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Ecclesiastes 4:13 – Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

 

Thought:  When we compare a child with a king, we will usually agree that the king is to be preferred.  This is not always the case.  Wisdom is an essential quality to possess.  If the king does not have wisdom, but the child does, then the child is better than the king.  A part of wisdom is a willingness to be admonished.  Many adults lose this willingness.  Pride gets in the way.  Thus, they continue in their foolish ways instead of heeding wise counsel and making changes in their lives.

 

I Kings 22:8

 

Commentary:

 

A.     As we noted earlier, Solomon’s mind is constantly racing as it considers all of the lessons he learned about those living “under the sun” as he conducted his experiment.

 

B.      He now turns his thoughts to those who reign, that is, those who are in power.

 

C.     If we were to ask individuals to choose between a child or a king, most would choose a king.

1.       He is older and more mature.

2.       He is wiser and more experienced.

3.       He is stronger and more useful.

4.       He has developed relationships, thus, giving him access to more networks.

 

D.     However, when the two are described, the choice can be reversed.

1.       A poor and wise child

a.  Being poor usually involves humility.

b.  Being wise involves knowledge, discernment, and rationality.

2.       An old and foolish king

a.   Being old can involve being extremely weak and frail.

b.   Being foolish involves the abandonment of wisdom, especially divine wisdom.

3.       Lesson

a.  A high position and old age do not guarantee that one will be an asset to others.

b.  There are many things in life that can cause a person to become useless and harmful as

      he ages.

 

E.      Is Solomon speaking from his own experience?  (See 1 Kings 11:4-6)

 

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods:  and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammorites.  And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 4:14 – For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

 

Thought:  Solomon notices another common occurrence among men.  There have been times when lowly, obscure individuals reach positions of great power and prominence.  Joseph is one example. Saul and David are two more examples.  Likewise, those who have been born into positions of power often become poor.  The sons of Eli and the sons of Samuel are good examples of this.  Other examples could be multiplied many times over.  We need to keep in mind Romans 13:1:  “…For there is no power but of God:  the powers that be are ordained of God.”

 

Psalm 113:7-8

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Man has a tendency to evaluate things incorrectly.

1.       We do not have a high opinion of those who are in prison.

2.       However, those who are part of the established elite are regarded highly.

 

B.      Solomon, however, has seen individuals who were prisoners rise to reign over kingdoms.

1.       Joseph had been in prison and rose to second in command in Egypt.

2.       Moses and his people were captive in Egypt, and he became Pharaoh’s son.

3.       Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were captives in Babylon, but rose to be among the elite of the wise men.

4.       Esther was just a poor Jew in Persia, but she became the queen of the empire.

 

C.     Solomon has also seen those who were born into the kingdom become poor.  (Ex., Pharaoh of Egypt whose kingdom was destroyed and army annihilated in the Red Sea).

 

D.     LESSONS

1.       God establishes the power that be (Rom. 13:1).

2.       It is not where a man begins, but how well a man ends that is the true test of the person.  Jacob began his life as the deceiver and supplanter.  However, he became Israel, one who prevailed with God and became the father a mighty nation.