- I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. -
Alright Solomon, we get it! Sheesh! Who is this guy, am I right?
Despite the joke, this is important to remember! Solomon is only the third king of Israel (plus a lot of judges if you want to count them too) and among them, he is by far the wisest.
In addition, we need to remember how Solomon gained his wisdom. God showed up one night and said something like, “Man I’m feeling generous tonight. Tell you what Solomon, one wish, genie style, whatever you want.”
Solomon’s response? “Give me wisdom.”
It’s interesting, because to ask for wisdom shows much wisdom!
Now, if this book was written near the end of his life, his referenced experience also carries a lot of weight. He had wisdom granted to him by God and had misused it as well.
In a way, this verse contains a surprising amount of humility while stating the facts.
The second verse I think drives home my point. Solomon tells us he wanted to know two things: wisdom, and madness and folly. He combines the last two words together to create a single idea. We might write it today like madness/folly.
Alright the wisdom piece makes a lot of sense. You want to know what is vain and what isn’t? Wisdom is a good walking stick to get the job done.
Why would you look for meaning in madness and folly?
A potential reason? Solomon did some things that were foolish in his past. He sat down, reasoned within himself the merits of those actions, and decided their end was fruitless.
In my opinion though, there’s a desperation involved in this language.
If we take a look back at verse 13, Solomon sets out on a journey, to see all that is done under heaven. In that search, we know he walks with wisdom, and what does he find?
That the task is burdensome and purposeless.
When we are desperate, sometimes we make foolish mistakes.
I know it’s wrong to cheat, but it’s the finals! I’ve got a scholarship riding on this!
I know it’s wrong to lie, but I need everyone to believe. There’s no reason for them to know the company is almost broke.
I know it’s wrong to engage with these bad ideas, but I can’t find anything purposeful! Perhaps I’ve blinded myself to what they have to offer?
Does it make it right? No. Is there perhaps a little “Wouldn’t it be nice” going on? Yeah, I think so.
Regardless if you buy my theory, Solomon learns the same lesson from madness and folly that he learns from wisdom. All is striving after the wind.
So, what’s the takeaway? Well, if you pay attention, wisdom and folly both learn the same lessons! That’s a wild idea.
But, and I think we all agree here, learning them with wisdom as a guide comes with a lot less baggage than folly.
In short, walk with God and learn from those wiser than yourself.
You’ll save yourself from unwanted pain and suffering.
Housekeeping: We’ve got logos!
This comes from my long time friend, Nick Beaty. If you want to see more of his work, click here to visit his website. Truly a talented person.
Learning from wisdom brings less baggage! So true!! But so much less common than learning from folly. Part of the human condition to learn more from pain, sadly.
these verses are difficult for me to place...However, the outcome of those that acquire wisdom as Ps 2:5 says, "will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" -- so wisdom is something I desire!