James & Ecclesiastes - What is Wisdom?

[studier]

It’s fitting to wrap up this section during Labor Day here in the U.S., focusing on one of my favorite teachings from Solomon. Whatever my hand finds to do, do it with my might (Ecc. 9:10). I think we have the wrong perspective towards work, folks. It shouldn’t be a 40 hour test of endurance every week where we muddle through and survive, “working for the weekend.”

Hey, I understand. Work can be boring, difficult, and downright stressful. In some cases, it’s quite dangerous, too. I’ve seen friends lose fingers and slice their arms open while working with sheet steel.

But, I was sold at around 21 that hard work pays off. I studied hard at college, busted my rear end paying for it in manufacturing, and eventually worked my way into a fulfilling ~40 year career in industry and higher education. I love my job and hope to continue working full time until 70 or so God willing.

I’ll end this section by citing the greatest example of passion towards work that meshes well with Solomon’s wisdom:

John 4:31-38

New King James Version

31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”

32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”

33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”

34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Matthew 11:28-30

New King James Version

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:23-24 ESV)

I had friends, one in particular, who found their career early and truly enjoyed it through retirement. I told him it was a gift he'd been given. Work was more of a burden for me. Then He retired me early and put me to work. Still at it. Can't think of anything I'd rather be doing and never found something I'm better suited to do. Can see closing my eyes for the last time here while working.

 

[SilverFox7]

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:23-24 ESV)

I had friends, one in particular, who found their career early and truly enjoyed it through retirement. I told him it was a gift he'd been given. Work was more of a burden for me. Then He retired me early and put me to work. Still at it. Can't think of anything I'd rather be doing and never found something I'm better suited to do. Can see closing my eyes for the last time here while working.

Thank you for sharing this verse which meshes well with what Solomon expresses, and I'm happy that you found a good fit finally.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord" and doing "it with [our] might" (Ecc. 9:10) applies to more than just our work and careers. It applies to our relationships, our education, and every other good goal we pursue. It's a way of life that leads to that abundant life all of us are striving for as God's children.

 

[SilverFox7]

Ok, let’s hop back on the highway and finish up chapter 9 of Ecclesiastes after taking some time to dive into a couple of key concepts Solomon shares with us.

The last part of chapter 9 has a great blend of poetry and prose once again:

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

New King James Version

Wisdom Superior to Folly

13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 14 There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great [a]snares around it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.

16 Then I said:

“Wisdom is better than
strength.
Nevertheless the poor man’s
wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.

17 Words of the wise, spoken
quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler
of fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons
of war;
But one sinner destroys much
good.”

I was a shy person with low self-esteem when God called me. The congregation He led me to had a former secondary school teacher as the pastor who was a dynamic speaker, and his sermons would last well over an hour. He was not only wise; he was just a super nice person who took me under his wings and mentored me.

I called him a few times the night before his sermon, and we would spend well over two hours on the phone talking about God and scripture. Most of the time, I just asked questions and listened. He was a popular minister in the church and was a keynote speaker at annual festivals for the last several years of his ministry.

Now, some 20+ years later, he is retired and lives a quiet life out in the plains. He’s pretty much forgotten within the context of that church, and I am one of a few members of his congregation who has tried to stay in contact with him. He said on more than one occasion that teaching was a blessing, and he felt that one day that would end, and he would be sitting in the audience. His wisdom remains but not many take advantage of it.

 

[SilverFox7]

“Wisdom is better than
strength.
Nevertheless the poor man’s
wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.

In addition to my pastor and a lot of love and support on the whole from members of the congregation, there was one older couple who adopted me as their spiritual grandson. I experienced firsthand what Jesus said,

Luke 18:29-30
New King James Version

29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

I would go to my “grandparents” house, we would have a great meal together, and then we would talk late into the night about history and the Bible. My spiritual “grandpa” didn’t have much formal education, but he studied the Bible and history diligently. He was one of the wisest people I have ever known, and he specialized in the history of Israel from the time they entered the Promised Land until the kingdom fell to the Babylonians in 587 BC. I enjoyed listening to him for hours.

