Ecc. 4: Oppression and Toil

Ecclesiastes 4:4 "And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."

With all the oppression he sees in the world, the writer declares that the dead have it better than the living. Those who have come and gone are happier than those who are. But better off yet are those who have not yet come. Those who have not had to witness the wickedness in their lifetime. Pretty depressing. Everyone alive, or who has been, has suffered through wickedness. And for what? Life under the sun...

Also, a hopelessly cynical opinion that all achievement and prosperity springs from a man's envy of his neighbor. Really, do we strive and cultivate ambition just so we can be better than someone else? And is being better than someone else the only drive? Man...I have to think about that.

Verse 6 re-emphasizes how important tranquility is over riches. Riches which are gained by meaningless toil.

Being alone is sad. One person does not have a second person to pick him up when he falls. To keep him warm. Or help him not be overpowered. Two can defend themselves. A cord of three is not easily broken.

The final verses appear to me to describe David's situation. He was a wise youth, and King Saul was a knucklehead, not open to warning. Despite David's constant walk with God, the people eventually fell away from God, and away from listening to David. Which made it all meaningless.

Ps. 88: Psalmy Darko

Psalm 88:3 "For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave."

Wow. In my opinion, the 88th Psalm may be the darkest one I've read. It's pretty rough. Those looking for hope in the Psalms are advised to look elsewhere. The sons of Korah paint a pretty bleak picture here for what it's like to be on God's bad side, or to be ignored or abandoned by him. Or really, even having to endure God's silence. Though in one's mind, it may be understood that God is still God and hasn't forsaken, the whole experience isn't a pleasant one. It doesn't necessarily light those touchy-feely God candles.

This Psalm reeks of loneliness, abandonment and despair. Is God refusing to hear? How long is he going to go on doing that?

Wrath and terror engulf him like a flood? Loneliness surrounds him? His friends and companions have been replaced with darkness? Yikes. So the Bible isn't all encouraging words all the time. But I would suppose there is a bigger point coming. This is a writer pouring his feelings out. He's not trying to hide his true feelings. Questions are there...why ignore them for the sake of tradition and religion?

The truth is, there is quite a bit of desparation in the Psalms, mostly from David. But there is just as much beauty in the worshipful words of God. David has good words, but I think Asaph is a bit more gifted in the wordsmithing department.