Eld Ko Swee Chay

Wisdom is better than strength and weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)

Introduction

In Ecclesiastes 9:7-12, Solomon encouraged us to live joyfully in the Lord and do all things with our might, while recognising and being mentally prepared for the unpredictability and uncertainty of life. When we treasure the life God gives us and live with wisdom found in faith according to God’s Word, we can live joyfully in gratitude and thanksgiving to God. Whatever work God has given us, we must do it with all our might and do it heartily as unto the Lord. We must accept unexpected and unpredictable circumstances to be part of life and know that they are good in drawing us closer to God.

In Ecclesiastes 9:13-18, Solomon reiterated that wisdom is great. The tangible is remembered because it is visible, whereas wisdom is often forgotten because it is intangible.

The greatness of wisdom (Eccl 9:13-16)

¹³ This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: ¹⁴ 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: ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Solomon recounted an incident he had seen that made him reiterate that wisdom is great. He had previously praised the benefits and power of wisdom (Eccl 2:13, 7:11,12 & 19). 

There was a little or small city with few people in it. A great king came and besieged this small city and constructed great bulwarks (huge siege works, blockades) against it, meaning a great army surrounded this small city and completely cut it off from help and supplies. The danger appeared to be imminent and destruction was certain. Yet at the last moment, one poor wise man inside this small city delivered the city by his wisdom. No details were given as to what this wise man did to deliver the city. It may have been by some timely wise solution, strategy, or negotiation, or by the surrender of a chief culprit within the city.

One would expect recognition and reward for this wise poor man, but sadly, no one remembered or honoured him for his help. Once the crisis was over, he fell back into insignificance.

Solomon drew an important principle from this anecdote, which is that “wisdom is better than strength” or power. But he also acknowledged that wisdom is often unheeded - the poor man's wisdom was despised, and his words not heard.

Lessons we can learn from this anecdote:

• Learn to value wisdom as a gift of God. “If anyone of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…” (James 1:5).
• Learn to recognise that we all need wisdom to deal with troubles and problems in life, but this does not ensure that we will receive recognition and reward, nor achieve wealth or glory.
• Learn to heed the wisdom from God’s Word and be receptive to it no matter who it is from.
• Learn to appreciate that timely and rightly exercised wisdom can have a great impact, like saving a little city or delivering a country from disaster.
• Learn to look at and evaluate men by their wisdom and godliness, not by their outward appearance or their status, fame, and prosperity.
• Learn to use wisdom for the best interests of others but be prepared for disappointment when we receive no approbation, recognition or reward, for they should not be the motivation.
• Learn the perspective about “time and chance”. We see that the battle is not to the strong (Eccl 9:11). God controls world events.

The destruction by a sinner (Eccl 9:17-18)

¹⁷ The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. ¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Even though the words of a poor wise man may be slighted, despised or unheard, Solomon  emphasised that the words of the wise, spoken in quiet (gently and unobtrusively) can command attention and respect when circumstances bring them out. Wise hearers hearing the words will recognise their value and benefit and choose to listen. When a sinner is rebuked and repents, his heart is changed and his life transformed. Raised voices usually incite wrongful emotions that bring resistance, feeding the sinner's pride to greater stubbornness. The shouting of a ruler among fools will incite emotional responses whereby the fools do not consider what the ruler says to be right or wrong. This is the mob mentality that often leads to chaos, destruction of property and even death. Was that not what happened at the crucifixion of Christ when the mob shouted “Crucify Him”?

Solomon asserted that “wisdom is better than weapons of war”. The reason is that wisdom touches hearts and builds and improves lives; whereas weapons of war destroy lives and give a false sense of peace and safety because there are others with more powerful weapons.                 

While wisdom can do much good, Solomon highlighted that one sinner can destroy the good that wisdom brings. That sinner Solomon referred to was himself. He built Israel with wisdom in the first 20 years of his reign. He ruined it in the next 20 years with his foolishness due to his marriages, trusting in military and economic might rather than in the Almighty God.

Conclusion

Wisdom is not the same as knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to apply the knowledge of God’s Word with discernment to real life situations and people.

By the inspiration of God, Solomon penned two very remarkable verses: “Wisdom is better than strength” and “Wisdom is better than weapons of war”, while acknowledging that fools will despise and ignore wisdom, and that one sinner can destroy the good that wisdom brings.

Our world honours and values wealth, success and status above wisdom, and it emphasises military might instead of wisdom. Yet God’s Word makes it plain and clear that wisdom (i.e. God’s Word) is a greater and far more powerful asset than strength (verse 16) and weapons of war (verse 18), though it is unrecognized by the masses. Even though wisdom is more valuable and effective, it is not always heard and respected, and the words of wise people, especially the poor and lowly, often go unheard and unheeded.

Let us value the power and benefit of wisdom with a proper perspective, for wisdom is a gift from God for us to deal with troubles and problems in life, and to seek God’s wisdom from God’s Word.  Let us also take heed and be receptive to wisdom from others no matter who; as well as use wisdom for the best interests of others but not for approbation, recognition or reward. May the Lord help us to seek and apply wisdom for ourselves and others for the glory of God.    

AMEN.