ECCLESIASTES LESSON 5


     We will begin this lesson in Ecclesiastes 4:1 "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."

     There is an oppression that comes on good men from the worldly
men. There is, also, an oppression that Satan tries to harass us all
with. The following is an example of oppression from the worldly.
Exodus 1:13 "And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve
with rigour:"  Exodus 1:14 "And they made their lives bitter with hard
bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the
field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, [was] with
rigour."  Of that oppression which comes from Satan, is a spiritual
oppression. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to help the believers overcome
that oppression. John 14:26 "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have
said unto you." John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is
expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

     Ecclesiastes 4:2 "Wherefore I praised the dead which are already
dead more than the living which are yet alive."

     The dead have already run their race. They do not have to face
the problems of this life. Solomon is speaking of the thoughts of his
mind about this world, and the world to come. Job had a very similar
statement to say about this very thing. Job 3:18 "[There] the
prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor."
We find the blessedness of death for the believer in the following.
Revelation 14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,
Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and
their works do follow them."

     Ecclesiastes 4:3 "Yea, better [is he] than both they, which hath
not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the
sun."

     It appears, that Solomon is looking back over his life and seeing
the sorrows and injustices that men do against their fellowmen. He
dwells on the sadness of life. He says, it is better not to have been
born, than see all of this sorrow. This is, generally, the way most
people feel, when they are away from God. It seems so futile to live,
if there is no heaven. Even Job asked the question, "Why did I not die
from my mother's womb?"  There is a great deal of sadness in this
life. The joy comes in feeling assured of your salvation. Hope for the
believer is in the resurrection to eternal life in Jesus.

     Ecclesiastes 4:4  "Again, I considered all travail, and every
right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is]
also vanity and vexation of spirit."

     This is speaking of a person working hard and becoming a success,
and then, his neighbors become envious of his success. Usually the
person who is envious, would not put out the effort it took to be a
success.  The very first time this happened, was between the two
brothers, Cain and Abel. Cain was jealous, because God accepted Abel's
offering, and did not accept his. He became so envious, he killed his
brother.  Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, because they envied
his relationship with his dad. Even the men of the temple envied
Jesus, and had Him destroyed. Mark 15:10 "For he knew that the chief
priests had delivered him for envy."  Solomon says, you have trouble
in this life, but the most trouble comes when you are successful, and
your friends begin to envy you.

     Ecclesiastes 4:5 "The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth
his own flesh."

     Verse 4 spoke of success causing people to envy you, and
eventually caused sadness. Now, Solomon contrasts that with someone
who is too lazy to work. He is saying, is this better?  He speaks of
the person being destructive to himself {eateth his own flesh}.

     Ecclesiastes 4:6 "Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than
both the hands full [with] travail and vexation of spirit."

     Solomon is saying, that many times with great wealth and success,
goes much unhappiness. Your friends and loved ones envy and sometimes
even despise you, when you are more successful than they are. He has
decided it is better to have less, and have your friends. Proverbs
15:16 "Better [is] little with the fear of the LORD than great
treasure and trouble therewith." II Thessalonians 3:12 "Now them that
are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with
quietness they work, and eat their own bread."

     Ecclesiastes 4:7  "Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the
sun."

     In our society today, we would say Solomon was experiencing deep
depression. He believes that human efforts are all in vain.

     Ecclesiastes 4:8 "There is one [alone], and [there is] not a
second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end
of all his labour; 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, yea, it [is] a sore travail."

     This is speaking of loneliness. This, too, is strange coming from
Solomon. He is surrounded by wives and concubines, but feeling very
alone. He believes to be alone is no good, because you have no family.
This shows the despair of a man who has had wealth, wisdom, fame, and
even all the worldly things his heart desired, and still finds no
satisfaction. What he is looking for? Peace, comes from God and not in
things.

     Ecclesiastes 4:9  "Two [are] better than one; because they have a
good reward for their labour."

     The reward he is speaking of here is a sharing. They can share
their successes. In fact, they can even console each other in their
failures. Two are better than one, if they are of one accord.

     Ecclesiastes 4:10 "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."

