Sermon Tone Analysis
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Knowledge and Wisdom
They say we’re living in the information age.
Never before, in the history of the world, has such a vast amount of knowledge been so easily accessible to anyone who seeks it.
If you want to research a topic, you don’t even have to leave your house.
With the push of a button or the click of a mouse, the latest articles pop up your computer screen.
And if you don’t have a computer handy, no worries.
We have smart phones, smart TVs, and smart watches that can answer just about any question you might have.
In our living room we have a speaker sitting on the table called “Google Home.”
All you have to do is say: “Hey Google, what’s the forecast for tomorrow?
And a voice from the speaker will tell you what you want to know.
“Hey Google, I need a recipe for chicken salad.”
And it responds instantly, leading you step by step through the instructions.
The same feature is built into the TV in the back, and I thought I would try it out this morning.
· “What is the forecast for today?”
· “What was the score of the Indians game last night?”
· “When will Ohio State begin their football season?”
· “Who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace?”
· “How far away is Jerusalem from Ada, Ohio?”
· “What year was the temple built in Jerusalem?”
Isn’t that cool?
We can learn all kinds of wonderful things from Google.
But there some questions Google cannot answer.
Like:
· What is the purpose of life?
· How can I be successful in the things that matter the most?
· What can I do to become a better husband or a better father?
· How should I treat others?
· How do I honor the Lord with my life?
We need more than knowledge to answer these questions.
We need wisdom.
And there is a difference between the two.
Knowledge has been defined as the information we gain through study, reason, or observation.
But wisdom is the ability to discern what is right and true.
A wise person applies what they have learned to make good decisions.
They demonstrate sound judgment.
It is possible for a person to be intelligent but at the same time lack wisdom.
Maybe you’ve met someone like that.
They are smart.
They were at the top of their class in school.
They are like a walking encyclopedia.
But for some reason, they don’t have any common sense.
J.I. Packer writes, “Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it.
(Knowing God, p. 80.)
Someone else has said: “Knowledge understands the light has turned red; wisdom applies the brakes.
Knowledge sees the quicksand; wisdom walks around it.
Knowledge memorizes [verses of Scripture]; wisdom obeys them.
Knowledge learns [about the character and attributes] of God; wisdom loves Him.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/wisdom-knowledge.html)
There is a person in the Bible who had a reputation for great wisdom, and his name was Solomon.
Scripture tells us that he would become the wisest person in the world.
His understanding was beyond measure.
People came from distant lands, traveling hundreds of miles all the way to Jerusalem, just so they could learn from the wisdom of Solomon.
When they went away, they were not disappointed.
He wrote 3,000 proverbs, and composed more than 1,000 songs.
In fact, the Lord spoke through Solomon and he authored three books of the Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs.
How was he able to gain such great wisdom?
Our passage this morning shows us that he found wisdom in God.
To find wisdom, we must first admit that we don’t know everything.
Look at verse 7. Solomon says, “O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David.
But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.”
Solomon had only recently become king, when the Lord appeared to him.
His father David had been a good ruler, reigning for 40 years over the land of Israel, and Solomon realized he would have big shoes to fill.
It would not be easy.
His people would look to him for direction, expecting him to bring peace and prosperity to their nation.
There would be times when he would have to make life and death decisions, and he wondered “how can I do that?”
This was a tremendous responsibility that would have been intimidating for anyone.
We don’t know exactly how old Solomon was, when he took the throne, commentators suggest he was probably somewhere in his early 20’s.
He admits, “I’m like a child, young and inexperienced.
I don’t think I can handle this on my own.”
He had a very humble attitude.
How different from other rulers in the ancient world.
History tells us there were many kings who acted as if they were gods.
They were proud and arrogant.
They thought they could do no wrong; their plan was always the best plan; they expected the people to hang on their every word.
You didn’t dare contradict the king.
If you disagree with him, look out, you’re likely to find yourself in some dungeon.
But Solomon wasn’t like that, at least not in the early years of his reign.
He had the good sense to recognize his limitations and inadequacies.
Wisdom flows from humility.
If we want to be wise, we have to be humble.
I have to be willing to admit that I don’t have all the answers.
There are things that I just don’t understand.
That’s okay.
I may not know everything, but I know the one who does, and I’m willing to listen and learn from Him.
A proud person cannot be taught.
He thinks he already knows it all, so he will not listen to anyone.
Picture family on their summer vacation driving across the country.
The husband is confident in his skills to navigate to their destination, but after hours on the road his wife becomes a little concerned.
“Are you sure we are headed in the right direction?”
she asks.
“Of course I’m sure.”
He replies.
“I recognize that grain silo over there.
We should be coming up on the city any time now.
I don’t get lost, we’re exactly where I want to be.”
Another hour goes by, and they still haven’t seen any sign that they are getting closer to their hotel.
The wife has the map open, in the passenger seat, and says, “Honey, I think we’re on this highway over here, but we shouldn’t we be on that highway instead?”
He ignores her observation and says, “Put the map away, I know a shortcut.”
Only a foolish person would continue down the wrong path, because he is too proud to admit he doesn’t know the way.
F. Maybe you know someone who has that kind of attitude.
They are always right.
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