Understanding
When we come to the subject of Understanding we have to pause. What will give us the ability to gather knowledge and put it together so that we can have understanding? For understanding, we know that it is taking a number of snippets of information and coming up with a new way of seeing things. Notice in these verses from Deuteronomy that keeping and doing the statutes and judgements of God will lead the people to understanding. The Lord of Hosts is the ultimate knowledge holder and if He says in His word that we show wisdom and understanding by keeping His commands, then that is what we must do.
Deuteronomy 4:5-7 (NASB)
[5] “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. [6] “So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ [7] “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?
What if you were a father telling your son the best way to prosper and do well as the king was to have the Lord give you discretion and understanding? That is what David did to Solomon in this passage from 1 Chronicles. Notice that it was a close walk with the Lord that would allow Solomon to keep the Law of the Lord and lead his people correctly.
1 Chronicles 22:11-13 (NASB)
[11] “Now, my son, the LORD be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the LORD your God just as He has spoken concerning you. [12] “Only the LORD give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. [13] “Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.
So where do we get this understanding? We get it from the Word of God, specifically in the precepts of the Lord. Notice also that hating the false way, or the way which is not the Lord's path, is also involved here.
Psalms 119:104 (NASB)
[104] From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
Note this passage in Proverbs that concludes that understanding comes the Lord's mouth. So we are still talking about the Word of God here.
Proverbs 2:6 (NASB)
[6] For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Notice in this passage where wisdom is personified that understanding is wrapped up in knowledge, discretion, fear of the Lord, and many other items that are subjects in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 8:12-14 (NASB)
[12] “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
[13] “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.
[14] “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
Notice in this passage from Proverbs that knowledge of the Holy One is equivalent to understanding. What we are talking about here is acquisition of knowledge so that we can see things from the Lord's perspective. This is one of the things that I have been talking about needing: to see things from the Lord's viewpoint. So what I need to do is to seek understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 (NASB)
[10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Notice in this passage from Proverbs that a man of understanding is different, he keeps quiet even though those around him can make him angry. From the Lord's perspective it is better to keep silent about such things because you need to know the whole story. Perhaps the Lord is testing you, perhaps he has placed this individual in your path to teach you patience. Perhaps you are to witness to this individual. You don't know what the situation is. It is better to keep silent and find out.
Proverbs 11:12 (NASB)
[12] He who despises his neighbor lacks *sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
Following what the Lord says in His Word produces favor with men. Not following His Word only makes your way hard.
Proverbs 13:15 (NASB)
[15] Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is hard.
The same thing is shown in this passage. Anger, something that the Lord is slow to have, only gets you into trouble. Notice that being slow to anger proves that you have great understanding.
Proverbs 14:29 (NASB)
[29] He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is *quick-tempered exalts folly.
Cool spirit coming up in this verse and guess what, it shows a man of understanding. Notice that restraining your words shows you have knowledge. Just because you know a lot does not mean that you should be shooting off your mouth. Again, here is an indication of looking at things from the Lord's perspective.
Proverbs 17:27 (NASB)
[27] He who restrains his words *has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Finally, we have to consider that understanding not only comes from the Lord but He is capable of giving you understanding in everything. That is what I want.
2 Timothy 2:7 (NASB)
[7] Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
So now I need to consider my approach to life. I need to seek the Lord's way and seek for understanding by knowing Him.
Deuteronomy 4:5-7 (NASB)
[5] “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. [6] “So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ [7] “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?
What if you were a father telling your son the best way to prosper and do well as the king was to have the Lord give you discretion and understanding? That is what David did to Solomon in this passage from 1 Chronicles. Notice that it was a close walk with the Lord that would allow Solomon to keep the Law of the Lord and lead his people correctly.
1 Chronicles 22:11-13 (NASB)
[11] “Now, my son, the LORD be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the LORD your God just as He has spoken concerning you. [12] “Only the LORD give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. [13] “Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.
So where do we get this understanding? We get it from the Word of God, specifically in the precepts of the Lord. Notice also that hating the false way, or the way which is not the Lord's path, is also involved here.
Psalms 119:104 (NASB)
[104] From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
Note this passage in Proverbs that concludes that understanding comes the Lord's mouth. So we are still talking about the Word of God here.
Proverbs 2:6 (NASB)
[6] For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Notice in this passage where wisdom is personified that understanding is wrapped up in knowledge, discretion, fear of the Lord, and many other items that are subjects in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 8:12-14 (NASB)
[12] “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
[13] “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.
[14] “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
Notice in this passage from Proverbs that knowledge of the Holy One is equivalent to understanding. What we are talking about here is acquisition of knowledge so that we can see things from the Lord's perspective. This is one of the things that I have been talking about needing: to see things from the Lord's viewpoint. So what I need to do is to seek understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 (NASB)
[10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Notice in this passage from Proverbs that a man of understanding is different, he keeps quiet even though those around him can make him angry. From the Lord's perspective it is better to keep silent about such things because you need to know the whole story. Perhaps the Lord is testing you, perhaps he has placed this individual in your path to teach you patience. Perhaps you are to witness to this individual. You don't know what the situation is. It is better to keep silent and find out.
Proverbs 11:12 (NASB)
[12] He who despises his neighbor lacks *sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
Following what the Lord says in His Word produces favor with men. Not following His Word only makes your way hard.
Proverbs 13:15 (NASB)
[15] Good understanding produces favor,
But the way of the treacherous is hard.
The same thing is shown in this passage. Anger, something that the Lord is slow to have, only gets you into trouble. Notice that being slow to anger proves that you have great understanding.
Proverbs 14:29 (NASB)
[29] He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
But he who is *quick-tempered exalts folly.
Cool spirit coming up in this verse and guess what, it shows a man of understanding. Notice that restraining your words shows you have knowledge. Just because you know a lot does not mean that you should be shooting off your mouth. Again, here is an indication of looking at things from the Lord's perspective.
Proverbs 17:27 (NASB)
[27] He who restrains his words *has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Finally, we have to consider that understanding not only comes from the Lord but He is capable of giving you understanding in everything. That is what I want.
2 Timothy 2:7 (NASB)
[7] Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
So now I need to consider my approach to life. I need to seek the Lord's way and seek for understanding by knowing Him.