**The Tale of the Foolish Ruler and the Wise Servant**
In the days when kings ruled the land and wisdom was sought by the humble, there was a city nestled in the shadow of a great mountain. The city was prosperous, its streets bustling with merchants, artisans, and laborers. At the heart of the city stood a grand palace, its towers reaching toward the heavens, a symbol of the king’s power and authority. Yet, within its walls, a troubling tale unfolded—a tale of folly and wisdom, as foretold in the words of Ecclesiastes: *”Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.”*
The king of this city was a man named Abimelech. He had inherited the throne from his father, a wise and just ruler who had governed with fairness and humility. But Abimelech was not like his father. Though he wore the crown and sat upon the throne, his heart was filled with pride and his mind clouded by foolishness. He surrounded himself with advisors who flattered him and told him only what he wished to hear. They whispered in his ear, “O mighty king, your wisdom surpasses all others! Your decrees are as flawless as the stars in the sky!” And Abimelech, intoxicated by their praise, believed every word.
One day, a matter of great importance arose in the kingdom. A dispute had broken out between two neighboring villages over a fertile piece of land that lay between them. The villagers, unable to resolve the matter themselves, brought their case before the king. Abimelech, eager to display his wisdom, summoned the elders of both villages to the palace.
The throne room was filled with the scent of burning incense, and the king sat upon his golden throne, his robes shimmering in the light of the oil lamps. The elders bowed low before him, their faces etched with worry. “O great king,” said the elder of the first village, “this land has been ours for generations. We have tilled its soil and watered its fields. But now our neighbors claim it as their own, though they have no right to it.”
The elder of the second village stepped forward, his voice trembling with emotion. “Your majesty, the land was given to us by your father, the late king, as a reward for our loyalty. We have the scrolls to prove it. These men seek to steal what is rightfully ours.”
Abimelech listened to their pleas, his brow furrowed in thought. But his thoughts were not on justice or fairness. Instead, he was preoccupied with how he might use this situation to his advantage. “Bring me the scrolls,” he commanded. When they were placed in his hands, he glanced at them briefly, his eyes scanning the words without truly understanding their meaning. Then, with a wave of his hand, he declared, “The land shall belong to the first village, for they have worked it longer.”
The elders of the second village gasped in disbelief. “But your majesty,” they protested, “the scrolls clearly state—”
“Silence!” Abimelech roared, his voice echoing through the chamber. “Do you dare question the wisdom of your king? My decision is final!”
The elders bowed their heads and left the palace, their hearts heavy with sorrow. The first village rejoiced, but their joy was short-lived. For the king’s foolish decree sowed seeds of bitterness and strife between the two villages. Soon, skirmishes broke out along the border of the disputed land, and the once-peaceful region was plunged into chaos.
Meanwhile, in the palace, there was a servant named Elihu. He was a humble man, unassuming in appearance, but his heart was filled with the fear of the Lord. Elihu had served in the palace since he was a boy, and he had seen the folly of Abimelech’s reign. He often whispered to himself the words of Ecclesiastes: *”If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.”*
One evening, as Elihu was tending to the lamps in the throne room, he overheard the king’s advisors plotting. “The people grow restless,” one of them said. “The king’s foolishness has brought trouble to the land. If we do not act soon, there may be rebellion.”
Elihu’s heart ached for his people. He knew that the king’s folly was like a crack in the foundation of a house—if left unaddressed, it would bring the entire structure crashing down. That night, he knelt in prayer, seeking wisdom from the Lord. “O God,” he prayed, “you are the source of all wisdom. Show me how to bring peace to this land.”
The next morning, Elihu approached the king with a plan. “Your majesty,” he said, bowing low, “I have heard of the troubles between the two villages. If it pleases you, I would go to them and seek to resolve the matter.”
Abimelech, weary of the constant reports of unrest, agreed. “Go, then,” he said. “But remember, my decree stands. The land belongs to the first village.”
Elihu set out at once, traveling to the disputed land. When he arrived, he found the villagers on the brink of war. He called the elders of both villages together and spoke to them with kindness and wisdom. “Brothers,” he said, “this land is a gift from God. Should we not share it in peace, rather than fight over it? Let us divide the land equally, so that both villages may prosper.”
The elders, moved by Elihu’s words, agreed to his proposal. They divided the land fairly, and peace was restored to the region. When Elihu returned to the palace, he brought news of the resolution. But Abimelech, instead of rejoicing, grew angry. “You dare to overturn my decree?” he shouted. “Who are you to challenge the wisdom of your king?”
Elihu bowed his head and replied, “Your majesty, I sought only to bring peace to your kingdom. For it is written, *’Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.’*”
Abimelech, blinded by his pride, could not see the truth in Elihu’s words. He ordered the servant to be thrown into the dungeon, where he languished for many days. But the people of the city, hearing of Elihu’s wisdom and the king’s folly, began to murmur against Abimelech. They remembered the words of Ecclesiastes: *”Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!”*
In time, the king’s foolishness led to his downfall. The people rose up against him, and he was driven from the throne. Elihu, though he had suffered greatly, was released from the dungeon and hailed as a hero. The city, now free from the yoke of folly, prospered once more.
And so, the words of Ecclesiastes were fulfilled: *”The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.”* For wisdom is a treasure greater than gold, and folly is a burden too heavy to bear.
