The Temptation of Gaining Knowledge

This morning, while reading Jeremiah, I got stuck on a verse.

Instead- they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; They have followed the Baal, as their ancestors taught them. Jeremiah 9:14 (NIV)

I’ve got a thing about Jeremiah.

I’ve had it for years. For the last 6 months, yet again, I’ve been doing a deeper read of the book and tracking a few things.

1 - The role of words.
2 - The idea of false leadership vs. true leadership.
3 - Intentional and unintentional formation.

This verse falls into that third category.

A little bit of background information on this verse.

Stubbornness
This word, in Hebrew, can also be translated as "firmness". It’s an attitude of the heart that’s related to idolatry. Specifically, it’s when a person consistently believes in their own ability to carve their own path. We refuse to believe we can’t be 100% responsible our own ability to create a world/life. It is a rebellious or obstinate state of mind.

Heart
In the text, this is related to stubbornness, but the heart merits a bit of detail on its own. In Hebrew, the heart serves as the primary metaphor for the inner self of a person. It’s the seat of our personal desire.

When I read this passage this morning, I also kept connecting it to all the passages mentioning the “hardening of the heart”, another characteristic of the ill-formed heart found in scripture.

This is what I wrote in my journal…

There is something about how we allow our hearts to guide us. This specific action of following an ill-formed heart. This work we do to form our own hearts matters. We have to be always working on the guidance of holiness as re-formation.

What’s wild is the idea Jeremiah talks about in both vs. 9:12 and 9:23-24.

Who is wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, so that they may declare it? Why is the land ruined and laid waste like a wilderness, so that no one passes through? (9:12 NRSV)

—

Thus says the LORD: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the LORD; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the LORD. (9:23-24 NRSV)

It’s about the knowledge of God.

How we can develop wisdom and understanding by the instructions of the LORD. We live in a world that lifts up self-sufficiency as a primary value. The gospel teaches us is the path to true wisdom comes from following the pattern of self-emptying we find in the teachings of Jesus. He gives us the greatest example of this in his life (losing yourself to find yourself).

I’m a person who struggles with building up knowledge and understanding.

It’s baked into my CliftonStrength profile through my ideation and learner talents. It makes its way through my lifelong fascination with reading and note-making. It's possible to baptize a healthy version of self-knowledge. This tension is one to get worked out in spiritual formation. It requires an openness to understanding motivation and love.

Even as Christians, we can fall into self-reliance.

I don’t take it as a coincidence that much of this directive in Jeremiah 9 isn’t pointed at pagans, but at how people of Judah are misdirected and have fallen into idolatry.

The idea of finding knowledge isn’t an evil action but for a person following the LORD. the only pathway through this is in obedience, the presence of God, and the pursuit of realizing HIS world is dramatically different from ours.

In Christian discipleship, we must realize the necessary reformation of our hearts. I think it is easy to disregard the Old Testament for these sorts of things, but if we peel back the layers, it is foundational for us to understand the ways we can easily get lost without seeing the whole picture.

The best pathway to any sort of knowledge is the knowledge we build up in the LORD. This knowledge will always lead us closer to his heart. It will conform us to the image of the Son and give us the power of the Holy Spirit.