Falling and Being Lifted Up - Ecclesiastes 4:10

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor”, and in chapter four and verse ten of his book Solomon said, “for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow”, where we read,

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: 

but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.

The verse reads, “For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:” Solomon began with the words, “for if they fall” or “because, since and on account that whether and in case they, the two people, are cast down, made prostrate and attacked”, “the one will lift up” which means “the one person of the two will stand up, establish and confirm” “his fellow” or “his, the one person’s, associate and united companion”. Solomon said in case one of the two people is cast down, the other person will stand up and establish his companion.

The verse continues, “but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.” Daniel added the words, “but woe to him” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover misery, sorrow and distress come to the person” “that is alone” which means “who exists in solitary, single and by themself” “when he falls” or “at the time and moment he, the single person, is cast down, made prostrate and attacked”; “for he has not another” which means “because, since and on account that he, the single person, does not have an other person” “to help him up” or “to raise, stand up and establish him, the single person”. Solomon said great sorrow and misery accompany the solitary and single person at the time they fall because there is no one there to stand them up or reestablish them. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon the additional benefit to having two people rather than one in life. At the time one person is attacked or cast down, the other person will be there to raise them up and reestablish them. However, if a person is single and solitary, should they “fall”, no one will be there to give them aid. God built us in such a way that we need companionship, and our first relationship is to be with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we surrender to Him, we will be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth including good and reliable friendships and companionships who will “help” us in our time of need. 

Next time Solomon asks, “how can one be warm alone?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".