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

 

Thought:  Solomon’s experiment with life took him in many directions.  He saw many things.  The common theme was that there is much vanity under the sun.  There is an emptiness about many things that happen on the earth.  Much of what man deems important is of no count.  Yes, there is some good to be found, but there is a lot of uselessness upon the earth as well.  Why is there so much vanity?  Could it be that this vanity is intended to point man to something higher and nobler?

 

I Samuel 12:20-21

 

Commentary:

 

A.     As we read Ecclesiastes, it seems that Solomon’s mind is “on fire.” 

1.       Thoughts are racing to and fro through his mind.

2.       He sees one thing and focuses on it for a moment, then, he sees something else and needs to mention it to his readers.

3.       “Then I returned…”

a.  Then he returned to the findings of his experiment.

b.  He had focused long enough on the sluggard of the previous two verses.

 

B.      When his mind returned to his research, what he found was the same:  “…and I saw vanity under the sun.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good?  This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

 

Thought:  There are a few people like the one described in this verse in the world.  They have no family.  They have no friends.  They are “one alone.”  This person is consumed with work.  He is wealthy but is never satisfied with what he has.  He labors for no one, not even himself.  He bereaves his own soul of good.  What’s the meaning to such a life?  Solomon answers:  “This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.”  I am reminded of Mr. Potter in the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

 

I John 2:16

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This time, his focus is upon a lone individual.

1.       “There is one alone.”

a.  There is not a second.

b.  He explains his statement.

                        1)  He hath neither child.

                        2)  Nor does he have a brother.

                   c.  This individual is completely alone:  no parents, no wife, no siblings, no children.

 

B.      “…yet there is no end of all his labor…”

1.       This man works just like those who have a family.

2.       Even though he comes home to an empty house, he works just as diligently as those who work in order to provide for their families.

 

C.     Too, “…neither is his eye satisfied with riches.”

1.       He only has to provide for himself.

2.       It should take less for him to live than it does for a one who has dependents.

3.       Yet, this man keeps working, keeps buying, and keeps saving the money he earns from day to day. 

4.       He will work until he is 65, 70, 80, or older.

 

D.     This man never stops to contemplate a question:  “For whom do I work, and bereave my soul of good?”

1.       He could work less and provide the basics for himself.

2.       Yet, he works sometimes even more than the person who has others depending on him.

3.       There are other things that he could do with his time, but he bereaves his soul of good in order to work and toil and labor.

4.       Examples: 

a.  Mr. Potter in the movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.”

b.  My two great uncles, Uncle Berne and Uncle Theodor

 

E.      Solomon’s conclusion about such a life of work is that it is “vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 4:9 – Two are better than one; because they have good reward for their labor.

 

Thought:  When people are isolated, when they work alone, they cannot do as much as they could by combining their strength with another.  “Two are better than one.”  The concept of teamwork can be illustrated by the two-horse rule. If one horse can pull 700 pounds and another horse can pull 800 pounds, how much weight will they pull yoked together? The answer may surprise you. The
two-horse team will pull their own weight plus the weight of their interaction. Therefore, yoked together, the horses can pull 3000 pounds!"  Truly, they have good reward for their labor.

 

Exodus 17:8-13

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon had just mentioned the lone man who labors only for himself. 

 

B.      He does not feel that loneliness and isolation are the most profitable positions for a man.

 

C.     He asserts that “two are better than one.”  He does not simply make an assertion, he continues by proving his statement in several ways.

 

D.     First, he proclaims that two in contrast to one “have good reward for their labor.”

1.       The “two-horse rule”

a.  One horse can pull 700 pounds.  A second horse can pull 800 pounds.

b.  Together they should be able to pull at least 1500 pounds. 

c.  However, the two-horse team will pull their own weight plus the weight of their

     interaction.  Therefore, yoked together, they will pull 3000 pounds.

