seemingly irrational arbitrariness

"Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind."(Ecclesiastes 1:17)

"Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king's successor do than what has already been done?"(Ecclesiastes 2:12)

"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."(Ecclesiastes 7:25)

‎חכמה (khok·mä') - which was translated "wisdom" in that verse - refers to wisdom in the form of diversified knowledge. חכמה is used in the same sense in the following verse: "As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom...."(Daniel 1:17 NKJV)

Solomon applied his intellect to "wisdom and the scheme of things" - the grand design and the evidence of wisdom revealed in it. But he discovered a seemingly irrational arbitrariness that puzzled him. For example, he learned of "righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve."(Ecclesiastes 8:14) He came to the conclusion: "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness".(Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)

The wisdom of man falls short of the wisdom of God. According to the Lord, human wisdom is not wisdom at all because it is "foolishness in God's sight" - a collection of silly notions.(1 Corinthians 3:19) The Lord said, "...the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."(Isaiah 55:9) And: "The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile."(Psalm 94:11) The nations "do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan".(Micah 4:12)

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?"(Matthew 9:4) Jesus can change our hearts so that our thoughts reflect his thoughts, so that our ways become his ways. Jesus is the only way.

Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; Ecclesiastes 7:25; Ecclesiastes 8:14; 1 Corinthians 3:19; Isaiah 55:9; Psalm 94:11; Micah 4:12; Matthew 9:4

Daniel 1:17

‎חכמה Strong's H2451