Day 2589 – Old Testament Orientation – Books of Wisdom: Knowing God and Being Loyal to Him – Ecclesiastes 34:13-14

Welcome to Day 2589 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom Day 2589 – Wisdom Nuggets – Old Testament Orientation – Books of Wisdom: Knowing God and Being Loyal to Him – Ecclesiastes 34:13-14 Putnam Church Message – 03/16/2025 Sermon Series: Old Testament Orientation Message 10: Books of Wisdom: Knowing God and Being Loyal to Him   Last week, we continued our Old Testament Orientation series and reviewed Prophecy, Idolatry, the Day of the Lord, Loyalty, and Messiah. We explored from an ancient Israelite worldview. This week, we will explore the Books of Wisdom: Knowing God and Being Loyal to Him. These books are my favorite genre in the Old Testament. So let us think like an Ancient Israelite and their worldview of the Wisdom books. Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, Creator of heaven and earth, we humbly come before You today to seek Your wisdom and guidance. Just as You once walked with Adam and Eve in Eden, may You walk with us today through the gardens of Your Word. Grant us open hearts and receptive spirits to hear Your voice through the wisdom of the Scriptures. May the ancient words of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon awaken within us a renewed passion for knowing You intimately. Let our hearts not merely gather knowledge, but let our lives demonstrate steadfast faithfulness and loyalty to You. May our understanding deepen, and our love for You grow stronger with each word we hear. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen. Introduction Let’s climb back into the imagination station. Today, we are an ancient Israelite living in the flourishing kingdom of Israel under King Solomon. The land is peaceful, your fields are productive, and the nation is prospering like never before. Yet, despite material wealth, you sense a more profound emptiness within your community. The priests offer sacrifices daily, and the temple is bustling>with activity, yet people’s hearts seem distant from Yahweh. Then, one day, you hear a wise teacher speaking openly at the city gate, challenging people to think differently, to move beyond mere ritual to a deeper understanding and loyalty to God. He shares wisdom not just about how to be successful in life, but about what truly matters>knowing God and living faithfully for Him./ Even today, people seek wisdom and true knowledge that wealth alone cannot provide. The sages and teachers call out to people in the streets and city gates: “Seek wisdom! Seek God above all else!” Today, we journey through the wisdom literature of the Old Testament—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon—to explore the ancient path of knowing God intimately and remaining loyal to Him. Let’s briefly examine the concepts found in each of these books. (Bulletin Insert)     Main Points The Wisdom of Job: Trusting God in Times of Suffering Expanded Narrative: In ancient Israel, the story of Job was both inspiring and troubling. The book of Job shows a very clear picture of God and His interaction with His Divine Council. Let me read Job 1: 6-9 6 One day the members of the heavenly...