His wife was a beacon of joy. She didn’t study the Bible like her husband, but she was obviously filled with the Spirit. I don’t remember many moments where she didn’t have a smile on her face, and she was a wonderful pianist. We would take breaks from our heavy discussions to break out the hymn books, listen to her wonderful piano playing, and sing praises to our God together. I was blessed to be welcomed into their home and enjoy being a part of their wonderful family.

The verse from Ecclesiastes 9:16 that I am commenting on from above fits my “grandpa” very well. They lived a modest life, he had health problems, and he would go to the local trailer park to sift through the trash to find items of worth. He didn’t have a fancy suit for church, and he tended to stutter and have a hard time expressing his thoughts during fellowship before church. Some people avoided him altogether. It’s really strange how we act at times towards people who are poor and going through tough times. Often, they have a lot of love and wisdom to share.

 

[SilverFox7]

Ecclesiastes chapters 10-12 finish out the dialog in proverbial verse – wisdom poetry. Parallelism is a key component of this structure that I will dive into in more detail later.

In the meantime, I love the way the verse has been structured in chunks to break the wisdom down in meal-sized deliciousness; it’s like sitting down to a great plate of food with the meat, potatoes, and vegetables we need to become stronger, God-loving children:

Ecclesiastes 10:1-4
New King James Version

Wisdom and Folly

1 Dead[a] flies [b]putrefy the
perfumer’s ointment,
And cause it to give off a foul
odor;
So does a little folly to one
respected for wisdom and
honor.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his
right hand,
But a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Even when a fool walks along
the way,
He lacks wisdom,
And he shows everyone that
he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises
against you,
Do not leave your post;
For conciliation[c] pacifies
great offenses.

 

[SilverFox7]

Dead[a] flies [b]putrefy the
perfumer’s ointment,
And cause it to give off a foul
odor;
So does a little folly to one
respected for wisdom and
honor.

Here's a great example of parallelism - dead flies can ruin an ointment just like folly can "putrefy" people who were once respected for having wisdom and honor. Paul chastised the Corinthian church for turning a blind eye to sexual immorality within their midst: "Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump" (I Cor 5: 6). Sin spreads quickly and what was once good and wholesome can be corrupted quickly if we aren't vigilant, repentant, and in a continual state of seeking forgiveness. Paul reinforces this principle to the Galatians, too, "A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (Gal 5:9).

 

[SilverFox7]

Ecclesiastes 10:5-7

New King James Version

5 There is an evil I have seen
under the sun,
As an error proceeding from
the ruler:
6 Folly is set in [a]great dignity,
While the rich sit in a lowly
place.
7 I have seen servants on
horses,
While princes walk on the
ground like servants.

Solomon saw this folly in his day through the nations around him and even in his own kingdom as we learned earlier. Solomon and his court were not held in high esteem by the younger generation, and when Solomon died, his son rejected the advice of the elders, and the kingdom fell apart swiftly.

Even in our world today, look at the folly of fools leading nations with Putin at the head of the list. The rich sit in a lowly place, and I don’t think that’s just a reference to material wealth. “So is he who lays up treasure for himself [the “rich” fool], and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21).

 

[SilverFox7]

Ecclesiastes 10:8-10
New King James Version

8 He who digs a pit will fall into
it,
And whoever breaks through
a wall will be bitten by a
serpent.
9 He who quarries stones may be
hurt by them,
And he who splits wood may
be endangered by it.
10 If the ax is dull,
And one does not sharpen the
edge,
Then he must use more
strength;
But wisdom [a]brings success.

