Though not an entirely exact comparison with our times, the preacher in Ecclesiastes wrestles with what look like themes of social injustice. Like many today, he looks into the causes and potential solutions. Like those who do the same today, he finds no solutions outside of God.
I don’t intend this to be a complete commentary, but looking at the Word through the lens of some current events.
In Ecclesiastes 4:1-6 The preacher struggles with injustice around him. Later he’ll understand better suffering is not intrinsically wrong, but that suffering in isolation from God is empty & fruitless. As he wrestles with the meaning of injustice he touches on themes we see today.
(1) The oppressed suffer without comfort; the oppressor oppresses and has no comfort. The solution to suffering is not social justice. Both the oppressed & the oppressor suffer. Later the preacher will see the solution is not social justice, but a Just God.
(2-3) As the preacher considers suffering he even appears to dabble with nihilism. Such is the case of those in favor of abortion, population control, & extreme environmentalists. They reason that life is so bad it would be better if many people did not exist.
But, still, that would not bring a solution to suffering. In the company of 1 or none, suffering would still exist.
(4) The preacher sees that many struggle and become skilled in their labor, they excel so that they can appear better. Capitalism married with kindness improves life for all. But capitalism married to greed causes the consumer to be consumed.
(4) As the preacher looks at the rich and the poor he sees that both labor to have what his neighbor owns. He observes the fact of economic jealousy. Perhaps we would see this as socialism and communism – these philosophies of greed reason that life is hard, this life is all there is, so I better get what I can here at any cost. Later, the preacher will see that there is more to life than this life alone.
(5) The preacher looks at one who, in despair, turns to laziness. The fool reasons that if he cannot get ahead in life then why bother? He sits and wastes away. His laziness destroys him. The poison of bitterness, despair, and jealousy leads him to give up.
(6) Though the preacher is early in his journey toward truth, he concludes that contentment is not found in social justice, nihilism, capitalism, socialism, communism, or laziness.
One handful of provisions with peace is better than double that won at the price of the -isms of this world.
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