Wisdom- Better than Weapons (Ecc 9: 13-18)

WISDOM BETTER THAN WEAPONS (Ecc 9: 13-18):

After writing about the interventions from God in spite of a person’s being, the author writes an illustration to show that wisdom is better than might. The author writes that he had seen the example of wisdom under the sun which seemed great to him. The illustration the author writes could be the real incident that had happened during his reign or before him that he would have heard, probably that could be the analogue of an incident which is mentioned in 2Samuel 20Ch, where a wise woman saves her city. There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siege works against it. But there was found in it a poor, wise man and he by his wisdom delivered the city and yet no one remembered that poor. The simple wisdom and works of the inferior people are always praised but it is not given much recognition and sustaining support. Everything will be forgotten after the passing time and there will be no one to inscribe it in stones or talk about it.

The author writes his thought saying that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard, the words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of the ruler among fools. Wisdom helps a person to face even a mighty king who is powerful with his position and greatness. It helps to solve a problem without sufferings and losses. Most of the times the poor people’s wisdom is despised because of their position without power, though it is more valuable. The wisdom that is heard in private and quiet places, even for a single person is better as it has long-lasting impact and benefit than the shouting of the ruler which might be with eloquence and inspiring among fools but has no benefit and very superficial.

The author also writes that wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. The weapons may symbolize the strength and mightiness of an empire and weapons of war may help to predict the success of the battle. But wisdom helps in having a solution for a problem without any destruction and in a better way. Even that wisdom of the person will not be valid when it is prevalent with sinfulness. Whether wise or fool, if the person is a sinner there is destruction. The sinner collapses the things desiring war than peace, pride than humbleness, selfishness than the common good.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What did the author see and how it is to him?

2.    What happened to the city? Why?

3.    Who was found in the city?

4.    What did the poor wise man do? What happened?

5.    What is better than might? How?

6.    What was despised and not heard? Why?

7.    What is better than what? How?

8.    Why the wise heart in quiet is better than the shouting of a ruler among fools?

9.    How wisdom is better than weapons?

10. Who destroys much good? How?

11. How we can be wise and be without sin?