DAWN

     Explanation: Ecclesiastes 4 Solomon speaks of oppression, envy, solitariness, helpers, and advancement. Today's painting shows oppression taken to its ultimate extent -- massacre.

1. Narrator's Introduction - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:1   -  1:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
2. Teacher's Introduction  - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:12 -  2:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
3. Teacher's Word's           - Coping With Vanity                         (  2:12 - 11:9   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
4. Teacher's Conclusion    - Overcome Vanity by Serving God  ( 11:10 - 12:7   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
5. Narrator's Conclusion   - Overcome Vanity by Serving God  ( 12:8   - 12:14 ) - 946 B.C. Israel

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Ecclesiastes 3. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Book of Ecclesiastes Dramatized - #1 (English). Book of Ecclesiastes Dramatized - #2 (Spanish). ]

     Solomon considered all the oppressions which are done under the sun, and the tears of the oppressed who had no comforter. He realized that the dead were better off than the living. And better than both of them were those who had never been born, who never saw the evil work that is done under the sun (1-3).
     He considered the envy which one neighbor has for another who works hard and skillfully. It is vanity and a striving after the wind. But the fool folds his hand (in laziness) and eats his own flesh. Therefore, a handful with quietness is better than two hands full of toil and striving after the wind (4-6).
      It is vain when one person has no one else, either son or brother, yet has endless toil. His eyes are never satisfied with riches; and he never asks for whom he is toiling and depriving himself of pleasure. It is vanity and sore travail (7-8).
     Two are better than one, because they are rewarded for their labor. If one falls the other lifts him up: but woe to him who is alone when he falls; because he has no one to help him up. Also, if two lie together, they have heat; but how can one be warm alone? And again, if one prevails against him, two can withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken (9-12).
     Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no longer be admonished. One may come from prison to the throne; and a king may become poor within his kingdom. Solomon considered all the living which walk under the sun, together with the youth who stood in the king's place. There is no end of the people, or of all who came before them; and those who come after them shall not rejoice in the youth who became king. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit (13-16).

Oppression

¹ So I returned, and considered [this] 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.
² Wherefore I praised [this] the dead which are already dead
more than the living which [the same] are yet alive.
³ Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been,
who hath not seen [this]

the evil work that is done under the sun.

Envy

⁴ Again, I considered [this] all travail, and every right work,
that for this a man is envied of his neighbour.

This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

⁵ The fool foldeth [this] his hands together, and eateth [this] his own flesh.
⁶ Better is an handful [then a filled hand] with quietness,
than both the hands [then] full

with travail and vexation of spirit.

Solitariness

⁷ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
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 [this] my soul of good?

This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Helpers

⁹ Two are better than one;
because they have a good reward for their labour.
¹⁰ For if they fall,
the one will lift up [this] his fellow:
but woe to him that is alone when he falleth;
for he hath not another to help him up.
¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have heat:
but how can one be warm alone?
¹² And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand [stand against] him;
and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Advancement

¹³ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king,
who will no more be admonished.
¹⁴ For out of prison [the house of bondage] he cometh to reign;
whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
¹⁵ I considered [this] all the living which walk under the sun,
with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
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.