So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

The above, Ecclesiastes 4:1, is describing oppression that is because there is no comforter. The comforter is the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the one who comes alongside to lead us into all truth. As we have learned, the Holy Spirit is describing the LORD Himself unknown when He first comes alongside. The truth He leads us to is His identity as the one who has been with us leading and teaching. The end is our seeing He is the Father, joining with us by one mind, to reproduce us as new creations, His children in His likeness. This is what Solomon alludes to in Ecclesiastes 4, speaking of the man under the sum, the man who is in God’s image but not yet joined with God as one that sticks closer than a brother. This joining with, receive the one who comes alongside, realizing it’s the LORD, becoming His child, is what ends the oppression.

This is what Job doesn’t understand as Elihu speaks to him. Job’s name means hated and he represents God’s people who are hated and therefore oppressed by the world. Elihu means He is God, which tells of God in man, unknown to Job, again a depiction of the Holy Spirit.

The “oppression” spoken of twice in Ecclesiastes 4:1 is from the Hebrew word `ashuwq, meaning tyranny, and only appearing two other times. In Job 35:9 Elihu uses it as he tells Job of the oppression suffered under the mighty and of the cries of the oppressed. He then asks why (instead of crying) do none asks where is God who teaches and makes wise. He then gives the answer in several parts, saying it (the oppression) is because of the pride of evil men, who teach we will not see God, yet His judgment is before him. Elihu is speaking of what He has said of himself earlier in Job 33, first telling Job to hear his words and then to understand it is God in Him teaching knowledge and judging rightly.

Job 35
9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions [‘ashuwq] they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
10 But none says, Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night;
11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
12 There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
14 Although you say you shall not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust you in him.
15 But now, because it is not so, he has visited in his anger; yet he knows it not in great extremity:
16 Therefore does Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplies words without knowledge.

Elihu, in Job 33:23, tells of the “messenger” through who the LORD often brings man back from the brink of destruction. The Hebrew word rendered “messenger” is mal’ak, which describes a Theophanic angel, meaning God’s present appearing in a form man can see him as well as hear His message. Elihu, God in him, is speaking of Himself, which is what Job realizes when he does as Elihu asks and listens attentively to His words (Job 37). Job then (Job 38:1) hears the voice as the LORD’s, from the whirlwind (wind, the zeal of His Spirit, that blows away all his previously incorrect thinking).

Job 33
1 Wherefore, Job, I pray you, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.
2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
4 The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.
5 If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up.
6 Behold, I am according to your wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, my terror shall not make you afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Surely you have spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me for his enemy,
11 He putts my feet in the stocks, he marks all my paths.
12 Behold, in this you are not just: I will answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Why do you strive against him? for he gives not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceives it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering upon the bed;
16 Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
20 So that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty meat.
21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his soul draws near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.
23 If there be a messenger [mal’ak] with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness:
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and says, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 He looks upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these things work God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 If you have anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 If not, hearken unto me: hold your peace, and I shall teach you wisdom.

Job 37
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goes out of his mouth.
3 He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning [understanding] unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars: he thunders [the sound of understanding] with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with his voice; great things does he, which we cannot comprehend.

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God disposed them, and caused the light [understanding] of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancing of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How your garments are warm, when he quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 Have you with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passes, and cleanses them [of the ideas that have blinded them from seeing Him].
22 Fair weather comes out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respects not any that are wise of heart.

Job 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and answer you me.
4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if you have understanding.

After hearing the LORD, Job reaches the end where he sees Him, and says, “2 I know that you can do every thing, and that no thought can be withheld from you. [I heard You ask me {in Job 38}] 3 ‘Who is he that hides counsel without knowledge? (therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.) 4 Hear, I beseech you, and I will speak: I will demand of you, and declare you unto me.’ 5 I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye sees you. 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42)

The LORD comes to our rescue when we are oppressed, as understanding previously hidden by ignorance, which is the cause of the oppression. The darkness, ignorance, and blindness come by what the gods of the world have taught, words without the knowledge of God.

Ecclesiastes 4
1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions [ashuwq] that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed [ashuwq], and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
3 Yea, better is he than both they, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The fool folds his hands together [doesn’t work], and eats his own flesh.
6 Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8 There is one alone [without the LORD’s Spirit], and there is not a second [there is no comforter to lead Him into all truth]; yea, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
14 For out of prison [held in the oppression of worthless ideas] he comes to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom become poor [giving up all the ideas that were thought to be valuable].
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun [the man in God’s image but not yet having His Spirit], with the second child [the one in the likeness of God, joined with Him in one mind] that shall stand up in his stead.
16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

In the context of the above, the final time the word `ashuwq appears is in Amos 3:9, after telling of the LORD speaking, and other speaking what they’ve heard: prophesying, to those held in oppression.

Amos 3
1 Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed [of one mind – agreed on the time and place of the rendezvous {Armageddon}]?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has taken nothing?
5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is [where no trap has been set] for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city [the signal to assemble], and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD has not done it?
7 Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he reveals his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8 The lion has roared, who will not fear? the LORD God has spoken, who can but prophesy?
9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod [of the powerful], and in the palaces in the land of Egypt [where God’s people are held captive], and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria [the high places, where idols have been set in God’s place], and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed [‘ashuwq] in the midst thereof.
10 For they know not to do right, says the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
11 Therefore thus says the LORD God; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down your strength from you, and your palaces shall be spoiled.
12 Thus says the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus [where the work has stopped] in a couch.
13 Hear you, and testify in the house of Jacob, says the LORD God, the God of hosts,
14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel [the houses of God, where the calves {idols} are set in God’s place]: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
15 And I will smite the winter house [where the fire continually burn] with the summer house [where the wind {Spirit} continually moves]; and the houses of ivory [those who’ve overlaid God’s house with idols] shall perish, and the great houses [many sects] shall have an end, says the LORD.

2 Corinthians 3
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excels.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.
12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished [the ignorance that God was in Moses speaking and leading]:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ [done away when we see God in man speaking].
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart [reasoning minds].
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the LORD [away from men’s teaching, away from idols, and return to the LORD], the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the LORD is that Spirit [the LORD is the unknown Holy Spirit in man speaking and leading us into all truth]: and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is liberty [men are freed from the oppression of ignorance].
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the LORD, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.

2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the LORD; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light [understanding] to shine out of darkness [ignorance], has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the LORD Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death works in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the LORD Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

1 Corinthians 1
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the LORD.

1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the LORD of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
10 But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who has known the mind of the LORD, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.

Ephesians 2
1 And you has he quickened [brought to life], who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)
6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the LORD:
22 In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.

Psalms 79
1 O God, the heathen are come into your inheritance; your holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
2 The dead bodies of your servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of your saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
4 We are become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5 How long, LORD? will you be angry for ever? shall your jealousy [qin’ah – zeal] burn like fire?
6 Pour out your wrath upon the heathen that have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let your tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for your name’s sake.
10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of your servants which is shed.
11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power preserve you those that are appointed to die;
12 And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached you, O LORD.
13 So we your people and sheep of your pasture will give you thanks for ever: we will show forth your praise to all generations.