Lesson Text: Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

Lesson Outline:

(1) Wisdom and Chance – Eccl. 9:11-12

(2) Wisdom Forgotten – Eccl. 9:13-16

(3) Wisdom’s Value – Eccl. 9:17-18

Introduction

Ecclesiastes is a book of the Bible about the meaning and purpose of life. The name Ecclesiastes comes from a Greek word meaning something like ” preacher”, “teacher”, or one who addresses an assembly. The speaker is traditionally identified with “the Preacher,” often associated with Solomon. Ecclesiastes teaches:

(1) Life is temporary.

(2) Human accomplishments don’t last forever.

(3) Money and possessions cannot satisfy the soul.

(4) There is a proper time for different things in life.

(5) We should enjoy the good things God gives us, such as food, work, good health, and companionship.

(6) Most importantly, we should fear God and obey Him.

Lesson Outline (1) Wisdom and Chance – Eccl. 9:11-12

We have seen what typically happens when those who choose folly meet the consequences of their actions. Ecclesiastes, however, steps in when unfairness appears. It recognizes that righteous living can sometimes reap what seem to be unfair consequences. The teacher began the passage by reflecting on the seemingly haphazard nature of reality. Things do not happen as we would predict, and those we might consider deserving are not always victorious.

King Solomon returned to his comments about what he had seen “under the sun.” He used this phrase twenty-nine times in the book of Ecclesiastes to refer to what he observed around him. In most instances, he bemoaned or lamented what he saw under the sun, as he stated near the beginning of Ecclesiastes, I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit (Eccl.1:14).

In Ecclesiastes (9:11-12) Solomon bemoaned the inferiority of what he saw around him. He knew of physically strong people, great armies, and brilliant individuals, but he also noticed something else:

(1) The fastest runner does not always win the race.

(2) The strongest army does not always win the battle.

(3) The brilliant person does not always have the most food.

(4) The person with the most understanding is not always the richest man.

(5) The most skillful person does not always have the most favor with others. The point Solomon made is that people cannot always count on the strongest or the most brilliant to be the best in every situation. They have an inherent vulnerability because time and chance can affect all of them.

The author of Ecclesiastes pointed out that a projected winner in an athletic event does not always prevail, military prowess does not always translate to victory, and skill or education does not always bring wealth, success, or fame. From an ” under-the-sun” perspective of someone who does not know God, it seems as if things happen according to chance. The human condition renders everyone vulnerable to disappointments. Even with the investment of time, money, and work, the risks of failure sometimes occur.

Lesson Outline (2) Wisdom Forgotten – Eccl. 9:13-16

The author next considered another example of wisdom. The illustration involves a small city with few inhabitants, surrounded and besieged by a great king. A poor wise man in the city was able to free the city by his wisdom. He did not use a stronger army or greater military skill. Instead, he used his wisdom. Solomon’s conclusion is that wisdom is better than strength. True wisdom is superior to the greatest of human skills and abilities.

However, even in this display of wisdom. Solomon bemoaned the fact that people did not remember the poor wise man; they despised his wisdom, and they did not listen to his words. He was forgotten by the city he saved. In Solomon’s observation of life “under-the sun”, he observed that wisdom is sometimes not accorded the respect and prominence it deserves. But even so, the quiet, thoughtful words of wise men are more valuable than and superior to the loud and foolish words of some rulers.

Natural wisdom and the gift of wisdom from God are related, but they are not the same. Natural wisdom is the ability a person develops through experience, learning, observation, reasoning, and good judgment. For example, someone may have wisdom about (1) managing money, (2) raising children, (3) running a business, and (4) making practical decisions. A person can have great natural wisdom without necessarily having a spiritual gift.

The gift of wisdom is a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. This is more than simply being intelligent or experienced. It is the ability, through God’s Spirit, to understand or communicate God’s perspective concerning a particular situation and apply spiritual truth appropriately. The simplest way to distinguish natural wisdom and the Spiritual gift of wisdom is: Natural wisdom is what I’ve learned from life, so I know what to do. Spiritual gift of wisdom: God is giving me insight into how His truth applies to this situation.

Wisdom is better than wealth or power. Fools often seek control through conflict by manipulating truth to gain power. They live by the premise that the ends justify the means. Often the loudest voices in culture peddle folly. Simply having a large following does not guarantee that anyone, whether an author, podcast host, or television star, is wise.

Social media’s allure is likewise attractive but full of empty foolishness. The most stable voices in culture stand upon God’s eternal Word. His Word has withstood the test of time and has never been disproven. By it, God’s people have been able to withstand fiery persecution.

Lesson Outline (3) Wisdom’s Value – Eccl. 9:17-18 The loudest voices are rarely the wisest. Celebrities, politicians, and others who are constantly begging for attention are often far from the best people to listen to. Since the quiet words of the wise are better than the shouting of fools, we may need to learn to talk less. If one is always talking and never stops long enough to listen to the words of the wise person, we are taking over. If we listen only to the most popular pundits and read only the bestselling books, we will listen to the loudest voices but not necessarily the wisest.

Wisdom is far better than military conquest and political power, but one rogue heart can cause great destruction. Wisdom is necessary, but all human knowledge fades in the light of eternity. We will die and sometimes be forgotten, and the wisdom we gave to others. Wisdom is valuable and respected, but there is no guarantee it will be heard or accepted. The loud voices of fools clamor for recognition and approval. One person may offer a persuasive argument that leads to the rejection of wisdom.

Wisdom is greater than power. When we understand that, we no longer need to fight in the way that the world fights (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds: Casting down imagination, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. And having a readiness to revenge [punish] all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled – 2nd Corinthians 10:4-6).

Sunday School is taught from the Bible Expositor and Illuminator