In chapters three and four of Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us that because of the wickedness in the places of justice and because of wickedness in the places of righteousness, there are a lot of oppressed people on earth, and that the poor and oppressed will always be among us. However, as Pastor Sonny tells us in this week’s sermon, there is still hope for even the poorest, and that we are called to reach out to them and share with them the only real hope that exists.
Again 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. And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.