Ecclesiastes 26 Thoughts About Wisdom 3 Ecclesiastes 7
Ecclesiastes (26) Thoughts About Wisdom (3) Ecclesiastes 7: 11 -29 (3)
About this section • We continue our study of the second half of Ecclesiastes, and this section (7: 11 -29) we are addressing some thoughts about wisdom.
In this section: (7: 11 -29) • We find the value of wisdom. It can provide: • Protection (11 -12) Perspective (13 -14) Balance(15 -18) Strength (19 -22) Insight (23 -29) (From Wilson Adams, Ecclesiastes, Courageous Living Series, pg. 34)
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • Insight is a word that means to gain understanding about how or why something is. Ironically, this section notes that your insight can only take you so far.
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • All this I have proved by wisdom… But it was far from me… Who can find it out? (23 -24) • Even with all of Solomon’s wisdom – from God – there were still things he did not understand. There were questions he could not answer • There are things we may NEVER know the answer to – cf. Job 38: 1 -4 ff Romans 9: 20 -21, 1 Corinthians 1: 20
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • I applied my heart to know…(25) • • Solomon tried to understand! He searched – looked everywhere He sought out wisdom – investigated He asked “why” – inquiring minds what to know what is behind something (cf. Engineering) The better we understand why, the wiser we are (if we apply it)
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • I applied my heart to know…(25) • He even tried to know the wickedness of folly, foolishness and madness • WHY do people act that way? ? Understanding the antithesis of something can give you insight. Do we know Satan? 2 Corinthians 2: 11, 1 Peter 5: 8, etc.
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • I applied my heart to know…(25) • He even tried to know the wickedness of folly, foolishness and madness • But why men act evil, foolish, rash or absurd we may never fully understand. Godly minds (and even the fairly righteous) cannot comprehend why some are so evil! But we know we are to avoid it!
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • More bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares…(26) • A certain type of woman • The adulterous, seductive woman – Proverbs 5: 2 -8, 6: 23 -29, 7: 6 -27, etc. • The contentious woman – Proverbs 21: 9, 19 • The same could be said of baseless men- Proverbs 6: 12 -14, 11: 18, 22: 24 -25, 25: 26
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • He who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be trapped…(26) • The servant of God is wise and avoids the place where her trap is – cf. 1 Corinthians 15: 33 • How many marry unwisely and are trapped? cf. 2 Corinthians 6: 14
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • Here is what I have found…(27 -28) • Putting all things together, he has found “one man in a thousand” • He is searching for someone that is special, but he finds him a VERY rare find!
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • Here is what I have found…(27 -28) • • What was he looking for? . . . A true friend (Proverbs 18: 24)? Whether men truly are better than women? Character – uncompromising integrity, truthfulness, honesty, genuine, etc. ? • A REAL man or woman – ideal? • A man who is TRULY upright where God is concerned (vs. 29)? • Wisdom itself that is fully developed?
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • One man among a thousand. . . But a woman among all these I have not found (27 -28) • Is this a belittling statement designed to declare women second class citizens? Cf. Galatians 3: 27 -28, God did NOT intend for woman to be man’s stepping stool but his helpmeet.
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • A woman among all these I have not found (27 -28) Consider: • Context – Is he describing a certain type of woman (see above)? • Solomon had troubles with woman (1000 wives and concubines – 1 Kings 11: 3). They turned his heart from God. Were ANY of them good? With that many would he have noticed?
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • A woman among all these I have not found (27 -28) Consider: • Sometimes we make “blanket statements” when we know there are exceptions. This statement was from a man’s perspective. Could a mistreated woman say the same thing about “all men”?
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • A woman among all these I have not found (27 -28) Consider: • Previous verses (21 -22) – are you hearing what was NOT intended? Was it said in frustration? Etc? • NOTICE how he said men were not much better (was he surrounded by men driven by his money, power & fame)?
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • A woman among all these I have not found (27 -28) Consider: • Solomon in proverbs WISELY observed the high value of a godly woman (Proverbs 18: 22, 19: 14, Proverbs 31: 10 – King Lemuel describe the virtuous wife (woman)
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • A woman among all these I have not found (27 -28) Consider: • With all this, I believe Solomon had a CERTAIN type of person in mind • Whatever trait, it was EXTREMELY RARE, but oh so needed.
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • One among a thousand (27 -28) Consider: • CAN you think of “one among a thousand” who was sinlessly perfect in every way? While Solomon is likely not messianic in this text, we are thankful for the “One” unlike any other (Acts 4: 12)
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • Truly this ONLY I have found (29) • God made man upright! We are NOT born sinners. We were created “good” (Genesis 1: 26 -27, 31). Even today, we are not born sinners, but born into a sinful world
Wisdom Gives Insight (7: 23 -29) • But they have sought out many schemes (29) • Man is continually trying to undermine God. This is true throughout history – Adam, Cain, Jewish leaders against Christ and later Paul, etc. • Wisdom keeps us alert to this and hopeful protected!
Are you seeking to be wise and righteous in God’s eyes? Ecclesiastes 12: 13 -14
Let us pray!
- Slides: 23