Get Smarter and Get... Sadness?

      For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.  Ecclesiastes 1:18 NKJV

There are many verses in the Bible that confuse me.  And there are some verses I really don’t like (can you say conviction?).  But this verse is just odd.  With more wisdom is more grief?  The more I know, the more sorrow I experience?  What does that mean?  Is it true “ignorance is bliss”?  Do I declare one day: “I’ve learned enough.  I want to be happy, I’m done studying.”

          The verse talks about wisdom, so what is it?  I know the word.  But I need more, something concrete.  I need knowledge (how ironic!).  So I do some research.  Is wisdom knowledge tempered by understanding (courtesy of my nifty Bible reference)?  Is it deeper knowledge followed by just action (courtesy of dictionary.com)?  Deeper matters require deeper digging.  I decide to go for the big guns.  I pull out my monster dictionary (all eight pound of it); the Webster’s Unabridged.  I’m fearful when I pull it out.  This monster can smash toes if I drop it.  But it’s more than that.  I know when I open it, I can get lost in its pages.  I open it, searching for wisdom.  After reading about “whorled loosestrife” (a plant with yellow flowers), I finally reach “wisdom.”  “The quality or state of being wise.”  Reading on:  “knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.”  Sagacity?  Discernment?  Insight?  Discernment sounds a little Biblical but other than that, not that helpful.

Okay, putting up my monster dictionary (while minding my fingers), I go back to the Bible.  Wisdom… Psalm 111:10 looks interesting.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do HIS commandments; HIS praise endures forever (NASB).  I like that.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  I hold GOD in great respect.  More than respect, there is an awe factor, a fearsome mightiness present in HIM, that I recognize.  But does that mean I’m wise?  No.  Not even close.  The beginning of wisdom?  More like the beginning of a headache.

I search for another reference.  I find Job 28:28.  But after reading 28:28, I decide to read the entire chapter.  Incredible.  The first half describes the earth and how miners search for gold, silver, and precious stones.  Deep in the earth, underneath where the proud animals walk, these treasures are hidden.  But after searching, digging, and breaking through rock, the precious metals and stone are found!  And then it goes to verse twelve.   But where is wisdom found (CEV)?  Wow!  That’s what I want to know.  I read on.  Job talks about wisdom being more precious than jewels or gold and silver.  He says it is hidden from all living kind.  Well, that sounds about right!  Wait, Job says only GOD knows the way to wisdom.  Only GOD.  And then he concludes chapter twenty-eight saying GOD tells us Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding. 

By now I’ve forgotten my verse.  What is it?  For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18 NKJV).  Now I remember… but how does it fit?  Fear?  Wisdom?  Grief?

The fear of the LORD.  That phrase again!  Am I to tremble in fear when I approach HIM?  James 2:19 (CEV) says You surely believe there is only one GOD.  That’s fine.  Even demons believe this, and it makes them shake with fear. Okay, so, it’s more than just fear.  What does the entire sentence in Job say?  Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.  Evil.  I have evil on my list of topical study ideas so I won’t delve into it now.  But I’ll assume we can recognize evil (which might be assuming too much!).  But to turn away?  That’s the kicker.  I’m reminded of Paul writing in Romans…I know that my selfish desires won’t let me do anything that is good.  Even when I want to do right, I cannot.  Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong.  (Romans 7:18-19 CEV).

What is wisdom?  It’s not solely knowledge.  We live in an age replete with information but we are no wiser than our predecessors.   It’s not solely understanding.  How often do we understand why we do something but yet still chose silliness?  It’s some sort of mix between knowledge with understanding coupled with action.  Right action.  Fear the LORD.  Turn away from evil.  Will I act on those verses?  My desire is to say yes.  But do I?

Back to the original verse.  For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow (Ecclesiastes 1:18 NKJV).  I’m at the end of my blog and still feel like I’m missing the fuller meaning.  The more I fear the LORD and turn from evil, the more grief I experience?  Yes, I suppose so.  The more I learn of the glory of GOD, my response is like Isaiah “Woe is me!  I’m lost!  I’m unclean” (Isaiah 6:5 my really bad paraphrase).  I am grieving for what cannot be.  For what I cannot do on my own.

But it doesn’t end there, does it?  Isaiah saw the glory of GOD and responded with a cry of desperation.  But then GOD took care of his guilt and sin.  Isaiah tells us And he touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is forgiven.”  What was Isaiah’s response after his cleansing?  Here am I!  Send me! (Isaiah 6:5-8 NASB)

My response?  I catch a glimpse of the glory of GOD and it causes me grief.  Why?  Because without HIM I can do nothing.  But with HIM… but if we walk in the light as HE HIMSELF is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of JESUS HIS SON cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7 NASB).  Cleanses us.  Wisdom may cause us grief.  And more knowledge causes us sorrow.  But the grief spurs me to action.  Because without that sorrow, I would never have focused on HIS sacrifice.  HIS blood.  HIS resurrection.  It gives us life.  Life everlasting.  But we must respond.  What’s your response?

Next Topic:  I can spell Ecclesiastes now so maybe I’ll move to Proverbs.  Or Psalms.  Hey, I need to learn how to spell Deuteronomy, what about a study on it?  Catch you next time!