The Forgotten Wise Man

Scripture Focus (Ecclesiastes 9:14-17) – “There was a little city with few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. [15] But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. [16] But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. [17] The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.”

I. The Attack of the Adversary (Ecclesiastes 9:14)

A. The adversary’s target – “There was a little city with few men in it…”

• It was a defenseless city – “little”
• It was a destitute city – “a few men within it…”

B. The adversary’s terror – “…a great king came against it…”

C. The adversary’s tactics – “…and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.”

• The enemy was thorough – “besieged it” Surrounded on every side.
• The enemy was tenacious – “built great bulwarks against it” He dug in for the long fight.

II. The Work of the Wise Man (Ecclesiastes 9:15)

A. The description of the man (Ecclesiastes 9:15) – “But there was found in it a poor, wise man…”

• He was outwardly impoverished – “a poor…man” Isaiah 53:2-3

2 Corinthians 8:9 – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

Isaiah 53:2-3 – “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,
and we esteemed him not.”

• He was inwardly empowered – “a…wise man”

1 Cor. 1:24, 30 ; Col. 2:3, refer to Christ as wisdom

1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 – “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God… [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…”

Colossians 2:2-3 – “…that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

B. The deliverance of the man (Ecclesiastes 9:15b) – “…and he by his wisdom delivered the city.”

1. The source of his strength – “by his wisdom…”

Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

2. The success of his strength – “he…delivered the city”

III. The Forgetfulness of Those Freed (Ecclesiastes 9:15c-17)

“Yet no one remembered that poor man.”

A. Their triumph – They had experienced a great deliverance through the poor, wise man.

B. Their treasure (Ecclesiastes 9:16a) – “But I say that wisdom is better than might…” The priceless wise man continued to live among them and they all knew what he was capable of offering.

C. Their testimony (Ecclesiastes 9:15b, 16b) – “…no one remembered that poor man…the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.”

D. Their testing (17) – “The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.”