I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind. Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.
Ecclesiastes 1:16-18
Wisdom is at the heart of much that is said in Ecclesiastes. In fact, some of the passages sound as though they belong in the Book of Proverbs. In a move that might surprise us, the writer of Ecclesiastes begins eliminating potential sources of transcendent meaning by first setting his sights on the virtue of wisdom. It seems to be an odd target for one considered to be a “wisdom writer.” However, in going through Ecclesiastes we will make an important observation. The things considered to be hevel (vanity, mist, etc.) are not treated as completely worthless. For the writer, these things have their right place in the course of life. Putting these things in their right place (i.e. perspective) is a key part of what the writer will accomplish in the pages of this work.
Let’s take a brief look at a few of the places where wisdom is mentioned.
Wisdom in 1:16-18. In these verses one can tell that the writer is just getting started. He will have much to say about wisdom, but before anything else the writer is clear that wisdom is not the source of transcendent meaning and happiness. In fact, his point can be summarized in the old adage, “Ignorance is bliss.” It is as if he warns the seeker of wisdom to be prepared, for in gaining wisdom and knowledge you will encounter much frustration and heartache. If you don’t want the grief, don’t pursue the wisdom.
Wisdom in 7:10-14. One benefit that wisdom brings is perspective, specifically perspective that invites us to embrace the value of both ease and difficulty. In 7:10 the writer says, “Do not say, ‘Why is it that the former days were better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.” He goes on in verse 14 saying, “In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider—God has made the one as well as the other.” Wisdom allows us to embrace the entirety of life’s experience, not just what we consider good. The ease and the adversity come from the hand of God. Wisdom gives us eyes to see this truth, and the courage to grow and benefit from the whole scope of life’s experience.
Wisdom in 8:16-17. Wisdom illumines—but not fully. The writer consistently points to the value of wisdom as it is applied to life. “Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines him and causes his stern face to beam” (8:1). While this may be true, all the wisdom that can be mustered has no chance of unraveling the mysteries of God. “When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth, and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun” (8:16-17). Wisdom has the ability to create hunger for more wisdom. Gaining knowledge drives us to pursue more knowledge. The writer points us to this frustration: at some point we will reach the end of our ability to pursue. We will not have gained all knowledge. We will just have come to the end of our road. The hunger and drive for more will be left unsatisfied.
Wisdom in 2:12-16. Though out of sequence, I have saved this passage for last. What’s the difference between a wise and a foolish man? Much—and not much at all. “Then I said to myself, ‘As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?’ So I said to myself, ‘This too is vanity'” (2:15). The writer can see that wisdom is far better than folly, as light is far better than darkness. One might hope, then, that the end result for the one who practices wisdom would be far more excellent than the one who practices folly. The observable fact is, both end up at death, after which both the wisdom of the wise and the folly of the fool will soon be forgotten. We might well contend that this is not entirely true, as the acts of those who excel in wisdom or in folly will very possibly be recorded for subsequent generations to remember. Still, the writer’s point is made. Wisdom is not enough to avert the death that awaits us all.
What do I make of all this? I will offer a couple of personal thoughts. Learning, by both formal and informal means, has been a joy in life. The same is true for gaining the wisdom that tends to come with passing years. At the same time, I don’t consider knowledge or wisdom to be matters of competition with others. There are plenty of people smarter than I am, and I am perfectly happy with that. With that said, allow me to offer a couple of scriptures from other books of the Bible.
“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” These are the opening words of Psalm 14. I share this not in arrogance, but with humble conviction that it conveys an uncomfortable truth. God has given me much grace, a particular kind of grace that has saved me from willful blindness to the reality of God. There is a further grace that God has also given. I am thankful to have received it. I pray you have as well.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-19)
See you along the Winding Path.
The Winding Path 