Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16

A. There is injustice in the world vs 16. Solomon himself observed that injustice was often evident in a place where we might least expect it-the place of judgment and righteousness, the courtroom. The kind of injustice that creates anger and frustration in our hearts. Are we suppose to accept this as from the hand of God?

(1) God will eventually balance the scales of justice vs 17. God may correct some of that here and now but He has appointed a time when it all will be justly judged. Every matter and every deed will be weighed justly when all the hidden motives of the heart will be examined even when that which is spoken in secret shall be shouted from the housetops (Matt 10:27). Injustice is limited in its scope.

(2) God uses injustice to reveal that our existence is frail and temporary 17-21. The illustration of the likeness of man and animals is to show that both of them are transitory, they both have an end here on earth and return to dust. In that sense there is a bestiality about us all. We behave like beasts and we die like them. So from a human standpoint we cannot detect any difference vs 21. Injustice is only a thing of this earth, on this side of the grave. And it’s presence in this world teaches us that this life and ours is temporary. We learn to hold it loosely and become serious only about that which is serious.

(3) Since you cannot know God’s plan because you can’t know the future, you can only find pleasure in the activities of your life vs 22. Of course God has since revealed more to us about His future plan for us than He had to Solomon. God’s use of injustice for His glory should not bring despair to us because it is part of His plan to reveal our frailty and keep things in perspective while promising that justice will be served. The New Testament has a lot to say about how we are to manage injustice. Consider Jesus teaching in Matt 5:38-42 or His own example or James 5:10-11 As an example brothers of suffering and patience take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord ...you have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings..

(4) Evil oppression takes place on earth because of injustice 4:1-3. Notice the anguish and misery it causes in people’s lives. The weeping, sorrow, brokenness which the oppressed feel they can do nothing about. Helplessness and hopelessness with no one to comfort them. Who can they turn to? Where can they go for deliverance? They feel that death is preferable to what they are going through even to the point Solomon says wishing they had never been born and seen this evil perpetuated would be better. Like Job who cried Let the day perish wherein I was born Job 3:3. The 20th century was one of the bloodiest centuries on record in human history. To earn a death sentence, it was enough to be an Armenian, a Jew, a non-khmer-rouge Cambodian, a Bosnian/Kosovar Muslim or of the tutsi tribe in Rwanda. On September 11 it was enough to be an American. In 1994 Rwanda, a country of just 8 million, experienced the numerical equivalent of more than two world trade center attacks every single day for 100 days. On an American scale that would mean 23 million people murdered, slaughtered, mutilated in 3 months. On Sept 12 the world became our friend. When the Tutsi cried out in 1994 by contrast every country in the world turned away. No one to listen, no one to comfort. The only alternative to enjoyment in life’s activities is the despair caused in part by this unchecked oppression. So he tells us enjoy our activites. It is what it is and God is using it.

Greed is never satisfied. Here there is no end to his toil, not content with his wealth (competing for more) and even deny selves the pleasures of life for more vs 7-8. Only projects and plans. Solomon commended sharing rather than hoarding as more beneficial for several reasons.

(1) A better profit from ones labor vs 9. (2) Help in time of difficulty vs 10. (3) Its warmer when two are together vs 11. (4) Protection in time of danger vs 12. It is more beneficial then to share ones toil and its fruits with another. Bike riding alone? Badminton alone? No