I typed into Google search “parallelism in Ecclesiastes”, and here’s what their AI generated in about 2 seconds:

“Parallelism is a key literary device found in the Old Testament, especially in the book of Ecclesiastes, where it is used to convey meaning through various forms such as synonymous (repetition), antithetical (contrast), and synthetic (expansion) structures to create emphasis, rhythm, and deeper understanding of the text. Antithetical parallelism, in particular, is prominent in Ecclesiastes, where contrasting ideas highlight the author's points on life under the sun.”

That’s a pretty good summary that probably would have taken me an hour or so of research and writing to generate.

Verses 8-10 above are filled with parallelism, and the focus is physical work and the dangers associated with it. Digging a pit, breaking through a wall, and quarrying stone are strenuous and come with risks. Even in our modern industrial age where “safety is number one,” accidents happen and often it’s due to carelessness. As we get older, we are even more susceptible to injury as we work “by the sweat of [our] brow…” (Gen. 3:19).

Solomon makes a great point at the end: “wisdom brings success” which can also be translated as “wisdom is a successful advantage.” We need to be alert and aware when we are in a dangerous environment. Following safety practices, avoiding taking unnecessary risks, and making sure our tools are sharp and functioning properly are essential for success and ensuring we make it home to our families after a long day in the shop or working construction at a site.

 

[SilverFox7]

Ecclesiastes 10:11-15

New King James Version

11 A serpent may bite when it is
not charmed;
The [a]babbler is no different.
12 The words of a wise man’s
mouth are gracious,
But the lips of a fool shall
swallow him up;
13 The words of his mouth begin
with foolishness,
And the end of his talk is
raving madness.
14 A fool also multiplies words.
No man knows what is to be;
Who can tell him what will be
after him?
15 The labor of fools wearies
them,
For they do not even know how
to go to the city!

This world is still filled with foolishness and even sum 3000 years after Solomon made these observations, we still haven’t learned to keep our mouths shut and become good listeners first. And, we’re not going to learn until we humble ourselves before God. Solomon is reemphasizing a point he made earlier, “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few” (Ecc. 5:2). In other words, zip the lip. We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason!

James reaffirms Solomon’s wisdom on this matter: “So then my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). Great advice! Unfortunately, people want to spout out their foolish perspectives instead of listening carefully to the words of wisdom, especially from the Word himself. It’s disheartening to see senators and people who are supposed to be pillars and examples in our society arguing back and forth over foolish matters. When the ears shut off and the mouth starts babbling, one can’t make out what either party is saying, and it comes across as “raving madness.”

Arguments are not won by who speaks the longest and loudest. Let’s not follow the ways of this world. Instead, let’s follow the ways of the Word: “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him” (Luke 8:18). This foolishness will come to an end brethren, hopefully in the near future. And, the wisdom of God will prevail in our hearts, minds, and spirits forever!

 

[SilverFox7]

Ecclesiastes 10:16-19

New King James Version

16 Woe to you, O land, when your
king is a child,
And your princes feast in the
morning!
17 Blessed are you, O land, when
your king is the son of
nobles,
And your princes feast at the
proper time—
For strength and not for
drunkenness!
18 Because of laziness the
building decays,
And through idleness of hands
the house leaks.
19 A feast is made for laughter,
And wine makes merry;
But money answers
everything.

Verses 16-17 struck a personal blow for Solomon I suspect as he saw the behavior of his son and the “princes” surrounding him. It was probably one never ending party for them during the height of Israel’s wealth and prosperity under Solomon’s leadership. The partiers sure made a mess of things once they took control of the leadership. When you play, you will pay.

Laziness is an apt description of our society today as we’ve discussed in earlier sections of this study. The hard work of one generation is often ruined by the laziness of the next, and from what I’ve seen, 3rd generation “leadership” is a complete disaster within organizations. Feasting and drinking may be fun for the short duration it lasts, but there are consequences (speaking from personal experience here).

