Knowledge
Pursuing Knowledge
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done
under heaven.
What a heavy burden God has laid on men! Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 NIV
Is there a better way to knowledge?
“Fear God and obey his commands,
for this is everyone's duty.”
Solomon spent his life pursing knowledge.
Look at his resume.
“I, the Teacher, was
king over Israel in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to study
and to explore by wisdom
all that is done under heaven.”
I thought to myself,
"Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled
over Jerusalem before me
I have experienced
much of wisdom and knowledge."
Then I applied myself
to the understanding of wisdom,
and also of madness
and folly,
I thought in my heart,
I will test you with pleasure
to find out what is
good "Laughter,"
I tried cheering
myself with wine, and embracing folly
I wanted to see what
was worthwhile for men to do
under heaven during
the few days of their lives.
I undertook great
projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
I made gardens and
parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
I made reservoirs to
water groves of flourishing trees.
I bought male and
female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more
herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
I amassed silver and
gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.
I acquired men and
women singers, and a harem as well —
the delights of the
heart of man.
I became greater by
far than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
I denied myself
nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no
pleasure.
My heart took delight
in all my work
Solomon is the teacher of teachers look at what he says…
I, the Teacher, was
king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I devoted myself to
study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven.
What a heavy
burden God has laid on men! Ecclesiastes
1:12-14 NIV
“WHAT A HEAVY BURDEN
GOD HAS LAID ON MEN”
Solomon studies of everything under heaven proved to be
meaningless.
The pursuit of the
knowledge of Good and Evil is a burden.
Solomon sums his life long search for knowledge with this…
“My child, let me give
you some further advice:
Be careful, for
writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
That's the whole
story. Here now is my final conclusion:
Fear God and obey his commands, for
this is everyone's duty.
God will judge us for everything we do,
including every
secret thing, whether good or bad.”
“Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty.”
In the garden of Eden God said do not eat of the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
God has always intended for us to gain our knowledge from
Him.
Not only is the knowledge from God pure and
true it is filled with purpose and meaning.
Because the knowledge of God goes beyond what is under
heaven.
It reaches to the heavens into all eternity.
So where is your source of knowledge coming from?
Scripture Reading
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 NLT
9 Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he
taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs,
studying and classifying them. 10 The Teacher sought to find just the right
words to express truths clearly.
11 The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but
helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a
shepherd drives the sheep.
12 But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be
careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
13 That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion:
Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. 14 God will judge
us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.