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본문의 중심내용

전도자는 사회 전반에서 일어나는 힘 있는 자들의 학대(압제)와, 학대받는 이들을 위로하는 자가 없는 비정한 현실에 안타까워합니다.

[ 전도서 4:1 - 4:6 ] (찬송183장)

학대받는 자들의 눈물 

1내가 다시 해 아래에서 행하는 모든 학대를 살펴 보았도다 보라 학대 받는 자들의 눈물이로다 그들에게 위로자가 없도다 그들을 학대하는 자들의 손에는 권세가 있으나 그들에게는 위로자가 없도다 2그러므로 나는 아직 살아 있는 산 자들보다 죽은 지 오랜 죽은 자들을 더 복되다 하였으며 3이 둘보다도 아직 출생하지 아니하여 해 아래에서 행하는 악한 일을 보지 못한 자가 더 복되다 하였노라

 한 손에 놓인 평온함 

 4내가 또 본즉 사람이 모든 수고와 모든 재주로 말미암아 이웃에게 시기를 받으니 이것도 헛되어 바람을 잡는 것이로다 5우매자는 팔짱을 끼고 있으면서 자기의 몸만 축내는도다 6두 손에 가득하고 수고하며 바람을 잡는 것보다 한 손에만 가득하고 평온함이 더 나으니라

[ Ecclesiastes 4:1 - 4:6 ]

1Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them.2 And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive.3 But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.4 Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.5 The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.6 Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. 

Who is God like?

Thinking & Understanding

The people had no interest in the oppression and violence that filled the world. The preacher declared that it was better to be dead than to be in this world where only the strong survive and the weak suffer (vv. 1-3). He believed that this kind of cruelty and heartlessness stemmed from competitiveness. He believed that the desire to possess more and gain advancement in the world made people envy one another, become embroiled in conflicts, and oppress those who were weaker than themselves. He suggested that happiness could be found by possessing less and maintaining peace rather than by fighting for the sake of obtaining more things (vv. 4-6). 

What lesson is God teaching me?

V. 1 Apathy is a serious sin. Actively doing good deeds is just as important as not committing evil. Do you call out injustice when you see it? Who are the weak people who are suffering in this world? How can you comfort them? 

Vv. 4-6 The world encourages competition and living assiduously. However, passion that is motivated by the wrong reasons and extreme competitiveness are more dangerous than laziness. Let’s not lose our sense of common human decency because of our desire to outdo others. Let’s create a culture of harmony and collaboration rather than competition. 

Prayer

Lord, help us to comfort those who weep and to create a world where we can all dwell happily together.