Wisdom vs. Strength

Ecclesiastes 9:13-15 ¶ This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

His words in the previous section evidently brought to memory an event that made quite an impression upon Solomon. The memory concerned a small city that was surrounded by the army of a great king who placed it under siege and built machine intended to help him break through the city walls. Evidently there was a poor but wise man in the city who devised a plan that defeated the intents of the enemy king and his troops, and the city was spared capture. You would have thought they would have hailed the man as a great hero; instead, he remained the unknown that he was before the siege ever happened. His wise intervention was soon forgotten.

This is a sad but true commentary on the ingratitude of man toward God as well as his fellowman. The mantra of the day is, “But what have you done for me lately?” That is why the Lord has to keep allowing trials and testings in the lives of His children; it is the only way He can keep them looking to Him in faith and provision to get them through their time of need. When times are good, we tend to get too busy with “more important” things in life than spending time in fellowship with Him and seeking to serve Him rather than self.

Ecclesiastes 9:16-18 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

It seems as though Solomon understood that the wisdom of the poor is not usually appreciated. We have a tendency to pay more attention to one of strength, stature and standing. It is true that wisdom is more readily recognized and heeded when the surrounding atmosphere is conducive to listening. Those who are wise in their own eyes don’t create such an atmosphere. Those who choose to ignore wise counsel deserve what they get as a result.

We are so in need today of people who are willing to listen to the wise truth of the Savior as recorded in His word and as declared by His true servants today. Instead, the masses embrace the foolish words of those who are wise in their own eyes.

“one sinner destroyeth much good” – Though we are all to blame for the apathy that has resulted in where we are as a nation spiritually and morally. I couldn’t help but think of Madeline Murray O’Hair and her success at getting daily prayer and Bible reading taken out of our schools. Though she wasn’t alone in the fight, she was certainly the very public voice behind the issue. Ultimately it was the Supreme Court that made the ruling that I believe began the spiritual downfall and moral decay of our nation.