PM Home Bible Study Group; May 26, 2010

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Theme: In this passage, Solomon reflects on the frustrating fact that—’under the sun’—men are easily forgetful of the power of the wisdom they often benefit from.

Solomon, in this section of his book, is continuing his presentation of counsel in the light of the conclusions he has thus far drawn concerning life ‘under the sun’. And in this section, he makes a particular—and frustrating—observation about human receptivity toward wisdom.

In the eighth chapter of Proverbs—another biblical book of which Solomon was one of the human authors—wisdom is personified as a woman and is presented as crying out for attention:

Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors: “To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart. Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, and from the opening of my lips will come right things; for my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her” (Proverbs 8:1-11).

Then, for the rest of that chapter and on into the next, the great benefits of wisdom are listed. And yet, foolishness is also personified at the end of chapter 9 as a loose, loud temptress:

A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city, to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell” (Proverbs 9:13-18).

What seems to be Solomon’s theme in this section of Ecclesiastes is that the benefits of the first “woman” are clear, and that they are often the beneficiaries of her blessings; but frustratingly, they soon forget her voice and turn instead to the clamorous voice of the second. It would seem that, ‘under the sun’, men are easily forgetful of the power of the wisdom that they are often the beneficiaries of.

Note how Solomon develops this them. First, he relates what seems to be a historic ‘case study’—an actual event that shows a frustrating truth about ‘humble wisdom’; and then through presenting three conclusions about ‘humble wisdom’ that flow from a consideration of this event.

I. A ‘CASE STUDY’ (vv. 13-15).

A. Solomon begins by saying, “This wisdom I have also seen under the sun . . .” (v. 13a) With these words, we’re given the impression that the example of wisdom in action that he’s about to describe is something that Solomon—in his vast experience as a world-class ruler—has actually witnessed. Just what this event is historically, we’re not told. In fact, the very nature of the story itself would logically require that it would be somewhat historically obscure. And yet, it was something that had a significant impact on Solomon’s thinking; because he adds, “and it seemed great to me . . .” (v. 13b). In the NIV, its translated that it “greatly impressed” him.

B. He says, “There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares [or "bulwarks"] around it” (v. 14). Here’s a little city that’s in big trouble! The king is described as “great”, which suggests his military superiority and strength. What’s more, the city is placed in a very vulnerable position by the fact that it is surrounded by great siege works. There would have been very little chance that this tiny city could have done anything to defend itself by force. Then Solomon says, “Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city” (v. 15a). One would think that such a man would be lauded as a great hero! He did—through the humble power of wisdom—what no military force could have done. He saved the city! Just how he did so is left a mystery to us. But it’s this very fact that adds power to what Solomon says next: “Yet no one remembered that same poor man” (v. 15b). No parades were thrown for him. No statues were erected. No monuments were built to his honor. It was in obscurity that he came to save the city by wisdom, and it was into obscurity that he went afterwards.

C. Scholars have sought to determine which story in history this could have been. Some, who doubt that Solomon wrote the book, have identified events in later history—such as Archimedes of Syracuse (287-212 BC) whose remarkable inventions of siege machinery, and use of mirrors to turn the heat of the sun onto enemy ships, often saved his people; or Themistocles, the Athenian politician and military strategist who faithfully defended the city but later fell out of favor with the people. These, however, are hardly “forgotten” men of “small” cities; and their stories were long after Solomon’s time. There are biblical events before Solomon’s time that were certainly similar to the story that Solomon told; such as the story of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25:2-35, or the wise woman who influenced David to restore Absalom in 2 Samuel 14:1-24; or the woman who talked Joab out of the siege of Abel of Beth Maachah by simply throwing the head of his enemy over the wall in 2 Samuel 20:1-22. There was even the woman in Judges 9:50-55, who saved her city by simply dropping a millstone on the head of a hostile enemy leader from a wall! But in the end, we simply don’t know which story this might be. Because the point of the story is the forgetfulness of men when it comes to such wisdom, it would be impossible to know the historic reference Solomon is making. The point, however, is quite clear—whoever this poor but wise man was, and whatever the city was that he saved, and however he went about doing it: his wisdom was forgotten, and he was no longer remembered. This case study of ‘wisdom in action under the sun’ was something that frustrated Solomon greatly!

