01-04-2010, 03:48 PM
:heartbeat: Ecclesiastes 1:13
The Futility of Wisdom
12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge."
17 And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind.
18 Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.
Solomon was just as much a fallible human as we are, and he too was overwhelmed by his own inquest of what constituted true wisdom, and it's opposite, folly and madness. I used to think 'this guy must've been manic-depressive!'; but now I see how he uses contrasts as a very effective teaching tool. Investigating all of the world's so-called knowledge is a grievous task! (Whether God afflicts us or we afflict ourselves with such 'chasing after the wind' is another thread.;)) At some point in our individual searches for truth we've humbled ourselves to the surpassing way of God's wisdom. Our Father's been broadcasting this same divine message for ages, and we believers often come to the same conclusion -
Ecc. 12:12, 13
But about going further [than the words given by one Shepherd], my son, be warned. Of making many books there is no end [so do not believe everything you read], and much study is a weariness of the flesh. All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.[AMP]
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Job 28:28
"And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'"
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. [when we share the wisdom God has given us through His Word, it's all to His -and Christ's - praise and glory!]
Psalm 51:6
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. [Compare with "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23, 24; and "...that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." John 14:17]
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The Wisdom of God
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
"I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." (also 1 Corinthians 2:3-20)
Ephesians 1:17-20
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
:heartbeat:With lots of love for you ALL
Your sister in faith,
Willa
The Futility of Wisdom
12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.
16 I said to myself, "Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge."
17 And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind.
18 Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.
Solomon was just as much a fallible human as we are, and he too was overwhelmed by his own inquest of what constituted true wisdom, and it's opposite, folly and madness. I used to think 'this guy must've been manic-depressive!'; but now I see how he uses contrasts as a very effective teaching tool. Investigating all of the world's so-called knowledge is a grievous task! (Whether God afflicts us or we afflict ourselves with such 'chasing after the wind' is another thread.;)) At some point in our individual searches for truth we've humbled ourselves to the surpassing way of God's wisdom. Our Father's been broadcasting this same divine message for ages, and we believers often come to the same conclusion -
Ecc. 12:12, 13
But about going further [than the words given by one Shepherd], my son, be warned. Of making many books there is no end [so do not believe everything you read], and much study is a weariness of the flesh. All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.[AMP]
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Job 28:28
"And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'"
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. [when we share the wisdom God has given us through His Word, it's all to His -and Christ's - praise and glory!]
Psalm 51:6
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. [Compare with "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:23, 24; and "...that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you." John 14:17]
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The Wisdom of God
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
"I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." (also 1 Corinthians 2:3-20)
Ephesians 1:17-20
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
:heartbeat:With lots of love for you ALL
Your sister in faith,
Willa