Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 - 16 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.” 17 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. 18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Message: The Sorrow That Attends Knowledge
Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around
930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of
his reign, approximately 935 B.C.
What the Lord is Saying:
[Note: Many of these words are taken from Albert Barnes commentary though Barnes only did a commentary on the New Testament and Ecclesiastes was written by F.C. Cook.]
As it began in verse 1, when the book started, these are the words of the Preacher or Ecclesiastes. The Hebrew word for Preacher is Koheleth and Preacher isn't even an adequate translation. It is a person in the act of calling together an assembly of people as if with the intention of addressing them. It is the action of Wisdom personified. Vanity is a key word in Ecclesiastes as it occurs 37 times. It has these meanings:
Leading up to verses 16-18 is the preacher seeking and searching out by wisdom all that are done under heaven (v. 12).
The Preacher says in his heart that he has acquired great wisdom, more than those before him and his heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. He is making the statement that his wisdom is greater than others. He then says he has directed or applied his heart to know what is wise, but also to know what is madness and folly. Folly is a lack of good sense. It is foolish behavior or unwise conduct. Madness is irrational conduct.
To adequately understand wisdom, the Preacher believed he must also know what is irrational conduct and unwise conduct. He was able to clearly see the difference between these two extremes. As he did this, he uncovered that this is also striving after wind. Yes, I want to be wise, but my quest is not only wisdom.
I think the key to Ecclesiastes is recognizing the balance that must occur in life. There must be margin. For in much wisdom comes much trouble and increasing knowledge increases sorrow.
I think the key here is we must understand our limitations. As humans, we don't possess all knowledge and there is a danger thinking that we do or can hope to attain.
[Note: Many of these words are taken from Albert Barnes commentary though Barnes only did a commentary on the New Testament and Ecclesiastes was written by F.C. Cook.]
As it began in verse 1, when the book started, these are the words of the Preacher or Ecclesiastes. The Hebrew word for Preacher is Koheleth and Preacher isn't even an adequate translation. It is a person in the act of calling together an assembly of people as if with the intention of addressing them. It is the action of Wisdom personified. Vanity is a key word in Ecclesiastes as it occurs 37 times. It has these meanings:
- that which passes away more or less quickly and completely
- that which leaves either no result or no adequate result behind, and therefore
- fails to satisfy the mind of man, which naturally craves for something permanent and progressive
- it also is applied to idols, as contrasted with the Living, Eternal, and Almighty God, and thus in the Hebrew it is connected with sin.
Leading up to verses 16-18 is the preacher seeking and searching out by wisdom all that are done under heaven (v. 12).
The Preacher says in his heart that he has acquired great wisdom, more than those before him and his heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. He is making the statement that his wisdom is greater than others. He then says he has directed or applied his heart to know what is wise, but also to know what is madness and folly. Folly is a lack of good sense. It is foolish behavior or unwise conduct. Madness is irrational conduct.
To adequately understand wisdom, the Preacher believed he must also know what is irrational conduct and unwise conduct. He was able to clearly see the difference between these two extremes. As he did this, he uncovered that this is also striving after wind. Yes, I want to be wise, but my quest is not only wisdom.
I think the key to Ecclesiastes is recognizing the balance that must occur in life. There must be margin. For in much wisdom comes much trouble and increasing knowledge increases sorrow.
I think the key here is we must understand our limitations. As humans, we don't possess all knowledge and there is a danger thinking that we do or can hope to attain.
Promise: It is important to realize there are limits to my understanding.
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