Praising the Dead More than the Living - Ecclesiastes 4:2

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: And behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of the oppressors there was power: but they had no comforter”, and in chapter four and verse two of his book Solomon said, “I praise the dead … more than the living”, where we read,

Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead

More than the living which are yet alive.

The verse reads, “Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead …” Solomon began with the words, “wherefore I praised the dead” or “therefore, then and on this account I, Solomon, lauded, commended and congratulated the ones put to death, killed and executed” “which are already dead” which means “who hitherto, long ago and formerly were executed, killed and put to death”. Solomon said he gave glory to people who previously were put to death and executed.

The verse goes on to say, “… more than the living which are yet alive.” Daniel added the words, “more than the living” or “to a greater and more abundant degree compared to people who are alive and active” “which are yet alive” which means “but still are in no way living and active”. Solomon gave laud to people who have already died more than people who were still alive but acting as though they were dead. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon commended people who previously died more than people who were alive but were living as though they were dead. In other words, he thought people who were not “living” were better off than people who were alive but were living in a “dead” manner. God wants to bring us true life through His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven for our sins, granted everlasting-age abiding life and given His Holy Spirit who will help us to live in a manner that excels all others because it is pleasing to Him. (See John 10:10)

Next time Solomon says, “better is he than both they, which has not yet been”, 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".