I have a daughter who understands math. All the numbers and symbols make sense to her. She reads math like a language. She knows how to apply it to come to a usable conclusion. I have a son who understands color and various art mediums. He understands how colors blend, and how light interacts with colors, shapes and objects. When he applies his understanding, he creates amazing paintings. Neither of my children got their understanding from me! God has gifted them both, but they have also put a lot of time and effort into understanding.
Understanding is what makes knowledge and wisdom applicable.
Understanding puts the pieces together. It is the “ah-ha moment” where the light bulb comes on and we see where to go, what to do next, and how to do what we have been told and apply the information we have been given. King David’s counsel to his son and heir, Solomon, was “Acquire Wisdom! Acquire Understanding!” Prov. 4:5
“Acquire” requires effort on our part. The Hebrew word qana means “to procure – obtain with care and effort.” It isn’t just something we pick up along the way, but are intentionally pursuing. In Proverbs 23:23 this word is translated “buy” – “Buy truth and do not sell it. Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.” What does “buy” imply? That there is an obvious cost involved. In this verse we are told that there are four things we are to qana (procure at whatever cost or effort): truth, wisdom, instruction and understanding.
Proverbs 4:7 tells us, “The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding. (Both “acquire” and “get” in this verse is qana.) In other words, we need to put in the effort, make the sacrifice, pursue and prioritize what is wise, and in the process make sure we understand (bina) what the specific wisdom is, why it is wise and how to apply it.
In the Book of Proverbs, a majority of the proverbs employ couplets. Some contrast, some provide comparison, and others add additional information. All of these are to give us a better understanding of the wisdom stated. When we understand something, we are more likely to use it – do it. It becomes logical or reasonable to us.
There are two things the Lord has continually reiterates to me about “logical”:
1. Logical can be an idol (as can feelings). If we set being logical as our standard of belief, trust or obedience, we’ve made it a god.
2. There is a tendency to equate illogical with impossible. When we do, we negate what is logical and possible with God.
Understanding is not always going to fit within what the world, or even we as believers, see as “logical.” It is what connects wisdom to action, even if it is simply the understanding – the insight or discernment - that wisdom needs to be applied here.
Understanding is key to recognizing what is or isn’t wisdom. “They [words of wisdom] are straightforward to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.” Prov. 8:9 We get it – we recognize wisdom when we encounter it – it makes sense – it is believable.
Simply being told what is wise will not make anyone wise. We need understanding. Simply understanding why it is wise will not make us wise either. Understanding makes wisdom applicable. It is the applying of wisdom and understanding that makes us wise. “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show it by his good behavior, his deeds done in the gentleness of wisdom.” Jms 3:13
Proverbs 10:23 gives us an interesting perspective on wisdom and understanding. “Doing wickedness is like a sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.” Both a sport? There are two kinds of sports: one that is just play – all fun and games, play it when you have the time and energy, or enjoy from the sidelines; the other kind of sport is serious and all-encompassing. Which is wickedness? Which is understanding?
“Fun and games” means the rules are helpful, but at times optional. We can make up our own rules. That is what we are doing when we distort and justify wrong being right and evil being good: “Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.” Job 34:4 (Job’s friend, Elihu) We end up deciding that “the way of the Lord is not right, when it is [actually our] way that is not right. Ezek. 33:17 The result is both foolishness and wickedness. There are NO winners in this sport.
On the other hand, a professional athlete or Olympic caliber amateur puts everything he/she is and has into understanding the details of his or her sport in order to be the best. Often it is NOT at all fun, and definitely NOT a game. We have to have that same attitude and commitment as an Olympian to become a person of understanding.
Unfortunately, when it comes to wisdom and understanding, too often and too many of us are “stupid children!” For My people are foolish, they know Me not; they are stupid children and have no understanding.They are shrewd to do evil. But to do good they do not know. Jer. 4:11 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are ANY who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. He asks: Do all the workers of wickedness not know … and do [they] not call upon the Lord? Psa. 14:2-4 “They do not know how to do what is right,” declares the Lord. Amos 3:10 We are playing the wrong sport!
Proverbs 7:4 tells us that we need to have a close personal relationship with wisdom and understanding. “Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your intimate friend.” What does it mean to you personally to have this kind of relationship with wisdom and understanding? A sister and a best friend are intended to do life with you. Support you. Encourage you. Speak truth to you. Give you insight. Provide you with a different perspective. Keep you on course. That means sometimes a sister/best friend has to say what we don’t want to hear. Proverbs 15:32b tells us, “He who listens to reproof acquires understanding.” In order for all this to happen, there has to be this continual dynamic interaction. God has chosen wisdom and understanding to be your companions in this journey of life, especially one that strives to please the Lord!
“Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!” are vital to our lives being everything God intends for us.“Understanding is a foundation of life to one who has it.” Prov. 16:12a In Psalm 119:144b is the plea that we all should make … daily: “Give me understanding that I may live!”
