Today’s post continues the dark writings in this Book of
Ecclesiastes. Solomon expresses his thoughts
as he has arrived at this unhappy station of his life that has swallowed him up
in despair.
Chapter 3
In 1965 a musical group named “The Byrds” recorded a song
titled “Turn, Turn, Turn”. It was a popular song among people in my age
group. I liked it. Little did I realize that it was taken
straight from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
Listening to that song convinces me that The Byrds were not making quite
the same statement that Solomon was making.
{No offence “Byrds”, but I do not find you quite so profound.}
The first eight verses are actually a poem. Spend a moment and take a reflective reading
of these eight verses. Solomon was
giving us a list of specific events among the many that God has fixed. He is insinuating that man’s life is already
fixed in a predetermined order which cannot be altered. The writer is frustrated with this and it
shows. The attitude that persists from
the writer continues to portray him shrugging his shoulders and sighing “What’s
the use?” {One can picture in his mind
that Solomon is voicing one large complaint to God in this book. This is flirting with disaster and I think
Solomon realizes this. I think perhaps he
should have added to the poem with, “a time to complain and a time to stop”.}
Verses 9-15 tell about man’s inability to altar the events
of his own life, starting out by questioning why a man should work at all, let
alone work hard (toiling). From the
writer’s viewpoint there is nothing to be gained except fatigue. In this passage the writer is suggesting that
man’s “burden” is predetermined and his only chance for happiness is to find a
way to enjoy the toil which God has assigned him. In fact, that is exactly the advice Solomon
is offering in this passage: God is in
control. He has predetermined every part
of your life. So accept it and be happy
with it. Then in verse 15 the writer
once again broadens his view and speaks of the past, present, and future. He describes time as just being an endless
cycle of the same events repeated again and again. {As you picture Solomon at the time of his
writing this, don’t you feel a bit of pity form him? I do.}
Solomon seems to change the subject of his thoughts in
verses 16-22 as he begins with the words “and I saw something else under the
sun”. He recognized that there was
corruption everywhere, especially in the place where there should be none: the justice system. He says there is wickedness in the places of
judgment but then expresses confidence that God will deal with that in due
time. Then in the remaining verses of
chapter 3, the writer speaks depressingly of man’s fate, even having the same
fate as animals. {He is wrong about
this. God made man separate from animals
and gave him dominion over them.
Solomon’s state of depression is making him say some foolish things. We often do the same thing.}
Chapter 4 has three
main subjects: Oppression, Toil, and Friendliness. He begins this chapter talking about the
people being oppressed by either government or landowners or both. He talks like there is no hope to overcome
the oppressors. {This section represents
the biggest argument against Solomon being the author of this book. This section is compelling because it seems
like Solomon would have the authority to rid Israel of oppression. But perhaps it has gotten so out of control,
that even the king was powerless against it.
I see our government as so corrupt right now that no one would be able
to fix it.} Then note the second and
third verses. He says that the dead are
better off than the living, and the one that is best off is the one who had
never been born. {It may be difficult,
but try to keep things in their proper perspective while studying this
book.} Verse 4 is an example of where I
just think he is mistaken, as he suggests that envy is the only motivator for
achievement above and beyond one’s assigned tasks. Granted, it might be a contributing
motivator, but certainly not the only one.
He goes on to condemn laziness, then speaks of how all of life’s burdens
are designed to be carried out by two instead of one. {I agree.
Man was not meant to be alone.
Our study of Genesis taught us that.}
The final section of chapter 4 speaks of being a king and the
frustrations inherent in that seemingly coveted position. He was describing how when the king is young,
people are pleased with him. But when
the king gets older and generations of his subjects are exchanged out, the
people are no longer satisfied with the king and his leadership.
The next post will pick up in chapter 5, as the writer
continues his assassination of the character of life.
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