In Ecc 6:1-2 Solomon discloses an evil under the sun.  This is something that he observed that just didn’t seem right.  We are going to study this one and some others he saw in Ecc 7:15, Ecc 8:14, and Ecc 9:2.

When men see these things and consider them, they get mad at God.  They don’t understand how God could allow this kind of evil under the sun.

The denial by God of the power to enjoy blessings bestowed by God, Ecc 6:1-2

God gives the man riches, wealth, and honour, yet God does not give him the power to eat thereof.  Contrast him with the man in Ecc 5:19.  Instead strangers eat his wealth.  This is what happened to Job, Job 1:14-17; and his friends couldn’t make sense of it.

Solomon said that it was better not to have been born than to suffer this apparent injustice, Ecc 6:3-5.

Naboth is a perfect example of a man like this, 1 Ki 21:1-14.  The expectation is that if God gives him the wealth, God will give him the power to enjoy it.  But this is not always the case.

Sometimes God purposely denies him the power to enjoy.  This is why the parable in Lk 12:16-21 is apropos.  In Israel’s case he warned them that if they didn’t hearken to his words, he would send the strangers in to devour their wealth, Deut 28:31-33.  The Midianites were eating up everything in Gideon’s day, Jud 6:3-6.

The early death of the just and the prolonged life of the wicked, Ecc 7:15

The wicked are not supposed to live out their days, Ecc 7:17.  In Ps 55:23 they live half their days.  Prov 10:27 says, “but the years of the wicked shall be shortened”.

Prov 10:27 says, “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days”. Prov 3:2 says, “for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee”.

It is so hard for us “under the sun” to make sense of just men dying young and wicked men living a full life.  Solomon said that this is evil under the sun.

The hardship of the just and the prosperity of the wicked, Ecc 8:14.

This problem really got to Job, Job 21:7-15.  And it was nearly Asaph’s undoing in Ps 73:3-16.  See also Mal 3:14-15.

Consider the rich man and Lazarus in Lk 16:19-31.  Lazarus was just and had it incredibly hard.  The rich man was wicked and had it so good.  It’s when you are not looking under the sun that you finally understand.  See what Asaph said in Ps 73:17-22.

The indiscriminate coming of death upon the righteous and the wicked, Ecc 9:2.

This is what got to Job, in Job 9:22.  He had to blurt it out.  People ave said, “I can’t believe this (death) would happen to such a good person or to a child”.  But death is death and it is indiscriminate.  It’s going to get us all and it has no regard for how good you are, or how old you are, or how undeserving you are.  It takes everyone regardless of their status, their righteousness, or their age.

And people really get mad at God about this.  They often ask, “Why didn’t God prevent this”?

Conclusion: You should thank God every day when these things aren’t happening to you.  And you should take consolation in the fact that Solomon, Job, and Asaph couldn’t deal with evil under the sun.  And if these men had a hard time with it, don’t be so discouraged if you’re having a hard time with it.

To study the prior lesson, see Eat and Drink. To study the next lesson, see Which Is Better.