The Ignorance of Those Who Cast Aside God’s Wisdom

This passage sheds light on how the wisdom of God that Solomon enjoyed early on gradually disappeared because of his own pride and lust. It shows how he, who at first governed the people with wisdom greater than that of ten rulers in a city and gave off a holy fragrance, became intoxicated with people's praise, mistook God's grace for his own righteousness, and fell into corruption. Where wisdom was lost, pride and sexual immorality filled the space, and in the end he was caught in Satan's snare and came to regret having lived an empty life.

Through Solomon's failure, the sermon asks what believers should hold on to as they live. It warns that when we do not let go of human righteousness and insist that our own judgment is right, it can lead to a foolish decision like Eve's eating of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. It also points to situations in which we react too sensitively to what people say, or let others' slander capture our hearts until the foundation of our faith is shaken, and reminds us that true wisdom comes from God.

Believers must break free from the temptations of the world and from human righteousness, and carry the fragrance of Christ. The sermon asks the reader to reflect on whether they are guarding God's wisdom in their life, or have fallen for Satan's schemes and been caught in his snare.