Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 – 13:
Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice. One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom. I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that youth who replaced the king; 1there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Meditation
I spend what seems like an inordinate amount of time thinking about the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Partly this is the nature of theology. Partly this is the reality of our post-modern era. Partly this is due to the fact that the world still thinks in terms of “ivory towers,” where it is said scholars know the price of everything and the value of nothing. The Preacher reminds us that knowledge is vanity and that wisdom is a gift of God. Or perhaps that it’s more important to be aware of the questions than the answers.
Let us pray …
God who is sometimes personified as wisdom: Thank you to the pioneers who have gone before, those who make it possible to stand on their shoulders and see. Thank you for a society that will sometimes value wisdom and look to reason for answers. Thank you for those who are gifted with instinct and creativity. Thank you for those who are gifted with judgement and discernment. Thank you for those who are gifted to find the middle ways. Thank you for those gifted with humility. Amen.