And, money’s great, and it may answer “everything” as far as worldly concerns and problems. When the balance sheet looks good, let’s throw a party. When the balance sheet shows red, the worst of human nature explodes to the surface (I’ve felt this on more than one occasion within the organizations I’ve served within).

 

[SilverFox7]

Ecclesiastes 10:20

New King James Version

20 Do not curse the king, even in
your thought;
Do not curse the rich, even in
your bedroom;
For a bird of the air may carry
your voice,
And a bird in flight may tell the
matter.

Cursing the king is an instant death sentence in many cases, even today. We may entrust someone to keep our complaints and criticisms confidential only to find out we’ve been "ratted out". Leadership needs to be respected, especially our true King:

Romans 13:1-2

New King James Version

Submit to Government

13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will [a]bring judgment on themselves.

I have to admit I haven’t done a good job in this area, and I have an “attitude problem” towards bad leadership. I have challenged more than one “boss” and “executive” on poor decisions and tactics, and in every case it translated into me having to leave the organization. Several leaders, especially bad ones, don’t like being challenged or questioned, and they are quite unforgiving as well.

We need to “examine [ourselves] as to whether [we] are in the faith. Test yourselves…” (II Cor. 13: 5). Boy, when I take a close look at my mind and heart with the magnifying glass of the Holy Spirit, I still have a lot of “evil” within me as one family member enjoyed pointing out recently. I’ve come a long way in my walk with Christ during these 40 years or so, but oh my goodness, I don’t have to “test” myself very hard to see the sin that still dwells within me. And, all of that just comes bubbling or bursting out eventually as Jesus blasted the Pharisees, those who were supposed to be the religious pillars within the community:

Matthew 12:34-37

New King James Version

34 Brood[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure [b]of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

 

[SilverFox7]

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2

King James Version

1 Cast thy bread upon the
waters: for thou shalt find it after many
days.
2 Give a portion to seven, and
also to eight;
for thou knowest not what evil
shall be upon the earth.

I’m switching from the NKJV translation to the King James Version (KJV) that was translated and published in 1611 to cover the last couple chapters of Ecclesiastes. I understand the language seems foreign to some because the English language has evolved and changed significantly in the last four centuries. However, the KJV was published during a peak of the English Renaissance era where art, literature, and culture exploded with some of the best poetry every published.

Poets like Donne and Shakespeare transformed our ideas of human nature and spiritual musings to the next level, and the KJV is influenced by the dynamic creativity and literary genius of that period. The KJV was translated by a team of top scholars and clergyman under the oversight of King James I (the Holy Spirit ultimately), and it transformed Christianity, putting more power into the overall Christian community by having a translation that spoke the language of all the English speaking people of that time with a level of detail unsurpassed in scholarship. It is a foundational translation of the Bible to this day, some would argue the only translation we should be using.

When I was in my seminary days, I used the KJV for serious study. As an English major with a solid background in the Renaissance and a love for Donne and Shakespeare in particular, I just gravitated towards the Old English language. The church I was a member of in those days encouraged members to use the KJV as their foundational study Bible with complimentary translations like the NKJV, RSV, NIV, and Moffatt to supplement our education. The KJV still remains at the top of the list for me, but I’m biased of course as an English scholar.

Enough background. I’m using the KJV for the final part of Ecclesiastes because it just amplifies the beautiful poetry. Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 11 kickoff some incredible verses that are filled with metaphorical language and Hebrew parallelism. Throwing our bread upon the water seems foolish and feeding seven or eight people on a budget that is already tight is an act of faith and generosity. We may have to suffer and sacrifice to meet the needs of others, but isn’t that what God has done for us?

We have been released from our bondage to sin and reconciled to God through Jesus’ sacrifice for us. He suffered and died to save us. We are forgiven, we have amazing grace, and it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us His Kingdom. We are a part of His family forever. We are loved forever.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
King James Version

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

 

[Lafftur]

This is work that yields lasting fruit, especially having Jesus with us laboring together to do the will of the Father!

