Morning Devotion - Eccl 10

Read Ecclesiastes 10

In chapter 7 as we moved into this cycle on the pursuit of wisdom, we were given many insights and illustrations regarding wisdom and folly in a world of sin. Now on the way out of this cycle in the parallel passage that makes up chapters 10 and 11 we have more sayings and analogies on wisdom and folly. Many of these point to the distressing power of folly, and the challenge of folly in high places.

A little folly unfortunately goes a long way. Perfume is made to produce a wonderful scent, but just a few dead flies can make it stink. In the same way just a little bit of folly can overwhelm much wisdom and honor. The truth is that most of us have more than just a little bit of folly. We don't have to search very far to find it, since folly can be spotted in a fool when he is simply walking along the road.

Such a fool may even have been raised to a position of prominence and power. It is best to be aware of the dangers of such a situation, and to keep a tight reign on your emotions and conduct, for your own folly or the folly of a ruler can quickly lead to your demise. The fact is that there are many fools that are set in high places, and they are not without the power to bring you low.

Even in the process of attempting to do things that seem to be orderly and productive, we can be quickly struck by the power of folly. Like a snake that is not quite charmed yet, or an ax that is not as sharp as it should be, or a random animal or falling log, folly is all around us when we try to do something that we think is wise or worthwhile. We are not wise to pretend that the world is a place where we are safe from the danger of folly. We are surrounded by foolish lips, and are not above the disease ourselves. A little foolishness can quickly be multiplied into a torrent of raving madness.

This is particularly the case when whole societies seem to have been given over to madness, when those who should be low are placed in the position of rule. Such men exercise their power and use their resources to satisfy their own base lusts. They have no sense of time, place, or position. They rise up in the morning and gorge themselves with food and drink. They would solve every need and fulfill every desire with the wealth of the kingdom that has been placed in their hands. Even so, you are a fool if you quickly speak against them, not recognizing that they have been placed in a position of power and can do you much harm.

There is much to be said for not saying much. We see this kind of restraint in our Lord as He is placed in the hands of religious and civil rulers who have more than a few flies worth of folly mixed into the ointment of their words and deeds. His words and ways were always pure. Sometimes that required saying nothing at all. Sometimes it meant making a judicious exit in the midst of a murderous crowd. Often it meant that even his acts of goodness he did in an amazingly quiet way.

All this he did with perfect wisdom, even when at just the right time he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, he opened not his mouth. At just the right time He was cut off from the land of the living. We now see his marvelous wisdom in submitting to the folly of friends and rulers who consented to his unjust death. He was making His soul an offering for sin. This was the day that the Lord had made, the day when the sacrifice was bound with cords to the altar.

How often do we say foolish things, and find ourselves tied up in the net of our own words and deeds. Thanks be to God, who through Christ has rescued us from much folly through his own blood.