2025.09.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 4:13–16

Read Ecclesiastes 4:13–16

Questions from the Scripture text: What sort of youth is it better to be (Ecclesiastes 4:13a)? Than what sort of king (verse 13b)? From what conditions might this hypothetical youth rise to the throne (Ecclesiastes 4:14)? Who end up following him (Ecclesiastes 4:15)? And being ruled by him (Ecclesiastes 4:16a)? But how long does this last (verse 16b)? What does he conclude about honor and power (verse 16c)?

Why is noble kingship vanity, apart from God? Ecclesiastes 4:13–16 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that, apart from God, even noble kingship is vanity, for it is short-lived and quickly forgotten.

The final circumstance, in chapter 4, for which the worship of God is a remedy, is the fleeting nature of honor and power. Even a great king quickly becomes old and senile (Ecclesiastes 4:13b). Only Christ’s kingdom is forever.

It’s better to have the possibility of kingship out in front of you, even if you are poor like David (Ecclesiastes 4:13a, b) or in prison like Joseph (Ecclesiastes 4:14a). 

But, even if by wisdom (Ecclesiastes 4:13a), one ascends to the throne (Ecclesiastes 4:15b), and all stand with him for a time (Ecclesiastes 4:15a, Ecclesiastes 4:16a), his honor quickly fades after a few short years (verse 16b). 

Without the God with Whom worship reacquaints us, even genuinely noble rise to genuinely effective reigning ends up fleeting as a vapor, lasting as grasping the wind. How necessary is the knowledge of God and fellowship with Him, and therefore how useful is true worship!

What honorable, useful position do you hope to attain by wisdom? But, what (Who!) alone can give it lasting value?

Sample prayer:  Lord, even being a wise king on the earth is a short-lived nobility. But, to be Your worshipers is an everlasting honor. Thank You for gathering us to Yourself for that which is truly and lastingly honorable. By His blood, Christ has made us kings and priests unto You, O God. Grant unto us the ministry of Your Spirit to give us to worship with the wisdom in which we will reign with Christ forever, we ask in His Name, AMEN!

 Suggested Songs: ARP90B “O Teach Us How To Count Our Days” or TPH212 “Come, Thou Almighty King”