The
Sunday after Ascension Day.
The
Collect.
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O
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GOD, the King of
glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy
kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us
thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us un-to the same place whither our
Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same
Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
The Old
Testament Parable today is found in verses 14 and 15 of the text above. The
parable bears out a truth that is evidenced in all of the endeavors and
experiences of civilized peoples – those who are wise and prudent are generally
not highly regarded by those greater numbers among us who live for the present
moment and who make no provision for future needs. The wisdom that comes from
God is deposited in the hearts of those who seek and cherish wisdom. This was
true of Solomon, and it is true of all who seek wisdom and are willing to obey
its voice. Of course, the mere possession of wisdom will not avail – its voice
must be heeded else we do not possess it. The gentler and more passive voice of
wisdom is oft drowned out by men whose hearts are bent on making wealth on the
backs of future generations, or by those beating the drums of war for the sake
of conquest for speculation in arms and materiel of war. Only when the
circumstance of a people or nation become hazardous will they sometime hear the
voice of wisdom which speaks without greed or selfishness. The brilliance of a
gifted writer is to put an abundance of meaning in concise letters, and God is
the Author of greater brilliance than any other. The parable is brief,
abounding with meaning, and enlightening to all who will read for
understanding.
14 There
was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king
against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
The city is small and therefore one in which any one of note would be well
known to all inhabitants. It is a city that is not equipped to defend itself
from so great an army as has come against it in the erecting of bulwarks
against her walls. With no standing army, what shall the city do? It is the
nature of life that the greater will always oppress the weaker. The Great King,
Cyrus (the anointed of the Lord), was the first to take a benevolent approach
to those people whom he had conquered. His policy is encoded on the walls of
the Hall of the Nations and by the stairway of the Appadana at Percepolis,
written in Mesopotamian Cunieform, which I was privileged to observe in 1975:
"All these nations have I, Cyrus, conquered by the strength of
Ahuramazda (God). I lifted the unbecoming yoke from off their necks and caused
the stronger not to strike the weaker." But this sentiment is not the
usual one demonstrated in the policy of nations. Wars are caused, almost
without exception, by greed and lust. The victor, through rapine and pillage,
oppresses and humiliates the nation or people who fall their victims. This city
is nearly defenseless. They have fashioned no war engines, and know not the art
of war. In such circumstances, the only element that can compensate for such
lack is that rare element of wisdom. But in order to discover wisdom among a
population not given to the study of it, a search must be made for the
exceptional man among them who does know Wisdom and has attained it. He
will most likely not be well-known for he has been consulted seldom by a people
whose bent has been to throw `caution to the wind' heedless of the counsel of
God in wisdom.
15 Now
there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city;
yet no man remembered that same poor man. Desperation being the
mother of invention, such a quiet and goodly soul was found in the city. It is
perhaps likely that this wise soul offered many gems in times past from the
Psalms and Proverbs to no result other than scoffing and ridicule. Perhaps he
did so even as the enemy began to array his forces in resplendent and gleaming
armor outside the walls, to the ignorance of the inhabitants of the town, until
the threat became too much apparent and too late for preparation for a
viable defense. They sought the advice and counsel of this wise, but
poor, man. Wisdom holds no grudges and is ready to offer itself to all seekers.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James
1:5) I have personally observed that wisdom often resides more profoundly among
poor farmers and miners sooner than among the elite in government, banking, or
academia. Those who seek wisdom most often do so in the same manner as Solomon –
without asking for wealth and riches to go along with it. Wisdom is sufficient
in itself for our satisfaction and comfort. You will not find a source for it
on NBC, CBS, ABC, or CNN – if you hear it being proclaimed, it will most likely
come from less prominent voices. Once the threatened multitude have been
rescued by the words of the wise man, they return to their thoughtless and
complacent ways. The poor man is forgotten for his essential wisdom is not
valued as much as present pleasures and filthy lucre. That disregard for wisdom
is much as Rudyard Kipling spoke of God and the soldier: God and soldier, we
adore, in time of danger, not before. The danger passed and all things righted,
God is forgotten and the soldier slighted.
16 Then
said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's
wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. It is true
that Wisdom is more precious than gold and silver, and it is a special benefit
that comes from God. The world, however, despises wisdom and will silence it
except in moments that the enemy is overrunning the walls and foxholes. The
fleshly allurements of the world have a stronger draw on the ungodly soul than
wisdom because wisdom smells of the halls of heaven – a prospect they cannot
endure. Now the danger has passed, the wisdom of the poor man is no longer
sought after.
17 The
words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among
fools. Yes, wisdom speaks in low tones and never proudly proclaims itself
from the parapets. It is the Currency of the Realm and needs no other
guarantee than its own Minting Authority. It speaks with the voice of God from
the silent shadows of the mountain heights, and the stormy gales that threaten
the beleaguered seafarer. The noisy multitudes at the foot of Sinai cannot hear
Wisom's voice for their heart is not seasoned to hear it by study of the Word
of God.
18 Wisdom
is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Wisdom is even stronger than weapons of war because it is spoken by God.
Moses and the Children of Israel saw Wisdoms power demonstrated as their hearts
sank on the Red Sea Banks, but God had sent his Pillar of Fire by day and of
Smoke by night to confuse, frustrate and destroy the mighty army of Pharaoh's
gallants. Gideon saw that Wisdom destroy thousands at the hands of hundreds.
Joshua saw Wisdom destroy the walls of Jericho by listening to that still,
small voice that whispered to a heart that was receptive. But one sinner in the
Garden brought ruin on all of his posterity. Have you, my friend, listened and
heard the Voice of Wisdom in your own life?