II. SOME CONCLUSIONS TO BE DRAWN (vv. 16-18).

Solomon’s next words are “Then I said . . .” And with this, Solomon then draws three conclusions from this story about ‘humble wisdom’ from it for our consideration ‘under the sun’:

A. Humble wisdom is a very valuable but despised commodity (v. 16). “Wisdom”, he affirms, “is better than strength”; and certainly, the story he told demonstrated this. This was a small city—clearly defenseless in the face of the threatening force of this “great king” who came against it. It could not rely on equal or greater force to counter the force that was brought against it. And yet, humble wisdom won the day—and in such a way as to demonstrate that such wisdom was mightier than the military force brought against it. “Nevertheless,” Solomon says, “the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” It’s not that his wisdom was not truly wise. Rather, it was that the source of the wisdom—that is, a poor man—was despised! Having rescued the city through his wisdom, he could then stand up and speak further wisdom to his people; and they would not hear it. There may have been much more good that he could have done; but they wouldn’t receive it from him. They only wanted to hear “wisdom” from someone that they could be impressed by in a worldly sense. This is a conclusion that Solomon articulated nearly three-thousand years ago—and that has been confirmed time and again throughout the centuries that followed! We, in fact, see it every day in the small circles of relationships we encounter in daily life. How easily the wisdom of the humble is ignored to great loss—and the foolishness of the popular celebrated to great harm!

B. Wisdom—though humble—should always be preferred (v. 17). Solomon next describes a feature of wisdom that, if we pay close attention, we can easily attest to: “Words of the wise” are “spoken quietly”. As James 3:13-18 says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” True wisdom is humble in its declaration. It isn’t loud and braggadocios, like the ‘pretend’ wisdom of this world. Thus, “Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.” And yet, true though this may be—as history and experience show us—few people hear the quiet voice of wisdom. They quickly turn, instead, to the fool who talks loudest. What a frustrating thing this is ‘under the sun’!

C. The good that humble wisdom accomplishes is easily undone (v. 18). There are times, of course, when the quiet voice of wisdom manages to be heard above the din. And when that is true—and when it’s advice is heeded—it proves to be true to Solomon’s words: “Wisdom is better than weapons of war . . .” This was certainly true in the story that Solomon told. And it has often been proven true many times since. Wise diplomacy, and prudent action, has often made military force unnecessary. A peaceful agreement is forged; and the weapons of war are laid aside. But, sadly, it rarely lasts. As Solomon then goes on to say; “but one sinner destroys much good.” Foolishness seems to be in greater supply than prudence; and the clamorous voice of folly seems to prevail over the quiet voice of wisdom. It doesn’t take long before an ambitious politician shoots off his or her mouth—and the weapons of war are taken up again!

* * * * * * * * * *

In a sense, this all illustrates something to us of Christ Himself–and of the “good news” that is the greatest expression of wisdom of them all. The message of salvation is not like the loud, clamorous, noisome shout of foolishness. Of the Lord Jesus, the Father speaks prophetically through Isaiah and says,

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law” (Isaiah 42:1-4; emph. added).

When the Son of God came into this world, He didn’t come “loudly” or in a “showy” and “flashy” way. He was like that ‘poor wise man’ in that “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). And even today, the gospel of salvation through His cross is not received by men as the soul-saving wisdom that it truly is. Instead, “the message of the cross is foolishness to whose who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

What irony! A man will spend away his time, riches and energies to educate himself–desperately pursuing honors, degrees, and accolades in accordance with the standards of this world’s ‘wisdom’; and the whole time long, the greatest source of true wisdom was to be found in the long-neglected copy of Bible that his grandmother gave him when he was a little boy!

May we learn not to seek ‘wisdom’ in the way that the people ‘under the sun’ seek it–that is, through the “loudest” voices emitted from the most ‘attractive’ mouths. Instead, may we hear the “still small voice” of God (1 Kings 19:12), speaking wisdom to us concerning His Son! And may we thus never “forget” Him of whom such humble wisdom speaks!