Hardening of the heart
Have you ever had the feeling to the answer of what God might say if you asked for something, and the answer was no? The knowledge to an answer that is not appealing is never wanted. Some of us behave differently to knowing the unwanted answer to something, say angerly, sad, reckless, unloving, distracted among others. Knowledge is good no matter of what, and therefore it must be treated delicately. Having it releases us from unwanted situations (Prov11:9). To maintain ourselves free from corruption and enjoy the rich promises in Christ, having added a portion of knowledge is key (2P1:4-5). When we have knowledge it is a demonstration that we fear God (Pr1:7).
Jeremiah 10:14
14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
The lack of knowledge is a dangerous state one can be in. It is synonym to backwardness or illiterate. Hosea says that God’s people perish because of the lack of knowledge and that it is by which God rejects someone and releases him/her from ministry(Ho4:6). And, becoming brutish in one’s knowledge will have those dangerous effects. One of the definitions for brutish is showing little intelligence or sensitivity Strong’s definition for brutish is being unreceptive or dull hearted. Jesus mentions this condition quoted from Isaiah that God’s people has become callous (Mt13:15). Now, being brutish towards knowledge can be genetic or a learned behavior. King Saul rejection of the knowledge of God caused him to be removed from his position from the kingdom (1Sam15:28). Saul was to take out the entire population of the Amalek including the animals, but he spared the king and the fatted beasts. Intentionally ignoring the voice of God is brutishness towards knowledge. The scriptures says that if today you hear his voice do not harden your heart (ps94:8-9).
With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but foolsa] despise wisdom and instruction.
my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’a]
28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you.