In our fourteenth episode on Wisdom in the Old Testament, we look at Qoheleth’s extended discussion of wisdom in the context of death. He argues that while there is definitely value in wisdom it can nevertheless be over-estimated, and that doing so is bound to lead to disappointment. Wisdom can be corrupted or overpowered by those with power, and Qoheleth challenges us to reckon with the fact that things don’t always go the way they should. Rather than rely on wisdom to make us better off, he suggests we fear God, even when it’s not clear how he is working things out.
The Sword Is Mightier Than The Pen