The Stupidity of Wickedness

Ecclesiastes 7:25 (NIV) “So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.”

The origin of wickedness is sin, and the origin of sin is Satan. The stupidity of wickedness combines that which is sin with satanic influences. As a certified researcher, King David embarked on a research project centred around a single question: “Why do the heathen rage and the people plot a vain thing?” (Psalms 2:1). One could argue that David formulated this research question because he was a king tasked with establishing the legacy of the children of Israel through various conquests, which is a research environment that contrasted with the era of peace and tranquillity experienced during Solomon’s reign. Nevertheless, the issue of wickedness persists. I believe that Solomon, David's studious son, sought to validate the integrity of his predecessor's research methodology and findings. This motivation is reflected in the anchor text (Ecclesiastes 7:25), where he explores to understand the stupidity of wickedness. According to David's research outcomes, he discovered that the heathen rage because, like Nimrod, their intent is not merely to attack humanity but to challenge God Elohim, who created mankind in His image and after His likeness (Psalms 2:2). We can clearly see that the heathens are hell bent on the task of their master, the devil, who is described in the Bible as relentless in his pursuits (Job 2:2, 1 Peter 5:8). This malevolent force has gone so far as to behead John the Baptist, persecute the church, and turn mortals into martyrs. What is the ultimate outcome of these actions? Nothing but futility. And that encapsulates the stupidity of wickedness.

1 Corinthians 2:8 says "if they had known, they would not have crucified the King of Glory." Satan revelled in his plan coming to fruition, forgetting that it is already inscribed: "who is he that says it and makes it come to pass when the Lord has not commanded it?" (Lamentations 3:37). He believed he had Jesus—betrayed, whipped, ridiculed, killed, buried, and forgotten—unaware that there was, and there will never be a truce between light and darkness. Instead, Jesus's humiliation on the cross was a total annihilation of darkness by destroying Satan’s age-long hold over mankind, which is death and the fear thereof. For Jesus majestically descended into the pit of hell and repossessed the keys of death without any protest from the hordes of hell. It is a well-known truth in the spiritual realm that through the blood of One, many shall be set free (Romans 5:19).

At the conclusion of Solomon's inquiry, he affirmed the validity of his predecessor's research findings, which stated that mankind was created upright by God. Nevertheless, humanity has chosen the way of mammon instead of the way of God (Ecclesiastes 7:29). Why did humanity choose a different way, and who instigated this choice? Was it not an attempt to undermine the integrity of God's purpose in creating mankind in His image for the sole purpose of adoption as sons? Among many, Solomon found only one upright man (Ecclesiastes 7:28). Who could this upright man be, if not Jesus Christ, the Lamb who is worthy to open the scroll?
In case you are wondering why wickedness still exists in this world, I have heard some people questioning the goodness and existence of God, asking, “If God is so good, why does evil exist?” or “If God is so good, why are there wars and oppression?” The answer to these queries lies in the origin of the query. If God does not exist, then Satan, the adversary, would not exist either. Therefore, if God is not good, Satan cannot be considered evil. To make a valid comparison, there must be at least two distinct analogies to facilitate the comparison. Without light, there can be no understanding of darkness; without good, our understanding of evil is meaningless. So, why do the heathens still rage and imagine vain things? This, too, reflects the stupidity of wickedness.

All of these are tricks of Satan to populate his kingdom, as he surely knows his impending doom and does not wish to go down alone. Therefore, he attempts to provoke God by inciting those whom God loves to turn against Him. However, David discovered that YHWH Sabaoth, who sits in heaven, laughs at these schemes. This is because, in the vastness of His omniscient wisdom, before the world began and before the existence of Satan, He had already initiated the plan for redemption. It was merely a matter of when, not if.
To conclude this post, I would like to leave you with a question that the Holy Spirit revealed to me in 2015, during a time when Satan severely attacked my faith by questioning the existence of God. The Holy Spirit prompted me to have a SELAH moment—an opportunity to pause and reflect on a simple question: "If God does not exist, why is Satan trying so hard to disprove His existence?" This question served as a source of deliverance for me, and I hope it will enlighten you all about the stupidity of wickedness.

Shalom Aleichem brothers and sisters.

Babasile Daniel I