King Solomon writes in the Book of Ecclesiastes: "I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, 'Wisdom is better than strength.' But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good." (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 NIV).

King Solomon was deeply impressed by the example of a city delivered from a powerful enemy and siege warfare by wisdom rather than human strength. Solomon was also struck by the fact that the source of this wisdom was not a powerful military strategist or a shouting autocrat. The city was saved by a forgotten man, 'poor but wise', whose wisdom is despised and whose words are no longer heeded.

The passage describes both the effects of warfare and the contamination of sin. We can see a parallel to the human situation. The small city is a picture of the entire human community. In comparison to the vast universe, our place in it seems infinitesimally small. We are born into a world that is in the midst of great turmoil and spiritual conflict. Our community has been blown apart by the Satanic suggestion of human self sufficiency into billions of warring egos full of envy, hatred, pride, and rebellion. The enemy of our souls is a powerful ruler of supernatural prowess- the devil himself. He launches a siege warfare, blinding minds and surrounding souls in an attempt to cut off the spiritual food supply of Truth. He is the father and master of lies.

We all stand in need of deliverance. Our rescue does not come through a political quick-fix. Nor does it come from the human effort of moral reform, religious zealotry, positive thinking, institutionized civility, government programs or any other form of human-power. Our deliverance comes through the central event of history and the purpose of Christ's coming to live among us - the Cross. By the cross, we don't mean a religious icon or merely the crude wooden gallows that Jesus was nailed upon. The Cross refers to the critical event of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ removing the sin barrier that separates man from God. He bore the penalty incurred by our sins. For all that we are (sinners) He died. For all that we are not and need to be in God's sight (absolutely righteous) He is on our behalf. This is God's 'Answer' to the human dilemma. This is God's wisdom.

But it is so easily forgotten. The deliverance of the man Christ Jesus (1Timothy 2:5-6) is often overlooked. The wisdom of the Cross is considered foolishness (1Corinthians 1:18-31).

The Latin word for cross is 'crux' from which we get the word 'crucial'. Truly God's Wisdom, His plan of salvation through the gift of His son, is the most crucial event of history.

Even at this Christmas season when many celebrate His birth in the crèche, Satan cuts off the truth of the significance of His death on the Cross. It was for this He was born. The promised 'Peace on earth and good will towards men' can only be activated through our faith in God's provision in the Cross of Christ.

May we not only embrace this wisdom, but proclaim it for the deliverance of our communities! (1Corinthians 1:21).

Remembering the Wisdom of the Forgotten One, who not only allowed Himself to be placed as an infant in the straw filled wooden feeding trough, but allowed Himself to be crucified on a wooden Cross for the salvation of the human community,