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End Oppression, Seek Justice: Lessons from Ecclesiastes

Explore the search for meaning, oppression, and envy in Ecclesiastes through reflections on labor, achievement, and the importance of friendship in seeking God's guidance. Discover the impact of godlessness on society and the value of finding contentment in serving the Lord.

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End Oppression, Seek Justice: Lessons from Ecclesiastes

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  1. He is the Professor We are the Students

  2. Ecclesiastes 1:2 “ ‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’ ”

  3. The Search for Meaning Part IV I. All the Oppression (vv. 1-3) II. Envy and Greed (vv. 4-6) III. A Man All Alone (vv. 7-12) IV. An Old Foolish King (vv. 13-16)

  4. “Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun” -Ecclesiastes 4:1

  5. End Oppression Bring Justice

  6. Oppression • The oppression of workers by cruel masters (Exodus 1:11) • The oppression of foreigners and strangers (Exodus 22:21) • The oppression of the poor and needy (Exodus 22:29) • The oppression of believers because of their faith (Daniel 7:25) • The oppression of righteous people by corrupt officials (Amos 5:12) • The oppression of widows (Malachi 3:5)

  7. Human Perspective • “The dead, who had already died, are happier than the living who are still alive.” -Ecclesiastes 4:2 • “But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.” -Ecclesiastes 4:3

  8. Our Suffering Savior • “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.” (Isaiah 53:3) • “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” (Isaiah 53:7) • “By oppression and judgement He was taken away.” (Isaiah 53:8)

  9. Psalm 72:1-4 “Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; He will crush the oppressor.”

  10. That’s what the world looks like without God

  11. The Search for Meaning Part IV I. All the Oppression (vv. 1-3) II. Envy and Greed (vv. 4-6) III. A Man All Alone (vv. 7-12) IV. An Old Foolish King (vv. 13-16)

  12. “And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor” -Ecclesiastes 4:4

  13. Mark 7:20-23 “He went on: ‘What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ’ ”

  14. Romans 1:28-29 “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.”

  15. In a sinful environment, people follow two negative paths 1. “Labor and Achievement” (Striving to get ahead) 2. “Folding the hands” (Refusing to support yourself) We see both approaches in a godless society. There is measurable inequality, with growing income gap. Both parties are deeply unhappy.

  16. Ecclesiastes 4:6 “Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.”

  17. That’s what the world looks like without God

  18. The Search for Meaning Part IV I. All the Oppression (vv. 1-3) II. Envy and Greed (vv. 4-6) III. A Man All Alone (vv. 7-12) IV. An Old Foolish King (vv. 13-16)

  19. Ecclesiastes 4:8 “There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked, ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?’ This too is meaningless - a miserable business!”

  20. “No end to his toil”

  21. “Two are better than one” -Ecclesiastes 4:9

  22. Friendship • “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26) • “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20) • “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)

  23. Friendship • “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24) • “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” (Proverbs 27:6)

  24. “Twocan defend themselves” “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”

  25. Friends If you grasp for friends, it is like grasping the wind. Empty. If you serve the Lord as your only pursuit, you still endure a season of loneliness, then God will begin giving you real friends and partners. Most people give up and drift on, still looking for friends before they learn to serve the Lord. Many end their lives empty-handed because they searched for the friends and not for the Lord.

  26. That’s what the world looks like without God

  27. “An old but foolish king”

  28. Warning from God

  29. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” -Psalm 33:12

  30. That’s what the world looks like without God

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