He thinks non-existence is better than existence
4
📚So again I considered all the acts of oppression that are done under the sun, and saw the tears of those being oppressed; and they had no comforter, and the power was on the side of their oppressors; but they had no comforter. 4:1 Solomon looks about the world again and finds it hard to practice the principle he lays down for others in Eccl 1:14; 2:24; 3:12-13, 22. He is utterly depressed by what he sees – the senseless cruelty (vs 1-3), achievement produced by envy (v 4), foolishness (vs 5,6), lonely and dissatisfied toil (vs 7-12), and the meaninglessness of high position and popularity (vs 13-16). It is all a vain and empty show. All of man’s activities are pointless and fruitless. There is nothing in any of them to admire, nothing that points to the good thing that a man should do all the days of his life.
Solomon saw something at least of what John put so clearly in his first letter:
“For all that is in the world – the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and its desires with it; but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (see 1 John 2:15-17).
Solomon concludes that life in this kind of world is so bad that death is better, and not being born at all is the best of all (vs 2,3. See notes at Job 3:1, 20-22).
How thankful we should be for the revelations of the New Testament! There we see the eternal value and meaning of human activity performed for Christ’s glory (Matt 10:42; John 12:26; 1 Cor 15:58). A true Christian need never despair because of what he experiences or sees in this world. God has a wonderful purpose and will fulfill it (Rom 8:18-30).⚜
2 📚Therefore I praised the dead who have already died more than the living who are still alive.
3 📚Yes, better off than both of them is the one who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 📚Again I considered all labour and all successful achievement, that it comes from man’s envy of his neighbour. This is also emptiness and chasing the wind.
5 📚The fool folds his hands together, and consumes his own flesh.
6 📚Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and chasing the wind.
7 📚Then again I looked at emptiness under the sun.
8 📚There is someone without another; also, he has neither child nor brother; yet there is no end to all his labour, nor is his eye satisfied with riches, nor does he say, “For whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good things?” This is also emptiness; yes, it is a sorry business.
The value of friendship
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 his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one else to help him up.
11 📚Again, if two lie down together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?
12 📚And while one can overpower him who is alone, two can withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Success is meaningless
13 📚Better is a poor and a wise youth than an old and foolish king who will no longer accept advice.
14 📚For he may come out of prison to reign, even though he may have been born poor in his kingdom.
15 📚I saw that all the living under the sun side with the second youth who takes his place.
16 📚There is no end to all these people, to all who were before them; also those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is emptiness and chasing the wind.