Ecclesiastes
This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: there was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. 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. Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.’” Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
Allow an application to the Reformation. The “little city” is the Holy Christian Church. The “great king” is the pope. The “poor, wise man” is Martin Luther. From 500 to 1500 AD, the pope attacked the little city (denying salvation by grace through faith), besieged it (persecuting all opposition), and set up snares around it (false teachings and lying wonders).
Then came the poor, wise man. Through the study of the Bible, Martin Luther was delivered from papal error and gained saving wisdom. Then, in the quiet chamber of his church, he preached “and by his wisdom delivered the city” from the papal grip. First in Wittenberg, then in Saxony, then across the planet Earth, poor, wise men have proclaimed Gospel wisdom and delivered many souls.
“Nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” Today, some despise this wisdom. They “secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them” (2 Pet. 2:1). It may seem they have a louder voice across the nation, yet the “words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.”
Give ear, then, to the poor, wise man in your midst, whatever his name, and you, too, will be wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Lord God, send “poor, wise men” to deliver “the little city”. Grant this for Jesus’ sake. Amen