You found it… the Wisdom of Christ, the Wisdom of God…. to do the will of the Father!

Anything outside of God’s Will is complete and utter foolishness, it has no life, it has no reward or blessing to you or others, just a complete waste of time.

 

[Lafftur]

The Wisdom God gives His children is the ability to:

- recognize the Father’s Will
- discern the Father’s Will
- know the Father’s Will
- understand the Father’s Will
- love the Father’s Will
- choose the Father’s Will
- do the Father’s Will

Any thought, word, or deed outside of the Father’s Will is complete and utter foolishness.

The Father’s Will is ALWAYS the RIGHT CHOICE - always the right thing to think, say, and do.

Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom all 3 work together.

For example:

Knowledge says:

“I set before you Life and Death.”

Understanding says:

“Life is good. Death is bad.”

Wisdom says:

“Choose Life.”

 

[SilverFox7]

Wisdom says:

“Choose Life.”

Well said. The life we have is in God, and anything apart from that is emptiness and vanity as Solomon discovered during his life focused on materialism and pleasure. There aren't any substitutes for having a relationship with God, doing our best with His help to put Him first, and seeking His will like Jesus devoted His life to doing.

 

[SilverFox7]

Ecclesiastes 11:3-4

King James Version

3 If the clouds be full of rain,
they empty themselves upon
the earth:
and if the tree fall toward the south,
or toward the north,
in the place where the tree
falleth, there it shall be.
4 He that observeth the wind shall
not sow;
and he that regardeth the clouds
shall not reap.

Solomon turns his attention to nature again and the cyclical nature of life. No duh, when the clouds are full of rain, that moisture will fall to the earth, sometimes in violent fashion like we witnessed recently with the devastating hurricane that leveled parts of Jamaica, Cuba, and other islands in the Caribbean. A “tropical paradise” with sunny skies, deep blue oceans, warmth and palm trees can turn into hell on earth when the skies grow dark and the ocean surges.

So what is Solomon getting at with these obvious observations – the clouds dump their rain when they are full, and a tree falling in one direction or another lies in that location? I can’t say I know for sure what he intended here, but Solomon is a realist and a scientist. His experimental approach towards life gave him wisdom in cause and effect, logic and order - how the universe and earth function. Part of the ocean gets sucked into the skies, becomes clouds that rain upon the heights, and that water cycles back to the ocean in part as rivers and streams.

I have the sense that Solomon is telling us here to focus on the work in front of us instead of observing nature and gazing at the clouds. Back in his day, most people had to toil for most of their waking hours to survive, and there wasn’t much time outside of the weekly Sabbath and festivals for rest, recreation, and relaxation. If a tree falls and stays where it’s at, it will recycle and feed the insects and soil around it. But, isn’t it more practical to cut that tree up to use for building materials or fuel for cooking and heat?

Luke 12:54-56
New International Version

Interpreting the Times

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

 

[Lafftur]

Well said. The life we have is in God, and anything apart from that is emptiness and vanity as Solomon discovered during his life focused on materialism and pleasure. There aren't any substitutes for having a relationship with God, doing our best with His help to put Him first, and seeking His will like Jesus devoted His life to doing.

Yes, I think it sad that Solomon chose to explore vanity and so many wives/concubines instead of continuing to inquire of the God his father David knew and loved.

The world and all its vanities will leave a person empty and dead, it’s not even a spouse or children that will satisfy.

A life pursuing God - to know Him, love Him and obey His ways… will fill a person with life, love, joy, peace, content and satisfied, lacking no good thing.

Sometimes we learn by watching people do it wrong.

 

[Me_Clay]

I heard an excellent sermon a number of years ago that focused on the book of Ecclesiastes, and the pastor noted that James is an excellent complimentary epistle to Ecclesiastes. Both books fall within the category of "wisdom literature" with their short maxims that emphasize properly living a "righteous" and "prosperous" life in the flesh (Ecclesiastes) and in the Spirit (James).

