What the Teacher Found
Open Your Bible
Ecclesiastes 7:23-29, 1 Kings 11:1-10, Isaiah 53:6, Romans 11:33-35
BY Erin Davis
I thought I knew him. We spent our whole childhoods in the same one-stoplight town. I recognized his momma, knew what sports he played and what kind of music he listened to, but as I glance back in life’s rearview mirror it’s clear to me: I didn’t know a thing.
It’s taken twenty years of marriage to discover all I didn’t know; things like how he likes his eggs cooked, how his lips turn when he’s sad, and what keeps him awake with worry in the wee hours of the morning. Time and commitment have pressed our knowing past the surface, down into the deepest crevices of our hearts.
Solomon’s quest for knowledge about God was unmatched. With his jaw set and fists clenched, it seems he resolved to be wise. He stacked one fact about God on top of the next, yet a heart of wisdom seemed just out of reach (Ecclesiastes 7:27–28).
In the end, Solomon’s quest to know about God ended in cynicism (v.29) and sin (1 Kings 11:4). In contrast, history remembers Solomon’s father King David as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). While Solomon sought to understand the ways of God, David sought to know the heart of God. The difference in their lives couldn’t have been more stark.
Solomon considered knowing God and bemoaned, “What exists is beyond reach and very deep. Who can discover it?” (Ecclesiastes 7:24). His father, however, marveled, “LORD, you have searched me and known me… Your works are wondrous, I know this very well ” (Psalm 139:1,14). Solomon’s wisdom, it seems, stayed on the surface, while David’s was pressed down into the deepest crevices of his heart.
For all the hours he spent searching and all the ink he spilled teaching, Solomon isn’t the poster child for wisdom. Not really. Instead, he shows us clearly that there’s a difference between knowing about God and actually experiencing Him in relationship, for Solomon’s head knowledge didn’t lead to lasting heart transformation.
How do we avoid Solomon’s mistake, accumulating facts about God like dusty books unread on the shelf? How can we guard against studying wisdom while acting like a fool? We remember this: Wisdom isn’t an item to collect but a Person to be cherished.
86 thoughts on "What the Teacher Found"
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Kristen Wright, I’m praying for you, your husband and family and unborn child dear one! I know two wonderful Christian women who had children born with Trisomy 18. They both have large families as well. They both have much wisdom in parenting and compassionate hearts. If you would like to talk with either of them please feel free to message me through Facebook or Instagram. I know they would both count it a blessing to speak with you and pray with you. You can find me at Kimberly Burchiel. Also Senator Rick Santorum and his wife have a child with Trisomy 18. I have heard him speak of how much he has learned of God through caring for his daughter Bella. May the peace that passes all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
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Thank you Margaret.
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Angie, thank you so much for your post! You are such a blessing. I am praying for you and your husband.❤️
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I pray that I can truly have a relationship with God, not just know Him by collecting information, but truly cherish Him. These devotions are a real blessing. And I am grateful, especially in this time with all that is happening in the world.
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amen!
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Thank you for the encouragement y’all! I’m thankful that I can be honest in this space. Tina, that Mother Theresa quote is true wisdom. Thank you.
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Angie, thankful for your husbands release, and that he is no longer contagious…looking upwards for your husband in praise of the one who hears our prayers.
For you Angie, will continue to pray for Gods hand to be over the awaited results..and join you in praising Him for His goodness and mercy, but most importantly the Hope we have in Him..
Blessings being prayed over you and yours Angie..❤ -
Churchmouse, loving your words today, and the comparison between father and son. True, it is only a relationship with God, repentance, understanding of who we are in Him, that gives us the vision hope and understanding..Amen..
Holding for you and yours up in prayer dear friend..
Praying, NO, singing, with love, The blessing over you all.❤ -
As I scroll through and read the posts, I stop and pray for the many emotions, circumstances, needs, and even praises given. I would “reply” except I cannot get that to work on my computer.
Specifically Churchmouse and Dorothy I have been praying this day for each of your families and circumstances.
The other day a sister (maybe Courtney) shared that she has to have some sort of additional checking for her left breast after a mammogram…I have been praying for your comfort and peace in the waiting…and for the results.
Kirstyn, God created the life inside of you, and He is not surprised by the Trisomy 18. I do not pretend to understand. Close friends to my son had a very similar situation. They did all the right things and, the baby is in heaven. I am sorry, I know that may not be helpful. I don’t know the whys but I trust God and bring you and your family before Him for His care. I pray for a better answer in your case, while at the same time trusting that God sees the whole picture. I am so sorry for the hurt and struggle right now.
Leann your heaviness of heart and weight that so many are lost I understand. Sometimes while I am praying I am brought to tears praying for lost family, friends, even strangers. I try to remind myself that God loves and aches for them to come Home immensely. He continues to reach out to them. The weight of anyone else’s salvation is not on me. I can do nothing to save anyone. What I can do is try to live my life as close to loving and knowing God as possible so that maybe, hopefully, they will see something that doesn’t make them think of me, but want Him. A little girl, from an extremely tough home, once wrote a note to me that said, “There is just something about you that is different, something that is good.” I wrote her back 5 simple words, “What you see is Jesus.” I think that is the best we can do, try to show them Jesus…and pray.
Finally, an update on our Covid situation. My husband is doing well. Praise the Lord. He had severe symptoms for 11 days, but he is released…no longer contagious and slowly gaining his strength back. His employer has been kind and allowed him to work partial days this week to help. I started with symptoms on Monday. I do not have a fever, only sore throat, headache, weakness, and sore body. It is like having a weird flu. I think I am doing pretty well and then I am just miserable. I was tested for both strep and Covid on Tuesday. Strep made sense to me, but it came back negative. I should receive the results on the Covid any time in the next few days. I appreciate your continued prayers. I really don’t feel good. At the same time, I can see how God faithfully provided all through the situation, and even now continues to bless, and I am so thankful. Regardless of the results, I will praise him. My son’s pastor made the statement that struck me hard. He said, “Fear is nothing more than faith in the devil.” Every time I start to give in to the fear…I try to lay it down and remember, my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus love and righteousness. I am his child. He is my El Elyon, my Jehovah Rophi…and I will trust Him.-
Praying for you and your family Angie! And thank you for your words. They are a blessing!
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