Day #23: Fractured Fairy Tale

The way Solomon handles the topic of wisdom is quite curious.  Certainly, his strongest quality is his wisdom, and yet he isn't afraid to point out the weakness of wisdom.  He tells the story of a poor but wise man who could have saved the city, if only someone would listen to him…

 

This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me: There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it. However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man. So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man’s wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice. (Ec 9:13-16)

 

We have a small city with a few men in it, up against a mighty king with an overwhelming plan to defeat it.  In this small city there lived a poor man who happened to possess great wisdom.  He devised a way to defend the city.  So why would no one listen to him?  Was it because he was poor? I think so. We can imagine that if the wise man was rich and powerful, he may have gained a hearing.  Wisdom is better than might if someone would listen to that wisdom.  This reminds us of the modern saying, "Might makes right."

 

Solomon still concludes that "wisdom is better than might", but not in this situation.  Ironic, is it not? This fractured world we live in can't even recognize wisdom when they hear it.  They judge by externals, not according to truth. I suppose the people in that city figured that if this poor guy was so wise, why was he poor?

 

I'm sure the poor man benefitted from his wisdom in many personal ways, but no one else did.  If they would have listened, he had much to give.  That's the nature of wisdom, and truth.  It must be believed to benefit the hearer.  I imagine Solomon did not have the same problem as this guy.  Since he was rich and powerful, people flocked to him.  But I'm sure he observed others, not so rich and powerful, who still had much to say, and were ignored.  And Solomon says this was a great burden to him.

 

But wait a minute. Some translations do not agree.

 

However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man. (Ec 9:15a)

 

In verse 15 there is some debate as to how to interpret the term "he could have delivered'.  It might also be interpreted "he delivered" depending on whether the interpreters prefer the modal nuance or the indicative approach. (See note).

 

Most translations favor the indicative approach: “he delivered” or “he saved” (KJV, RSV, NRSV, NAB, ASV, NASB, MLB, NIV); however, some adopt the modal nuance: “he might have saved” (NEB, NJPS, NASB margin).

 

Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005).

 

So why does it matter?  We really have two different stories depending on the translation.  Fortunately, the conclusion is the same either way.  With this second translation we see He did save the city by his wisdom but was soon forgotten.  With both translations we see the weakness of wisdom and the power of foolishness.  The mighty ignore the wise, who are poor. They are ignored if they do not have the external trappings of success.  In the first case they don't even listen to him at all, in the second case they listen but soon forget about him.  He gets no credit. Wisdom can be disregarded. I wonder if Solomon deliberately wrote this story with this curious ambiguity.

 

When Jesus came to earth, some listened, others didn't.

 

The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children —children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God. (Jn 1:9-13)

 

Questions to consider:

1.       Have you ever received excellent counsel from an unlikely source?  When?

2.       What criteria should we look for in those we listen to?

3.       Do you know the story of Balaam’s donkey?  (Numbers 22:22-35) What does it teach us?


Read on to Day #24


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