The Book of Ecclesiastes … Part II

Solomon's trial of life continues with …

Chapter 3 …

The general design here is to confirm what Solomon observed before in the previous two chapters , the vanity and inconstancy of all things; the frailty of man; his fruitless toil and labor in all his works; that it is best to be content with present things, and be thankful for them; and that all man has comes from the hand of God.

Solomon’s way of stating it is that there is a season, an appropriate time which God appoints for its being done. Ecc. 3:1-8 "… a time for every purpose under heaven."

He asks this question in Ecc. 3:9 … "What profit remains for the worker from his toil?"

He answers that the works of man, if done according to God’s appointment, are a part of Divine Providence; and by reason of its extent and duration is incomprehensible to us. Some works of God no man can fully understand, because he cannot search them out … "from the beginning to the end" … Ecc. 3:11.

Ecc. 3:12-13 … Man is to work and enjoy the good from his labor in his lifetime, which he can only do as God allows. The good received from his labor is … a gift of God.

God’s work … of which man and his labor would be considered a part … is perfect and is so ordered to teach man to revere and fear Him … Ecc. 3:14.

Ecc. 3:17-19 … God is the same in all His works, the purpose being … that man should fear Him. Man knows that God will judge the righteous and the wicked; but as far as man knows, he dies as the beast dies … "one thing befalls them both. As the one dies, so dies the other" … and then who can really know in this life what becomes of him afterwards?

Ecc. 3:20-22 … "All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?
So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him back to see what will happen after he is gone?"

There is no revelation given in his writings of eternity to come; the only conclusion Solomon comes to is from his experiences of what takes place now in this world … "under the sun." It's the knowledge of God that teaches there is a judgment; but to man all is darkness beyond this present life.

In reality … we must agree with Solomon; our belief in a "resurrection, eternity and Heaven" is unproven. We really don't know … we just believe it by faith.

Chapter 4 …

Solomon expresses the sorrow caused by the injustice of a sinful world and the wrongs which make up the history of man; which to one like him who has a sense of natural justice creates the desire to put an end to it. Both labor and laziness bring their own type of distress and vanity (emptiness) to man.

Ecc. 4:8 … "Here is one alone--no one with him; he neither has child nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labor, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither does he ask, For whom do I labor and deprive myself of good? This is also vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy business."

Here greed and desire for wealth are characterized by Solomon in this example of one man, who is the center of his own existence, who has neither a wife nor child. He is alone and yet is as intent on getting money as if he had a large family to provide for. He even refuses to give to himself the comforts of wealth that have come from his own labor. This is not only foolishness, vanity (emptiness) but also is a good example of the "sore travail" he spoke about in Chapter 1.

This man never once asks himself this question … Who am I toiling for? But for a man that has no wife or children to leave it to, he is gaining wealth, yet laboring for what, especially when he deprives himself of the comfort of what he has worked for. Instead of enjoying what he has earned, he withholds it from himself, living in want in the midst of plenty.

Solomon has just spoken of the man who was alone in his labor. Now he gives some reasons for why God said … "It is not good for man to be alone." Of course God was speaking of Adam; so He made Eve.

Ecc. 4:9-11 … "Two are better than one … for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?"

Next Solomon offers a small glimpse into a little of his God given wisdom …

Ecc. 4:12 … "And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Many times Satan chooses to attack a single believer when alone. So when saints stand their ground against the enemy, and hold to the truth; two are better than one, three is better still … a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

A house divided against itself cannot stand; but together they are able to stand against an enemy and conquer him.

This doctrine is taught in the fable of the bundle of sticks the old man gave to his sons to break. While fastened together, it could not be done; but when taken out one at a time, were easily snapped into; teaching unity among the sons as their greatest security against their common enemy.

The same meaning is given by this threefold cord; while it remains twisted together, it is not easily broken; but if the threads are untwisted and unloosed, they are soon broken.

This is true of the united love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the threefold cord by which the saints are held) of which it is said, that it not only is not quickly broken, but that it … cannot be broken. Some also apply this same example to faith, hope and love which abide forever.

Solomon now proceeds to another vanity, that of honor and power.

Ecc. 4:13 … "Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive counsel." Could Solomon have been speaking of himself?

Chapter 5 …

Solomon now turns to reverence in worship, rules to be observed in the house of God. We should be more ready to hear than to speak; praying to God should be expressed in a few words rather than a fool's many words. Vows to God, when made should be kept.

Solomon closes this chapter by saying … "Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is for one to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun all the days which God gives him … for this is his allotted part. Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, and the power to enjoy them and to accept his appointed lot and to rejoice in his toil … this is the gift of God to him."

Two things we do not have any power over … the number of days God gives us and our appointed lot in life.

To be continued …