Wisdom...

As I opened the Bible this morning, it fell open to Ecclesiastes 9. (I don't recommend your reading plan consisting of letting your bible fall open to determine which passages to read, but sometimes it is perfect :>) Here is the passage and some of my bible study notes from this morning.

Ecclesiastes 9:13 - 18 says this:

13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: 14 There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.


* This is an example of wisdom that greatly impressed even Solomon.

* In the vision, the wise one sees a small city, a powerful king, and a poor but wise man. The wise man saved the city through his wisdom. Solomon concludes, "Wisdom is better strength...The quiet words of the wise are more to be to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good." (Ecclesiastes 9:16 - 18)

* The wise one is not remembered, just the wisdom he embodied to save the city.


Lord God, I have a tendency to focus on strength, health, and talent. Help me to seek Your wisdom more. I so want to wise in your eyes, which I know will sometimes make me look foolish in the world's eyes. Forgive my sin. God, I pray that people remember not me, but the wisdom about you that came through me. I never want to be that "one sinner who destroys much good." (Vs. 18) Teach me, Father God, when to be quiet and when to speak. When I speak, let me speak with wisdom that can only come from you. Let that wisdom come from your Holy Word. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.