Ecclesiastes 9:14-15, “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: 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.”
Being forgotten is a fear many face, especially as they grow older. “Will anyone even remember me when I pass from this life?” are words that come across many lips in an older age of life. Solomon, in our study verses, teaches us about a “poor wise man” who did an amazing thing for a city. The city was surrounded and on the edge of destruction, but a poor wise man, in his wisdom, figured out a way to deliver the city, yet the city forgot about him. How could the city forget about this man who did such things? Maybe it’s because there was no reminder. Is it possible that there was nothing provided to remind the citizens of the city to remember this “poor wise man” and what he did?
The human mind is a leaking vessel. Hebrews 2:1, “Therefore we ought to give the most earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” The word “slip” in this verse carries with it the definition of something gradually leaking or drifting away. Without a constant reminder, the human mind will leak information to the degree of almost never knowing.
I Corinthians 11:2, “Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.” The Lord, the night before He was crucified, gave the ordinance of Communion to the disciples. The Church has continued this ordinance through the generations until now. Why? That we will not forget about the Lord. Solomon, in our study verses tells us about a poor wise man who delivered a city. I’m sure the story was one Solomon told many times. When we consider what the Lord has done, this story pales in comparison. The Lord, who is King of all and rich beyond measure, came to this earth and became poor. 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.” The Lord gave His precious life and delivered, not just a city, but the entire elect family of God by His death on the Cross of Calvary. According to 1 Corinthians 11:23, “…this do in remembrance of me”, we keep the ordinance of Communion that we will not forget about the Lord Who did this great work for us. The work of salvation. The work of grace. The work that paid for all of our sins, that we who are sinners by nature will one sweet day live in heaven above. Let us never forget about Him that loves us so. Let us never forget about the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Savior, our King and our Lord. Amen!