Struck Down, But Not Destroyed - Ecclesiastes Chapter 4

There are times in life where we feel we have nothing else to give. We feel we can’t push through for ourselves, so how the heck can we show up for others? Ecclesiastes 4 delves into the acts of oppression done under the sun. The Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines oppression as: “the imposition of unreasonable burdens; misery. A sense of heaviness or weight in the breast; overpowering or overwhelming.” If we flip the pages back and look at Eccl. 3, the writer explains there’s a time for everything. There will be a time when one may feel oppressed and weighed down, but if there’s no one to comfort us like the author clearly explains in Ch. 4 verse 1, we may not be able to see clearly, which will then cause a lack of belief for a fruitful outcome, because one will have an undersupply of hope due to the misery within.

Oppression is such a tricky state to be in because it places restrictions in the mind and leads to a deep suffering that may make one feel stuck and silenced. The Bible says that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. What I’ve learned is that when we encounter a season of oppression, its vital that we draw near to the Lord. There will be a time when one may feel weighed down, but if we look to God, there’s hope because joy always comes in the morning. Believers can find comfort in the hard seasons of life because seasons are temporary, and when we go through trials we have to know that the trials and hard seasons are for us. God is building us, teaching us, helping us to lean in and rely on him, but it’s important that we don’t walk this journey out alone. The writer continues to convey that “two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lies down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person keep warm alone? Two are better than one because that person can be your comforter. That person can lift you up, encourage you, and provide hope. The writer continues, “if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Eccl 4:9-12). What's more special is three. The idea of community makes a three-cord braid that isn’t easily broken. This allows multiple sides to be covered, protected, and strengthened. We must recognize that God doesn’t want us to endure any season alone. We have Christ, whether we feel his presence or not. We also have to immerse ourselves in community and stay connected with our people. God wants us to always call to him, seek his face, and dwell in his presence at all times. The word tells us that Jesus will give us rest for our souls and we can learn from him when we feel weary and burdened. He is our gentle and humble Savior (Matthew 11:28-30).

What I’ve learned is that life is hard, oppression is real, but nothing is impossible with Jesus! As we all study the scriptures we can clearly see that God is for us, but it takes belief in his word and application to his truth that provides transformation in our lives. There is nothing too hard for God. The key is to remain connected to the vine and stay faithful to the call. As the writer states so eloquently in chapter 4, life is tough and there will be rough seasons, but we can rejoice! Why? Because…

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).