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wisdom and its limitations Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ecclesiastes 9:13-20:20 May 29th, 2011
Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 ESV (13) I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. (14) There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. (15) But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. (16) But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. (17) The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. (18) Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 ESV (1) Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. (2) A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. (3) Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool. (4) If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. (5) There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: (6) folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. (7) I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. (8) He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. (9) He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. (10) If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. (11) If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. (12) The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. (13) The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. (14) A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? (15) The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city. (16) Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! (17) Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! (18) Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. (19) Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. (20) Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
INTRODUCTION 1. We live in a world of VANITY under the sun. Vanity: elusiveness, vaporous, futility, disatisfying in itself, frustrating Under the Sun: life in this world apart from a God-perspective Life is like making daily sandcastles on an ocean’s beach. You build it and it is washed away daily by the tide. Ecclesiastes 1:14-15 ESV (14) I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. (15) What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 2. God is in full CONTROL of this vanity. This vanity is not an “oops” to God and His ways. This is all part of His plan. God made the tide. God instructs us to build castles on the beach. There is a time and season for everything and only He controls those times and seasons. Ecclesiastes 9:1 ESV But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. 3. God gives JOY in the midst of vanity to those who fear Him. To those who trust in His wisdom, power and love – God gives them the ability to make a new castle every day with joy and laugh at the reality that tomorrow’s tide will wash it away. Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 ESV (19) Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. (20) For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. 4. Wisdom takes hold of these truths as it MANEUVERS in this vain world. Wisdom begins with trusting in God’s sovereignty, accepting our limits and rejoicing in His goodness. God calls us to use skill in our decisions, even though we live in the midst of vanity. This skill is to be wisdom. 3 Points from This Passage on Wisdom – Its Advantages and Limitations: Solomon talks about the value of wisdom in this vain world and yet wisdom has its limitations. It is foolish to think that we can go to the Proverbs and view it like an instruction manual. If you put part A in the slot of part B you will have C. Repeat this four times and you will have the desired product. Wisdom is not just trusting God and then turning the brain off. This is not what we mean by the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom includes the skills of living that is seen in this world. It is using “means” but not trusting in the means. This passage points us to the advantages to wisdom and quickly reminds us that practical wisdom in and of itself has limitations.
a. It is better than might (9:16) (Ecc 9:16) But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. (Ecc 9:13-15) I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. b. Its words are better than a loud ruler (9:17) (Ecc 9:17) The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. c. Its better than weapons in war (9:18) (Ecc 9:18) Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. d. It inclines a person to authority and blessing (10:2) (Ecc 10:2) A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. e. It gives help in peacemaking with foolish rulers (10:4) (Ecc 10:4) If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. f. It helps you succeed in an endeavor (10:10) (Ecc 10:10) If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. g. Its words can win favor with others (10:12) (Ecc 10:12) The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
a. Although wisdom is better than might (9:16); A POOR MAN’S WISDOM IS OFTEN DESPISED (9:16) (Ecc 9:16) But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. b. Although wisdom’s words are better than a loud ruler (9:17); HIS WORDS ARE OFTEN NOT HEARD (9:16b) (Ecc 9:16) But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. c. Although wisdom is better than weapons in war (9:18); ONE LITTLE MISTAKE CAN DESTROY MUCH GOOD (9:18-10:1) (Ecc 9:18-10:1) Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. d. Although wisdom inclines a person to authority and blessing (10:2); THE WISE OFTEN SEE FOOLS RULE IN THIS VAIN WORLD INSTEAD OF THE WISE (10:4-7) (Ecc 10:4-7) If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. e. Although wisdom helps you succeed in an endeavor (10:10); SMALL MISTAKES CAN MESS EVERYTHING UP IN THE WORK (10:8-9; 11) (Ecc 10:8) He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. He who quarries stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them. (Ecc 10:11) If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. f. Although wisdom’s words can win favor with others (10:12); THIS DOES NOT KEEP US FROM HAVING FOOLISH PEOPLE AND RULERS (10:16) (Ecc 10:16) Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!
Although this passage doesn’t conclude with this, the entire book points us to the key to dealing with this vanity of wisdom – TRUE WISDOM TRUSTS IN GOD AND ACCEPTS THE FACT THAT THEIR WISE LIVING IS ONLY A GIFT FROM GOD. This is all about the fear of the Lord. Wisdom will be frustrated if it doesn’t accept these limits and rest in God’s ways.
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