2.       Moses and Joshua fought against Amalek (Exo. 17:8-13)

a.  “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim” (v. 8).

b.  Moses told Joshua to take the field of battle.  Moses, on the other hand, would stand “on

     the top of the hill with the rod of God” in his hand (v. 9).

c.  As long has Moses hand was held high, Israel prevailed in the battle (v. 11).

d.  “But Moses hands were heavy…” (v. 11).

e.  Fortunately, Aaron and Hur were with Moses (v. 12-13).

 

…and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

 

3.       Jesus assists us by calling us to place our burdens under His yoke.  Instead of pulling them by ourselves, He shares them with us (Matt. 11:28-30).  NOTE:  Two are better than one.

 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:  and ye shall find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Thought:  Solomon said in the previous verse that two are better than one.  He now gives examples that prove his statement.  If two are together and one falls, “the one will lift up his fellow.”  This is true physically.  It is also true both emotionally and spiritually.  We see individuals who are down all of the time.  Those who love and care for them pick them up.  They will not leave them lying in the dust.  As they pick them up, they encourage them, check for cuts and bruises, and motivate them to keep going.

 

Acts 9:8

 

Commentary:

 

A.     A second illustration that proves two are better than one is when someone falls.

1.       For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.

2.       There have been many elderly individuals who have fallen in their homes alone.  They have had to lay there for hours, even a day or two, until someone found them.

3.       Example:  This concept led to the invention called “Life Alert.” 

a..  “Help, I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up.”

b..  The Life Alert is the second party to assist the elderly person when he/she falls.

 

B.      Solomon also notes the problem when a person is all alone and attaches a “woe” to the situation:  “…but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 4:11 – And if two lie together, then they have heat:  but how can one be warm alone?

 

Thought:  The body temperature of two people together creates an abundance of warmth.  Many people have lived for several days in very cold temperatures because they could cuddle together to get warm.  The body heat of just one person escapes into the atmosphere rather than being trapped so he can be warmed.  Again, Solomon proves that two are better than one. 

 

I Kings 1:1-2

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This is the third example Solomon gives of two being better than one.

 

B.      “And if two lie together, then they have heat.”

1.       Quote:  “Heat is continuously generated in the human body by metabolic processes and exchanged with the environment and among internal organs by conduction, convection, evaporation and radiation. Transport of heat by the circulatory system makes heat transfer in the body — or bioheat transfer — a specific branch of this general science” (BODY (HUMAN) HEAT TRANSFER (thermopedia.com)).

2.       Example:  Movie:  “Apollo 13” – Jim Lovell has to warm up Fred Haise by hugging him and rubbing his back.

 

C.     Again, he notes the lack of warmth of one by a question:  “…but how can one be warm alone?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Thought:  In this verse Solomon gives two more examples of a group being better than an individual person.  If a person is confronted by a bully, it is good to have a friend to assist in the conflict.  The bully will be much less eager to be involved in a fight.  It is also true that a threefold cord is not as easily broken as an individual thread.  The three bound together provides great strength.  Let all of us come to understand that there is strength in numbers.  Many united together can do great things.

 

Daniel 3:16-17

 

Commentary:

 

A.     This is the fourth illustration Solomon gives of two being better than one.

 

B.      “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him.”

1.       Two against one is usually much better than one against one, especially if you are small.

2.       Example:  It is interesting that when Jesus sent His disciples out, He sent them two by two (Mark 6:7).

 

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth two and two…

 

a.  Two confirm the truthfulness of testimony.

b.  Two can protect one another.

c.  Two can be of good company to each other.

 

C.     Solomon’s fifth illustration involves a cord.  “…a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

1.       Picture:

2.       A threefold cord is 50% stronger than a 2 ply cord.  The weight and width of the threefold cord is marginal compared to the added strength of the cord.

3.       Example:  Marriage is a threefold cord:  Husband, wife, and God (Matt. 19:6b).

 

…What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

 

                  NOTE:  When God is cast from a marriage relationship, the marriage quickly dissolves.