God has what we need to make this possible. “Great is our Lord and abundant in strength, His understanding is infinite.” Psa. 147:5 Let me repeat this again: He has what we need; and we get what we need from Him.“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” Prov. 2:6 He has it, but we have to want it and put the effort into procuring it. “Make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding.” Prov. 2:2
Where do we procure this desperately needed understanding?
#1 We get understanding directly from the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promised that we would be given the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth. “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” Jn 16:13 This is the same Spirit that filled Jesus. “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Isa. 11:2 Jesus said His Spirit will “abide with you, and will be in you.” Jn 14:7 It is a powerful statement of faith to declare: “The Spirit of the LORD rests on [ME] —the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Believing and understanding that truth is key to our promptly turning to the Holy Spirit for the wisdom and understanding we desperately need.
1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Paul said that our being filled with the Spirit of wisdom was his constant prayer. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.” Eph. 1:17,18 NIV “Enlightened” is a wonderful description of understanding as the Holy Spirit turns the light on! Paul’s prayer for us can be our prayer for ourselves.
#2 We get understanding from knowing the Lord.
In Proverbs 9:10, we are told that “the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” God wants us to know Him. “You are My witnesses, declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may knowand believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.” Isa. 43:10 He wants us to know, believe and understand who He is. “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” 1 Jn 5:20 God wants us to know, believe and understand Him, and sent Jesus to make it possible!
John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, [Jesus], has made Him known.” We understand who God is and what God desires by knowing Jesus. There are two ways to know Jesus: His word (#3) and doing life with Him.
#3 We get understanding from Scripture.
We get the knowledge we need to know God from God’s word. Psalm 119:130 tells us, “The unfolding of Your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple.” It really is that simple. Do not expect to understand the heart of God or the will of God without knowing the Word of God. Jesus said in Mark 12:24 “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scripture or the power of God?” It is continuity withGod’s word that allows us to assess what we are hearing, thinking, feeling, or discerning as God’s will. They will NOT be at odds.
I love that on the road to Emmaus Jesus “opened their minds to understand Scripture.” Lk 24:45 He still does - if we ask. David prayed, “I am your servant, give me understanding that I may know Your testimonies.” Psa 119:125 A testimony is God telling us the truth about who He is, what He knows and what He has done. “Let my cry come before You, O Lord, give me understanding according to Your word.” Psa. 119:169 Asking is the door to accessing. We need “to ask that [we] may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” Col. 1:9 THEN start digging into His word!
#4 We get understanding from under-shepherds, pastors and teachers, entrusted with His word.
In Jeremiah 3:15, the Lord promises, “I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” The Lord places these people in our lives to
help us “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Pet. 3:18 We have to show up with a teachable spirit – hungry! “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” Prov 1:5 “Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.” Prov. 9:9
There are several other things required on our part:
(a) We need to be picky regarding whom we allow to feed us.
Did you notice the qualifier in Jeremiah 3:15? “I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” What does it mean that they are “after My own heart?” Their heart beats in synch with His, which means that they are “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.” They don’t just love Jesus, they love like Jesus. They are passionate about what He is passionate about.
If they are going to encourage you to think like they think, believe like they believe, act like they act, then they better be mirroring Christ in everything they say and do. If you don’t see an identifiable patterning of their heart and life after Christ, they don’t understand Christ and cannot impart His wisdom to you nor facilitate your understanding.
They need to be imitatable. Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Paul made a bold statement when he told the Corinthians, “Be imitators of me, just as I am also of Christ.” 1 Cor 11:1 James 3:1 states that those who teach “will incur a stricter judgment.” Hebrews 13:17 says “They keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.” God holds them accountable not just for what they say, but how it is lived out in their personal lives.
(b) Those who teach are responsible for what they feed us, but we are responsible for what we ingest.
In Acts 17:11, Paul complimented the Bereans as being “of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” A godly teacher/preacher will always encourage you to put what is being taught to the test of Scripture. They should welcome challenges and questions. Paul told Timothy, “Consider what I say, [think about it, scrutinize it, prayerfully work through it with the Holy Spirit), for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” 2 Tim. 2:7
#5 We get understanding over time and through experiences.
“Wisdom is with aged men, with long life is understanding.” Job 12:12 Hopefully, we are gaining sakal – experiential wisdom and understanding – from everything we experience. What a waste of time, effort, joy and suffering, if we don’t. Even then, it truly only comes from God. “With Him are wisdom and might, to Him belongs counsel and understanding.” Job 12:13 As we do life with God, He speaks truth into our lives and graciously gives us understanding from all life entails. The blessing of understanding and growth in faith comes as we sit down and process what we are going through – daily process life - with Him.
Life continually reminds us that we truly need wisdom and understanding. As we acquire them, we are truly blessed. “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.” Prov. 3:13“Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you.” Prov. 2:1 “Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding.” Prov. 14:33a So, now that we know where to acquire it, we are foolish if we don’t.
