Starting at the Ending           
   Conclusion      

   After all his efforts, Solomon, declared in verses 4:2-3, that the dead ... are happier than the living. But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not yet seen the evil that is under the sun. 

   I say that a stillborn child is better off - (than the man who cannot enjoy his prosperity). Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man (vs. 6:3,5).  

   The day of death is better than the day of birth (v. 7:11). 

   He continues: Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes so he goes (v. 5:15). You don't know how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things (v. 11:5).

   In chapter 5, Solomon mentions the few days of life God has given (v. 18).

   How about a few hours? A much-loved child lived about nine months, plus another 22 hours after birth ...and the spirit returns to God who gave it (v. 12:7). 

   Through tears we confess, sorrow is better than laughter. 
   The child is healed forever. 
   The day of death is better than the day of birth, our feelings aside. 

   Earth's tears will be wiped away (Rev. 21:4). The boy never saw the sun. 
The Lord God now gives him light from above the sun (Rev. 22:5). 

   We know something else: More than 900 years after Solomon, there was a time to be born and a time to die for the Son of man ... a man of sorrows. And the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. Thank you, Jesus.

Stand in awe of God (v. 5:7).