Part 3 of 3
We are continuing in our study of Ecclesiastes 4:4-16. We have seen the meaningless of hard work and success (vv. 4-6), the meaninglessness of loneliness (vv. 7-8) and the advantages of companionship (vv. 9-12).
In this final article on this passage, we will consider the meaninglessness of political success (vv. 13-16) and then conclude with the solution to these problems.
The Meaninglessness of Political Success (vv. 13-16)
Like the first section, which talked about three persons, this section describes another three different characters.
First, there is an old and foolish king. Verses 13-14, “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.”
This old and foolish king who no longer pays attention to advice is contrasted with another man and this contrast takes place on three levels. First, they are opposites in terms of social status. One is a king while the other is a poor person. Second, they are opposites in their age. One is old while the other is a youth. Third, they are opposites with regard to understanding. One is foolish while the other is wise.
Solomon says that the wise young pauper is better than the foolish old king. Ordinarily, an old man should also be a wise man, and an old king should especially be wise. But sadly, he is described as a fool because he puts himself outside the realm of admonition and he no longer pays attention to advice.
Pride has gotten the better of him. He thinks he has become immune to foolishness and mistakes and blind spots in his life and in his work as a king, and thus he no longer needs any more words of wisdom or counsel from anyone.
This failure to seek and listen to advice leads to political disaster. He is removed from office and is replaced by none other than the poor but wise youth mentioned in verse 13. Verse 14 tells us that not only was this young man poor, he was even a prisoner. He came from prison to become king.
Next, we are introduced to another individual, who will replace the poor youth as the king. Verse 15, “I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.”
Solomon observes the mass of people in the land who are walking under the sun, and he sees one who stands out from among the crowd. This young man is the one who replaces the poor wise youth.
We are not told why or how this happened. Perhaps the king died young or perhaps he too became proud and refused to listen to counsel, and thus was replaced. We simply don’t know but the point of the verse is to show us the limited life of wisdom.
This young man was wise and he rose to power from the most unlikely of situations but even his wisdom could not keep him on the throne for long. Wisdom brought him temporary success but it could not guarantee him a long reign. He was replaced by another youth.
Verse 16 tells us something about this third king. “There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him.” Solomon is saying that there were countless people who followed this next youth. He was a very popular king. The people loved him.
So whereas the earlier young man was characterized by wisdom, this second one is characterized by popularity. However, political success and popularity is fleeting. The phrase “they also that come after shall not rejoice in him” means that over time, he loses his popularity and favour with the people. They no longer like him or support him for some reason. They have become disenchanted and dissatisfied and disgruntled with their once popular king and now they want him replaced.
Solomon is telling us that from the under the sun approach to life, political power and success are but a chasing after the wind. Anyone seeking satisfaction through political success and popularity will be disappointed. Verse 16 ends this section with the words, “Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
The Solution to these problems
As we conclude our study of this passage, I’ll like to point us to the ultimate solution to these meaningless situations.
Life is ultimately meaningless without a right understanding of God and a right relationship with Him. When God created man, He created him to do two things – to love God above all and to love his neighbour as himself. Man is created first to have a right vertical relationship with God and then a right horizontal relationship with others.
Sin, however, destroys both these relationships. Sin turns us in on ourselves both with respect to God and with respect to our neighbour. Sin first destroys our relationship with God. It turns us away from Him and into idolatry, resulting in discontentment, covetousness and envy.
When we don’t worship God, we will worship ourselves and other created objects. Instead of pursuing God and finding meaning in Him, we seek after the things of the world and we find no satisfaction in them.
Why? Because they were never created to satisfy the deepest longings and desires of our heart. To try and find your deepest fulfilment in hard work and good grades and material wealth and pleasure and even political success and fame and popularity is utter foolishness.
These things will always disappoint in the end because they can never give what you really and truly need. You are asking too much of them. The Maker of this universe never designed the things of this temporal and material world to be the source of our true contentment and peace and joy. We were created by God for something much bigger than this whole world. We were created for God Himself – to know Him, to glorify Him, to love Him, and to enjoy Him forever.
But the second thing that sin does is that it turns us in on ourselves with respect to our neighbour. It destroys our horizontal relationships with other people. We see this again in all the three examples of our text. Sin makes us envious of our neighbour. But sin also leads us to idleness and indolence, and a refusal to use our hands to serve others.
Sin makes us content to live lonely lives. Sin causes us to be concerned only with ourselves and to have little thought for others. Sin turns us into selfish misers and hoarders of material things. Sin brings misery, particularly the misery of loneliness and an absence of help and comfort in time of need. Sin leads to foolishness and a refusal to listen to the counsel and advice of others. Sin deceives us into seeking popularity and fame, and the applause and affirmation of men. In short, sin causes us not to love our neighbour as ourselves.
The solution to the problem of sin is none other than the Saviour of the world, even Jesus Christ.
As our great prophet, Jesus says to us, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
And not only that but as our Priest and King, He alone can redeem us from the idolatrous pursuit of this world. He alone can rescue us from making ourselves the center of the universe and refusing to love God above all and our neighbour as ourselves.
He alone can save us from sin. Indeed, He alone can save us from us, for in the final analysis, we are our own worst enemies, and we desperately need to be rescued from our own sinful selves and tendencies.
Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty and price of the sins of His people. He came to give Himself for them so that they should no longer live unto themselves but unto Him who died for them, and rose again.
Are you a person who is without Christ in your life? Then you must also be without ultimate meaning and hope and satisfaction in life. Do not continue in such a state of sin and misery. Turn to Him. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. Rest in Him, lean on Him, and trust Him. Empty your hands of all your riches and self-righteousness and merits, and lay hold upon His righteousness and His merits.
But are you a Christian? Then remember that Christ is your Master and you are His servant. Christ is your King and you are His subject. Our relationship and union with Him is what defines us, not hard work and success and good exam results, not wealth and riches, not fame and popularity. May the Lord help us to bring that perspective into all of life. Amen.