How to Live (A Study in Ecclesiastes)
Lesson #5 Those with no Comfort (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3)
This is an interesting passage. Not that Solomon is considering the oppressed in this lesson. There are many different types of oppression we will give a dictionary definition for the word oppression below.
Oppression – the imposition of unreasonable burdens either in taxes or services; cruelty; severity. Hardship calamity.
This is interesting that Solomon is saying this because he is the king and many of the oppressions mentioned in the definition above are applied by rulers or those in authority. The state of the oppressed that Solomon is considering is that of despair and no one to help them. Note that he says they have no comfort or comforter.
Solomon’s Conclusion:
The real conclusion for those Solomon is considering is that the dead are better off than the living and if you were never born then you are better off that either the dead or the living. This seems like an extreme response but remember that Solomon is writing from the view point of man.
The Oppressed are like the Lost:
As a saved person we are given a comforter, the Holy Ghost (John 14:16-31). We can see several ways that he comforts us in the passage. First, he is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive. Truth is probably one of the rarest things in the world we live in today. You simply cannot find it anywhere. What a comforting fact to know that the Spirit of truth lives with in us. This is only true if you are saved. He also comforts us by teaching us the things that Jesus would want us to know. Knowledge, especially knowledge of the Jesus Christ is a comforting thing. Lastly in the passage he gives us the peace of God (Philippians 4:7). Peace is one of the greatest comforts that we can know this side of heaven.
The oppressed in the passage would be like the lost people. Without Jesus Christ as your savior there is no Holy Spirit dwelling inside of you. Without the Spirit of truth then there is no truth, knowledge or peace for you to rely on. This is why Solomon came to the conclusion that he did. And even though salvation was different in the Old Testament Solomon realizes without God in your live you are better off to have never been born.
Life Lesson:
If you are not saved you have no comfort or real hope of comfort. Therefore, without the true comforter which is the Holy Spirit of God, you would have been better off to have never been born. Regarding salvation in the New Testament this really does make sense because once you are born and reject Jesus Christ and the comforter that he wants to send you the only alternative is hell and the Lake of Fire for Eternity (Revelation 20:10-15). You would be better off to have never been born than to spend Eternity in the Lake of Fire.
How to Live (A Study in Ecclesiastes)
Lesson #5 Those with no Comfort (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3)
Handout
1) What is Solomon considering in the passage for this lesson?
2) Define oppression.
3) What is the state of the oppressed in the passage?
4) What is Solomon’s conclusion regarding the oppressed?
5) Who is our comforter and what are some ways that he comforts us?
6) What is the life lesson from this passage for us today?