Monday, April 17, 2006
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18
I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.
For in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. (ESV)
by Dale E. Rood
Here the writer of Ecclesiastes identifies himself as King Solomon. Though he never uses the name Solomon, it is apparent who he is as he identifies himself as the king in Jerusalem who sought after wisdom. There is a price to pay for wisdom, however, for with great wisdom comes great responsibility. (v. 18) He refers to this as“a heavy burden God has laid on men.” (v. 13) Wisdom and knowledge are not toys with which to play games, nor are they tools to use toward selfish ends. If you desire wisdom, recognize the responsibility that comes with it.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
