Bible with Brandi Week 23 – Ecclesiastes Ch. 3-4

Solomon opens chapter three with a bit of a proverb, teaching there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven (Eccl. 3:1). It is a true statement. God has placed the universe in order and many places in Scripture talk about appointed times and seasons. But then Solomon does something indicative of his state of mind—remember, he has spent the last portion of his life giving himself over to other gods. His mind has mixed God’s wisdom (given as a gift in his early years) with the wisdom of the world. Solomon begins to pair a good thing and an evil thing.

A time to be born (good thing);

A time to die (something that only came after the fall of man);

...

A time to kill (something we are forbidden to do);

A time to heal (this is something Jesus did for all of us and would be unnecessary apart from sin). (Eccl. 3:2-3)

If one were to read the first eight verses of chapter 3, it would sound reasonable, maybe even wise. The world has sung a song in keeping with it. But when you stop to reflect on the actual words, something does not sit right with the believer.

So, we read on. In verses 9-15, there is Godly wisdom shared. God has put eternity in our hearts. We can feel it beat in time with heavenly realities. But then Solomon’s deep mistrust of and frustration with life begins to emerge again. In verses 16-22, Solomon observes corruption in places where righteousness should exist. Courts are unjust. Leaders abuse authority. The innocent suffer while the wicked prosper. Solomon begins evaluating these observations from an earthly perspective rather than a covenant perspective. He concludes that man and beast share essentially the same fate. Both die. Both return to dust.

This is one of the recurring tensions throughout Ecclesiastes. Solomon often describes life from the viewpoint of human observation alone. If all we could see were birth, labor, suffering, and death, his conclusions might seem reasonable. But God has already revealed something greater. The believer knows that mankind is not merely an advanced animal.

Humanity was uniquely created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Solomon’s question, “Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward…?” (Eccl. 3:21), is answered elsewhere in Scripture. We know because God has spoken.

Daniel speaks of resurrection.

Job declares, "Yet in my flesh shall I see God."

And Jesus Christ Himself conquered death and the grave.

What Solomon could only question, Christ would later reveal.

As chapter 4 opens, Solomon continues his observations of life under the sun. He turns his attention to oppression. He sees tears. He sees victims. He sees people with no comforter. The powerful crush the weak, and no one seems able to intervene. Once again, Solomon is observing a real problem. Scripture never ignores suffering. In fact, throughout the Old Testament God repeatedly condemns those who exploit widows, orphans, strangers, and the poor. Yet Solomon’s response reveals how dark his outlook has become. He concludes that the dead are better off than the living and that those who have never been born are better off than both (Eccl. 4:2-3). This is not divine wisdom; it is despair speaking.

Next Solomon notices another problem: much human achievement is fueled by rivalry and envy. People work harder than necessary not because they love God or wish to serve others, but because they are competing with one another. How relevant this remains today. Then, surprisingly, one of the most beloved portions of Ecclesiastes appears in verses 9-12. “Two are better than one...” Here Solomon recognizes God never intended humanity to exist independently. From the beginning He declared, “It is not good that the man should be alone.”

Reflective Questions:

1. Am I striving to glorify God and serve others, or am I being driven by comparison, competition, envy, or the desire for approval?

2. Who are the people God has placed in my life to encourage, strengthen, and walk alongside me, and how can I better support them in return?

3. How does remembering God's promises about eternity, resurrection, and redemption change my perspective on suffering and injustice?

4. Why is discernment important when reading Ecclesiastes? How can the rest of Scripture help us evaluate Solomon's conclusions?