Podcast 95 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 10, Ch 10”

One of the things that makes Ecclesiastes so interesting is that King Solomon, also known as The Preacher, is speaking from vast knowledge and experience as a political and spiritual leader. Perhaps everyone would agree that King Solomon is larger than life: the wealthiest man, the most powerful man, the wisest man, the most famous man, the greatest king, but not without faults. He speaks from experience. His great name is synonymous with wisdom; therefore, he speaks much of the importance of wisdom. Notice he is not talking about intelligence which is so praised today. He is talking about understanding with the heart not just the mind. Cleverness is abundant, but wisdom is rare. Cleverness is often camouflaged as wisdom. Its synonyms are bright, intelligent, brilliant, smart, etc. Such virtues have hurled many into stardom, success, wealth, fame, and power only to see them fall because they lacked wisdom. The graveyard of history is cluttered with clever people who brought about their own destruction as well as the destruction of others. As Solomon said,

Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

A clever person, without wisdom, may become a fool.

Ecclesiastes 10:2-3

A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

Cleverness camouflages foolishness and pulls many under its spell. Time always lifts the curtain and reveals the fool; sometimes, however, it is too late. The damage is done and one has allowed a fool to make a fool of himself. That is a common story of life. It takes wisdom to recognize a fool before one falls into his own trap. King Solomon warns us against fools.

Ecclesiastes 10:4-8

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

How many have fallen for Ponzi schemes or pyramid schemes. I am in my eighties. In my lifetime I have never seen so many clever schemes set out to defraud us of our money. AI, the internet, social media, texting, etc. have introduced a new level of fraud, so exquisitely camouflaged that it appears legitimate. All of them have been based on fear and threats. What was once called “surfing the internet” has now bred a new breed—a breed of trollers whose dangling and jagged hooks are set to snag the unwary and relieve them of their freedom and their fortune.

Perhaps Solomon saw our day.

Ecclesiastes 10:9-11

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

Ultimately the fool is revealed, but not always before he has destroyed a lot of lives.

Ecclesiastes 10:12-13

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

I like the phrase “mischievous madness.” That well describes our day. Solomon is not just telling us to be wise. He is telling us that we must discern between the wiseman and the fool. The following is one earmark of a fool.

Ecclesiastes 10:14-15

A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.