When Knowledge Increases but Wisdom Decreases

Daniel 12:4 — “But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (ESV)

Daniel’s prophecy describes a world marked by constant movement and an unprecedented surge in knowledge. That vision has matured in our generation. We live in a time when information expands at a staggering pace. Data flows continuously. The accumulated knowledge of humanity is accessible within seconds. Yet for all this abundance, wisdom has not increased alongside it. Instead, we have become a people who gather information endlessly while struggling to arrive at truth.

Paul captured this condition with piercing clarity when he wrote that there would be those who are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7, ESV). It is entirely possible to be surrounded by information and yet remain untouched by revelation. Knowledge alone cannot steady the soul, and information alone cannot anchor a life. Truth is not discovered through volume but through encounter, and encounter requires a heart that is willing to listen.

The Dulling of Spiritual Senses

Hebrews 5:14 — “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (ESV)

The writer of Hebrews explains why so many lose their way in an age of endless information. Discernment is not an automatic byproduct of exposure to knowledge. It is the fruit of consistent obedience, intentional listening, and a life shaped by the presence of God. When people stop exercising their spiritual senses, those senses weaken. When they no longer practice discernment, they lose the ability to recognize what is good and what is evil. They also lose the ability to see what is wise and what is foolish. Furthermore, they struggle to discern what is true and what is merely appealing.

Technology accelerates this dullness when it becomes a substitute for seeking God. It offers answers without intimacy, direction without relationship, and connection without covenant. It promises clarity but delivers only noise. It gives the illusion of maturity without the substance of it. In a world where everything is immediate, discernment becomes inconvenient, and the slow work of spiritual formation feels unnecessary. Yet without it, the soul becomes vulnerable to every voice that speaks loudly and every system that promises ease.

The Fragile Power of Man‑Made Chariots

Psalm 20:7 — “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” (ESV)

David lived in a world where nations placed their confidence in chariots and horses. These were the most advanced military technologies of their time. These machines were swift, powerful, and rapidly deployed. They gave kings confidence and armies a sense of invincibility. Yet David refused to place his trust in them. He understood that chariots, for all their strength, were fragile. A wheel break. A horse stumble. A battlefield can shift. In a single moment, a nation’s pride collapse. Their power was real, but it was not dependable. Their strength was visible, but it was not faithful.

The same is true of the “chariots” of our age. Our devices are fast, our networks powerful, and our systems astonishing in their reach. Yet they can fail without warning. A server can crash. A platform can disappear. A password can be compromised. A power grid can falter. A corporation can change direction. An algorithm can turn against the very people it once served. Behind every digital system stands an indifferent source of power. These structures do not know you. They do not love you. They do not care for your soul. They offer convenience but not covenant, access but not affection, information but not truth.

God, nonetheless, is steady, faithful, and unchanging. He does not fail, shut down, or withdraw access. He does not operate from indifference. He is invested in your good. He guards, guides, and keeps covenant. He watches over your soul and works all things for your good. He remains faithful when every human system collapses. Technology can serve you, but only God can save you. Tools can carry you quickly, but only God can carry you safely.

The Call Back to Discernment

Daniel warned that knowledge would increase. Paul warned that learning would not guarantee truth. Hebrews warns that discernment must be trained. Together these passages form a prophetic map for our moment. We live in a world overflowing with information. There is a generation starving for truth. The church is called to sharpen its senses again. This is not a call to reject technology but to refuse idolatry. It is a call to use tools without trusting them. It is a call to learn without losing truth. It is also a call to grow in knowledge without abandoning wisdom.

A Prayer for the Digital Age

Lord, train my senses again. Sharpen my discernment. Guard me from the illusion that more information means more truth. Teach me to use the tools of this age without bowing to them. Let my trust rest not in the works of human hands but in Your voice, Your wisdom, and Your presence. Make me mature in discernment, steady in truth, and faithful in a world that has forgotten how to listen.

This has been a View From the Nest. And that is the way I see it. What say you?