Divine Knowledge
A discerning heart seeks knowledge, and those who experience divine knowledge are drawn to seek more of it.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the importance of seeking divine knowledge, likening it to the earnest pursuit of food by the hungry or gold by the covetous. He explains that true knowledge of God is accompanied by a deep desire for more understanding and clearer visions of Him. This pursuit is characterized by diligent efforts, including prayer and inquiry, as believers yearn for the sweetness and comfort that divine knowledge brings. Just as a newborn craves nourishment, so too does a soul that has experienced God's grace long for deeper communion with Him.
Text
"The discerning heart seeks knowledge." Proverbs 15:14
Saving knowledge is always attended with holy endeavors,
and with heavenly desires, thirstings, and pantings after a
further knowledge of God, after clearer visions of God. The
Hebrew word that is here rendered "seeks" signifies an earnest
and diligent seeking; to seek as a hungry man seeks for food;
or as a covetous man for gold--the more he has, the more he
desires; or as a condemned man seeks for his pardon; or as
the diseased man seeks for his cure. The word signifies to seek
studiously, laboriously, industriously; to seek by pleading, praying,
inquiring, and searching up and down, that we may find what we
seek; to seek as men do for hidden treasure. A man who is divinely
taught, will set his heart and his ear, his inward and outward man,
to know more and more.
Divine knowledge is marvelous, sweet, pleasing, comforting,
satisfying, refreshing, strengthening, and supporting; and souls
who have found the sweetness and usefulness of it, cannot but
look and long, breathe and pant after more and more of it.
The newborn babe does not more naturally and more earnestly
long for the breasts, than a soul who has tasted that the Lord
is gracious, does long for more and more tastes of God.
Sermon Outline
- The Discerning Heart Seeks Knowledge
- Proverbs 15:14 sets the foundation for seeking knowledge
- The Hebrew word for 'seeks' signifies diligent and earnest seeking
- A divinely taught man sets his heart and ear to know more
Key Quotes
“The discerning heart seeks knowledge.” — Thomas Brooks
“A man who is divinely taught, will set his heart and his ear, his inward and outward man, to know more and more.” — Thomas Brooks
“Souls who have tasted that the Lord is gracious, does long for more and more tastes of God.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Make a diligent effort to seek knowledge of God and His ways.
- Set your heart and ear to know more and more of God's knowledge.
- Long and pant after more of divine knowledge, just as a newborn babe longs for the breasts.