Ecclesiastes was likely written by king Solomon later in his life. After succeeding his father, David, on the throne at a very young age, he started off down the right path by asking God for wisdom to govern the nation with a "discerning heart" to "distinguish between right and wrong" (I Kings 3: 9). God was pleased with this request and said, "...I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be" (v. 12).

Solomon shares his wisdom through the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms 72 and 127 along with the Song of Solomon. Early on in his career, he built upon David's success and led Israel to the height of their physical power and prestige as a nation. Unfortunately, unlike his father, he fell into heavy idolatry, had wives and concubines from other nations, and neglected his relationship with God to the point that Solomon's salvation is questionable (e.g. he is excluded in the list of "heroes of faith" in Hebrews 11).

Solomon lived a life of experimentation. Rather than focusing on God like David did, Solomon pursued a life of leisure and pleasure, but he sums up the results right at the beginning of Ecclesiastes that he felt emptiness in that lifestyle:

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

New King James Version

The Vanity of Life

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

James on the other hand begins his letter much differently, emphasizing right up front that he is a servant of God, and life is far from "vanity" when we are living in Christ:

James 1

New King James Version

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I've been looking forward to tackling these two challenging texts for quite some time, yet I may have bitten off more than I can chew. But, with your help, I'm excited about gaining more "wisdom" hopefully through this study and fellowship with all of you.

It really depend what type of man you're?

Are you a natural man?
Are you a carnal man?
Are you a spiritual man?

 

[LightBearer316]

I heard an excellent sermon a number of years ago that focused on the book of Ecclesiastes, and the pastor noted that James is an excellent complimentary epistle to Ecclesiastes. Both books fall within the category of "wisdom literature" with their short maxims that emphasize properly living a "righteous" and "prosperous" life in the flesh (Ecclesiastes) and in the Spirit (James).

Ecclesiastes was likely written by king Solomon later in his life. After succeeding his father, David, on the throne at a very young age, he started off down the right path by asking God for wisdom to govern the nation with a "discerning heart" to "distinguish between right and wrong" (I Kings 3: 9). God was pleased with this request and said, "...I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be" (v. 12).

Solomon shares his wisdom through the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms 72 and 127 along with the Song of Solomon. Early on in his career, he built upon David's success and led Israel to the height of their physical power and prestige as a nation. Unfortunately, unlike his father, he fell into heavy idolatry, had wives and concubines from other nations, and neglected his relationship with God to the point that Solomon's salvation is questionable (e.g. he is excluded in the list of "heroes of faith" in Hebrews 11).

Solomon lived a life of experimentation. Rather than focusing on God like David did, Solomon pursued a life of leisure and pleasure, but he sums up the results right at the beginning of Ecclesiastes that he felt emptiness in that lifestyle:

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

New King James Version

The Vanity of Life

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

James on the other hand begins his letter much differently, emphasizing right up front that he is a servant of God, and life is far from "vanity" when we are living in Christ:

James 1

New King James Version

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I've been looking forward to tackling these two challenging texts for quite some time, yet I may have bitten off more than I can chew. But, with your help, I'm excited about gaining more "wisdom" hopefully through this study and fellowship with all of you.

That’s a great connection—James really does balance Ecclesiastes beautifully. Where Solomon wrestles with life’s meaning “under the sun,” James reveals its fulfillment “under the Son.” Both teach that true wisdom begins with God and ends in obedience. Excellent foundation for study!

Grace and Peace

 

[SilverFox7]

Sometimes we learn by watching people do it wrong.

That was a main point that was emphasized during that sermon I heard ~35 years ago that inspired this thread. The pastor said there are two ways we can learn:

1. Experimentation, which often times translates into "learning the hard way". Solomon paid a heavy price for his sins, and the whole nation suffered as well.

2. Revelation, primarily from God's Word as the foundation and by "watching people do it wrong" like you so nicely expressed.