No Remembrance of the Wise or Fools - Ecclesiastes 2:16

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon said, “Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity”, and in chapter two and verse sixteen of his book Solomon said, “there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever”, where we read,

For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dies the wise man? as the fool.

The verse reads, “For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever;” Solomon began with the words, “for there is no remembrance”  or “because, since and on account that there exists not any memorial, reminder or record” “of the wise man” which means “pertaining to the person who has skill, prudence and understanding” “more than of the fool” or “to a greater amount compared to the person who is a dullard, simpleton and stupid fellow” “for ever” which means “for long duration, everlasting, evermore and perpetually”. Solomon concluded that there existed no memorial or reminder of the person who is skilled and prudent any more than a person who is a simpleton and foolish.  

The verse continues, “seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dies the wise man? as the fool.” Daniel added the words, “seeing that which now is” or “since what already and currently exists” “in the days to come” which means “within the sunrises to sunsets in the future” “shall all be forgotten” or “will each, every, the whole and everyone exist as ignored, withered away, mislaid and oblivious from want of memory or attention”. “And how dies the wise man” which means “and in what way does the skilled, prudent and understanding person perish, be killed or slain and pass away”? “As the fool” or “similar and in likeness to the dullard, simpleton and stupid fellow”. Solomon said in the future both the wise and the foolish person would be ignored and oblivious to thought as he rhetorically asked how the wise person perishes from life, and answered in the same manner as the “fool”. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Solomon continued to contrast the person filled with wisdom compared to the simpleton. He declared that neither one would be “remembered” because the people in the future would forget them. He then considered the death of both the “wise” man versus the “foolish” man, and said they both perish from life in the same manner. This glib view of the value and presence of people does not include God’s eternal redemption and salvation plan for mankind through His Son Jesus who was sent into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us eternal life and give us His Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us into the life that is eternally pleasing to God and shall last forevermore. (See John 3:16)

Next time Solomon says, “therefore I hated life”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".