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"The second youth"

Text: Ecclesiastes 4:15

THE TRANSITORY NATURE OF EVENTS

To become a king is not a common event. But no matter how significant an event may be, the reality is that it is still transitory in nature.

“I saw all the living who walk under the sun;
They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king;
Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him.
Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 4:15-16

1. “I saw all the living who walk under the sun”

a) This is a description of the citizens in the country.

b) The meaning of the phrase, “the living under the sun”:

i) Human beings

ii) Citizens

2. “They were with the second youth who stands in his place”

a) The phrase “the second youth” needs a little explanation.

b) The first youth was mentioned in Ecclesiastes 4:13-14.

i) He had been wise though poor.

ii) He had been imprisoned and yet has become a king.

iii) He was well-supported by citizens and thus was made king.

c) Who were the “they” mentioned here?

i) They could have been the people who supported the first youth who became king.

ii) They were now behind “the second youth”.

iii) This “second youth” was now the new king of the country.

iv) This was like “another revolution” that had taken place.

3. “There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king”

a) The “second youth” (the new king) had tremendous support.

b) The size of the multitude was described as “no end of all the people”.

c) The “second youth” was installed as king to replace the previous ruler.

4. “Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him”

a) Solomon envisioned another revolution.

b) There would be others who would “come afterward”.

c) They would replace “the second youth” with somebody else.

d) The new king may enjoy his moment of triumph and joy.

e) But that would not last very long.

f) The later revolutionaries would not rejoice in “the previous ruler”.

5. “Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind”

a) Everything seemed so transitory.

b) Nothing lasts very long.

c) This reality brought on a sense of sadness.

d) Hence the famous saying of Solomon: “This also is vanity and grasping for the wind”.

i) Vanity stands for that which is ephemeral.

ii) Grasping for the wind reminds us of futility!