“Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten rulers of the city. For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.”
“Wisdom strengthens the wise,” just as muscle strengthens a body-builder or money strengthens the rich. But I think it may be more than just quantity that generates strength.
These verses talk about both the unfairness of life, but also the importance of living righteously and wisely despite the disparity that exists.
Verse 15 says, “There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.”
So true, so true. Many godly people die at an early age while extremely wicked people live long. But the opposite is always true. But it still seems unfair how some people die young after living godly lives while others do damage in the world and live to be old.
Another reminder of the sovereignty of God. There is no way to change what God does or “correct” Him. “For who can make straight what He has made crooked?” (7:13) “In the day of prosperity be joyful.”
“Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and profitable to those who see the sun. For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.”
Both money and wisdom are desirable and powerful. It is not ideal to just have money; wisdom and discretion for how to use it are just as important. Wisdom is especially good for those who have a right perspective on life, “those who see the sun.”
Even though I took verses 8 and 9 individually, I think I need to include those verses again with verse 10 when I look at it.
The entire excerpt of Ecclesiastes says, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.”
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