Ecc 9:15-16 | KingComments | STEP | The give an illustration of what Solomon says in , that it is not the warrior who wins the battle. It is also a proof of the fact that man does not want the wisdom of God, for he considers it as something pitiful. Solomon has seen that wisdom and it impressed him ( ). It is about the wisdom of God. That wisdom can both be not heeded ( ) and destroyed ( ). We can apply this illustration as follows. “A great king” represents satan. In the “small city” we can see a picture of the world, which is just a small dot in the universe and the number of people living there compared to the countless angels is very small. The “poor, wise man” is a picture of the Lord Jesus ( ; ). The salvation of the world is accomplished by Him. He will claim His right at a time appointed by God. The salvation has been accomplished, but anyone who wants to participate in it, must repent. He refuses to do that, for he does not want to have anything to do with a salvation by an insignificant Person, Someone without titles and without prestige ( ; ). They do not think about Him at all anymore. When we talk with people about the gospel, we notice that fewer and fewer people are interested in Him. In the Preacher draws the lesson from the example of the previous verses. He does not mention something that happens just once in a while, he points to something that is the order of the day. People refuse wisdom if it is not attached to prestige. That is why these words are not heard and not heeded. They have covered their ears for them (cf. ). We see this most clearly when it comes to the cross of Christ. The word of the cross is despised, while it is the wisdom of God and also the power of God ( ). People despise God’s wisdom because they do not want it, for it takes away all of their own importance. The show that wisdom is precious and at the same time also vulnerable. The “words of the wise” ( ; ) are words that can make us wise and lead us to salvation. There is a condition attached to accepting the words of the wise. Quietness is needed to hear them and to meditate on them. We have those words in the Scripture. These are the words of the poor, wise Man, which is Christ. He is “the foolishness of God” which is wiser than men and “the weakness of God” which is stronger than men ( ). In contrast to the words of the wise is “the shouting of a ruler among fools”. The shouter impresses the fools. Fools do not listen, they lack the quietness for it. They go for rhetoric, they bow to the one who can say it well. We see that in politics. Wisdom is better and stronger than any other weapon. Literal weapons do not help in the battle against death, the devil and demons. Also great scholarship does not offer prospect of victory. We see that in creation. The sinner that destroys much good is man who makes mistakes and in that way hinders wise measures. One stubborn act by one person can destroy an excellent plan. One man, Adam, has destroyed all the good of creation by one sin. By the sin of one man, Achan, the whole people of Israel had sinned. This made it impossible to take further possession of the land of blessing. First the sin had to be removed. Then the people could continue to conquer the land ( ). One sin, which has not been judged in the church, leavens the whole ( ).

‏ Ecclesiastes 9:15-16

The Wisdom of the Poor Man Is Despised

The Ecc 9:13-15 give an illustration of what Solomon says in Ecc 9:11, that it is not the warrior who wins the battle. It is also a proof of the fact that man does not want the wisdom of God, for he considers it as something pitiful. Solomon has seen that wisdom and it impressed him (Ecc 9:13). It is about the wisdom of God. That wisdom can both be not heeded (Ecc 9:14-16) and destroyed (Ecc 9:17-18).

We can apply this illustration as follows. “A great king” represents satan. In the “small city” we can see a picture of the world, which is just a small dot in the universe and the number of people living there compared to the countless angels is very small. The “poor, wise man” is a picture of the Lord Jesus (2Cor 8:9; 1Cor 1:30).

The salvation of the world is accomplished by Him. He will claim His right at a time appointed by God. The salvation has been accomplished, but anyone who wants to participate in it, must repent. He refuses to do that, for he does not want to have anything to do with a salvation by an insignificant Person, Someone without titles and without prestige (Isa 53:1-3; Jn 7:14-15). They do not think about Him at all anymore. When we talk with people about the gospel, we notice that fewer and fewer people are interested in Him.

In Ecc 9:16 the Preacher draws the lesson from the example of the previous verses. He does not mention something that happens just once in a while, he points to something that is the order of the day. People refuse wisdom if it is not attached to prestige. That is why these words are not heard and not heeded. They have covered their ears for them (cf. Acts 7:54-57).

We see this most clearly when it comes to the cross of Christ. The word of the cross is despised, while it is the wisdom of God and also the power of God (1Cor 1:18 ; 21). People despise God’s wisdom because they do not want it, for it takes away all of their own importance.

The Ecc 9:17-18 show that wisdom is precious and at the same time also vulnerable. The “words of the wise” (Ecc 9:17; Pro 1:6) are words that can make us wise and lead us to salvation. There is a condition attached to accepting the words of the wise. Quietness is needed to hear them and to meditate on them. We have those words in the Scripture. These are the words of the poor, wise Man, which is Christ. He is “the foolishness of God” which is wiser than men and “the weakness of God” which is stronger than men (1Cor 1:25).

In contrast to the words of the wise is “the shouting of a ruler among fools”. The shouter impresses the fools. Fools do not listen, they lack the quietness for it. They go for rhetoric, they bow to the one who can say it well. We see that in politics.

Wisdom is better and stronger than any other weapon. Literal weapons do not help in the battle against death, the devil and demons. Also great scholarship does not offer prospect of victory. We see that in creation. The sinner that destroys much good is man who makes mistakes and in that way hinders wise measures. One stubborn act by one person can destroy an excellent plan. One man, Adam, has destroyed all the good of creation by one sin.

By the sin of one man, Achan, the whole people of Israel had sinned. This made it impossible to take further possession of the land of blessing. First the sin had to be removed. Then the people could continue to conquer the land (Jos 7:11-12). One sin, which has not been judged in the church, leavens the whole (1Cor 5:6).