Ecclesiastes 1:13: And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
He applied his heart. He was determined. He had a goal. He had vision. He had a plan. He was committed. He wouldn’t let go nor would he give up without reaching his goal. He set his heart to understand.
Could it be that if we applied our hearts in the manner Solomon did, we might discover what we want to know about God?
Could it be that if we set our hearts to know the Lord we will get to know him in way we’ve never had?
Could it be that if we applied our hearts to seek God in the manner Solomon applied his heart to seek wisdom, we might just find Him?
Could it be that if we applied our hearts to please God in the manner Solomon did we might just be able to please God? Solomon was the wisest man on the earth… his wisdom surpass that of everyone else. We can all accomplish great things if we set our minds to achieve them.
He spoke of trees… beasts… birds… reptiles, and of fish. Careful observation of the natural world and how it works is one of the “normal” ways in which people gain wisdom (e.g., Job 38–41; Prov. 30:15–31; Matt. 6:25–34). Solomon was concerned with the natural world, from the largest tree (the proverbially high cedar that is in Lebanon) to the smallest plant (e.g., hyssop), and including all sorts of fauna. Wisdom “from below” (as here) and wisdom “from above” (as received by Solomon in 1 Kings 3) are thus combined in this one person, the wisest of all Israel‘s kings.
The bible encourages us to “never be lacking in, zeal, but be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (Rom. 12:11). it also tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Photo courtesy: Thomas Hawk
Walter Bright 