewpoint and towards human viewpoint. Solomon realized his mistake later in his life.
4:14 For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom.
Many people become poor, because elected officials grow rich. Solomon noticed that governments did not serve the people. The people served the government. The Messianic King will established the only government in history which will actually serve the people.
Is a theocratic dictatorship wrong? Yes, if men are running it. No, if the Messianic King is running it. The Messianic King will be the only ruler in history who will have the divine wisdom and love of people to establish a righteous government.
4:15 I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.
All of the human kings who walk on the earth are succeeded by other human kings. Sometimes this succession is by lawful genealogy or by elections. Sometimes it is by violence, such as assassination, civil war, or coups.
16 There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.
The popularity of kings is short-lived and quickly forgotten.