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"I will be wise"

Text: Ecclesiastes 7:23

THE QUEST FOR WISDOM

The search for wisdom is a good and vital quest. Right at the beginning of Ecclesiastes Solomon determined that he desired to be a wise person. He would search for wisdom in every way he could.

“All this I have proved by wisdom.
I said, ‘I will be wise’;
But it was far from me.
As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep,
Who can find it out?”
Ecclesiastes 7:23-24

1. “All this I have proved by wisdom”

a) Solomon’s approach was to prove things for himself.

b) This was how he came up with his “teachings”.

c) His wisdom was not theoretical or philosophical.

2. “I said, ‘I will be wise'”

a) This was his goal for life.

b) He desired knowledge and wisdom.

c) The path he took:

i) He must have read.

ii) He would have had conversations and interviews.

iii) He wanted to prove the truth and the worth of what he learned.

iv) He sought to comprehend in depth.

v) He would not stop till he felt he was “wise”.

3. “But it was far from me”

a) There were subjects that were not difficult.

b) But mastery of simple things would not make him very wise.

c) He sought greater wisdom.

i) He found that it was not easy to be truly wise.

ii) There were many things in life that were puzzling.

iii) There were things that were beyond comprehension.

iv) There were things about God and Life that could not be easily mastered.

4. “As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?”

a) Two areas were cited which were beyond him.

b) “That which is far off”

i) This could be things that were not found in Israel.

ii) In order to understand things in foreign lands would require travelling.

iii) Travelling in those days was a daunting enterprise.

iv) Thus, these areas of knowledge were “far from him”.

c) That which is “exceedingly deep”:

i) The thoughts of God.

ii) The works of the Lord.

iii) These were truly “exceedingly deep”.

iv) He did not pretend that he knew everything.

d) “Who can find it out?”

i) This was almost a cry of frustration.

ii) A wise man is frustrated that he cannot understand certain things.

iii) The human mind is far more limited than thought.