Wisdom vs. the Dull Axe

Regarding the manner of dealing with San Joaquin:

“If the axe is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength.

But wisdom brings success.”

Ecclesiastes 10:10

 Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary  :

“10. iron . blunt-in “cleaving wood” (Ec 10:9), answering to the “fool set in dignity” (Ec 10:6), who wants sharpness. More force has then to be used in both cases; but “force” without judgment “endangers” one’s self. Translate, “If one hath blunted his iron” [Maurer]. The preference of rash to judicious counsellors, which entailed the pushing of matters by force, proved to be the “hurt” of Rehoboam (1Ki 12:1-33).

wisdom is profitable to direct-to a prosperous issue. Instead of forcing matters by main “strength” to one’s own hurt (Ec 9:16, 18). “

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary :

“10:4-10 Solomon appears to caution men not to seek redress in a hasty manner, nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yielding pacifies great offences. Men are not preferred according to their merit. And those are often most forward to offer help, who are least aware of the difficulties, or the consequences. The same remark is applied to the church, or the body of Christ, that all the members should have the same care one for another.”

the Rev. Dr. Leander Harding :

“I think that the decision making process that has taken hold in our church has often been a non-consultative process which relies on finesse and fait de compli and is lacking in the patience required if the church is to know its own mind. This is a critique that I would apply to both sides of the aisle, so to speak.”    

 from a comment following his weblog post “Godly Bishops.”