     The verse above, is not necessarily speaking of a wife, but it
could be applied thusly. Genesis 2:18 "And the LORD God said, [It is]
not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet
for him." The Lord sent ministers out two by two. I believe the
following Scripture is why He did this. Matthew 18:19 "Again I say
unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any
thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father
which is in heaven."  Mark 6:7  "And he called [unto him] the twelve,
and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over
unclean spirits;"  The number "two" means agreement.  This is speaking
of one helping the other, and them being in agreement.

     Ecclesiastes 4:11 "Again, if two lie together, then they have
heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?"

     The body puts off a certain amount of heat, and two in a bed
together can stay warmer than just one. The robe many of the
Israelites wore served as a blanket to sleep under, as well. Two
blankets are warmer than one.

     Ecclesiastes 4:12 "And if one prevail against him, two shall
withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

     This is speaking of the strength that comes with the bonding of
two, or three, together. The following Scripture tells us something of
the strength of more than one. Deuteronomy 32:30 "How should one chase
a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had
sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?"

     Ecclesiastes 4:13  "Better [is] a poor and a wise child than an
old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished."

     The problem with the king is he has become hardened in his heart,
and is not aware of his need to repent. Sad as it is, if he dies in
this condition, he would go to hell. The fact that he had been king,
would not help him at all. This wise child is still teachable and is
wise enough to realize he needs a Saviour. Proverbs 28:6 "Better [is]
the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than [he that is] perverse
[in his] ways, though he [be] rich."

     Ecclesiastes 4:14 "For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas
also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor."

     The best example of this is when Joseph was in jail in Egypt for
something he did not do, and was brought out of prison to reign as
second in command.

     Ecclesiastes 4:15 "I considered all the living which walk under
the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead."

     This has so many suggestions. The firstborn was thought to be the
one who would reign in his father's stead. This was not so in many
instances. Jacob and Esau are a very good example of this. Jacob was
the second born, but received the favored son's blessing. This could,
also, apply to Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim was the second son, but
received the right hand blessing. It is a type and shadow of the Jew
and the Christian. The natural Jew was God's first choice, but the
Christians {second choice} received Jesus more readily.

     Ecclesiastes 4:16 "[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 and vexation of spirit."

     We see in this, the multitude who came to follow the second. In
Joseph's case, they were dependent on the second in command for food.
His help was soon forgotten after the famine was over. The king who
reigned later forgot all the blessings Joseph had brought. They did
not remember him.



























                       Ecclesiastes 5 Questions


1.  Where can oppression on a good man come from?
2.  Quote Exodus chapter 1 verses 13 and 14.
3.  Jesus sent the _________ _________ to the Christians to comfort
    them.
4.  Quote John chapter 16 verse 7.
5.  Why did Solomon praise the dead?
6.  Quote Job chapter 3 verse 18.
7.  Blessed are the dead which ______ in the Lord.
8.  What does Solomon seem to be doing?
9.  How do most people, who are away from God, feel?
10. What question did Job ask, in despair?
11. Hope for the believer is in the _____________ to _______ _____ in
    Jesus.
12. What happens, many times, when a person is successful.
13. Who were the first examples in the Bible of jealousy?
14. What did the jealousy lead to?
15. Quote Mark chapter 15 verse 10.
16. What type of person is verse 5 speaking of?
17. Quote Proverbs chapter 15 verse 16.
18. With ____________ they work, and eat their own bread.
19. In our society today, we would say Solomon was experiencing
    _________ _____________.
20. Why is it strange to think of Solomon as being lonely?
21. What is he looking for?
22. Where is the only place to find it?
23. Why are two better than one?
24. Quote Genesis chapter 2 verse 18.
25. That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that
    they shall ask, what will happen?
26. How did Jesus send out the apostles?
27. What is verse 12 speaking of?
28. Quote Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 30.
29. What is the problem with the king in verse 13?
30. Quote Proverbs chapter 28 verse 6.
31. Who is the best example of the one mentioned in verse 14?
32. Name some of the examples, where the second born received the
    first born blessing.
33. Who are these a type and shadow of?