Ecclesiastes 9: 11-18….Choose wisdom!

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
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. But I say 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 a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Comment: Solomon is not saying that for a runner to run swiftly is wrong nor is he saying that to have a strong army, be wise intelligent or knowledgable are wrong. But they nor we are in control of time or chance accidents – a wallaby hopping onto the track and causing the runner to fall and break a leg; a financial collapse etc. Then he uses the examples of fish and birds which are happy in their pursuits suddenly trapped. Does mankind have an other-world enemy or time-bound enemies seeking to trap them? My answer – YES.

Suddenly he gives an example to show that the person, poor but wise, at the centre of saving his city from an attacking enemy got no medals or kudos. Retaining his wisdom he sank back into obscurity. His conclusion – wisdom good; sinning bad!

Prayer: Help me to think clearly, listen well, become wise and faithful to You, no matter whatever befalls me.