Insight – Praying Pint

52.o. Wilderness – 16.u. ““But if you will not listen to Me”

Deu 28:15-20  “But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field.  Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me.

Leviticus 26:14-16    “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments,  if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you:

I will set my face against you

I will visit you with panic

I will set my face against you

I will discipline you

I will break the pride of your power

I will continue striking you

I also will walk contrary to you in fury

I will bring a sword upon you

I will send pestilence among you

I break your supply of bread

I myself will discipline

I myself will devastate the land

I will unsheathe the sword after you

I will send faintness into their hearts

“But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity, I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers

I am the LORD their God.

Isaiah 3:11     Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

Daniel 9:13    As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.

Malachi 2:2     If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

Romans 2:8-9     but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.  There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek

Galatians 3:10    For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

We enjoy and turn our ears toward scripture where grace, peace, love, joy, hope, refuge, eternal life, salvation, redemption, and forgiveness are found. Our ears open up and our hearts are encouraged by them. And they should be, for in them we find eternal hope and reasons for living to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ.

I fear we stop short of our understanding of the holiness of God though. We truly enjoy hearing about the blessings of God but much of the time we skim over or deafen our ears to the warnings and curses of God. When we do this our understanding of our fleshly desires, sinfulness, and worldly temptations get watered down. We live in a make believe mindset that views God as a blessing giver and all we have to do is to the God-ATM and withdraw a blessing when we are running low. It is as though we keep a ledger book of the good works we do in the hope they will over shadow the wrongs, and thereby, add blessings into our account. It is as if we don’t even consider the need for confession and repentance because our minds are set on receiving blessings. Many times the blessings we seek are worldly and not of God. Other times we seek blessings while we are openly walking in sin.

A weak understanding of the curses, which points out the sinfulness of our hearts and minds, severely hinders our understanding of God’s grace, mercy, and love. Without this understanding of our sinfulness and the greatness of God’s grace, mercy, and love we live blinded to worldly and fleshly lusts and unable to discern between Godly and worldly. It is through His Word and the Holy Spirit that we are able to examine our hearts and minds of worldly and fleshly desires.

How can we be careful to do all the Lord commands without knowing His Word? How can we know the fullness of God’s grace without knowing the full extent of our intent to disregard holy living? God is not mocked. If we sow neglect to His Word we will harvest the rotting flesh of the fruit of neglect. If we sow desires for what this world has to offer we will harvest nothing that will satisfy our hungering soul. If we sow the busyness of life we will harvest nothing that gives us peace, joy, or rest.

The whole Word of God is given to us so that we will grow and mature in our understanding of His holiness, grace, mercy, and love. It is in this understanding that we continue to grow and mature in our desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions every second of every day.

32.y. “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it”

Matthew 13:18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Proverbs 1:7   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:20-22    Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;  at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:  “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 2:1-6   My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,  making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

John 3:19-20    And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Hebrews 2:1   Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Satan is always on the watch to hinder the Word of God from having any depth in the lives of people. He is very clever and the father of all lies. He will find any and all weaknesses in a person and exploit them to keep a person from growing in depth and width in the Word of God and commitment to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. He will cast doubt, incite fear, promote anger, cause division, produce lust, marginalize greed, promote pride, invoke jealousy, harden hearts, deafen ears, stiffen necks, create chaos, insert busyness, and whatever else he can do to keep peoples lives from deeply grounded commitment to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all they think, say, and do.

We ought to never be content with our current understanding and knowledge of the things of God. Certainly, we must be content with what we know so far for it is the basis of our faith and walk with God. However, a plant must be watered and weeded if there is to be growth and fruit produced.

When we truly and deeply commit and above all else, strive to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do, it is then we will find our desire to produce continued growth and the things of this world and the lies and falsehoods promoted by Satan (though they come at us like thousands of arrows shot from a strong bow) will not hit. They will be recognized/discerned and put in their proper place like weeds plucked from a garden and cast aside to die.

29.t. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Psalms 90:12     So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 39:4   “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Ephesians 5:15-17    Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Deuteronomy 32:29   If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

Proverbs 2:2-6    making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

There must be practical, lived-out Christianity, which lives wisely toward those who are outside. How we speak has a lot to do with this, so we must let our speech always be with grace. Why, because at all times, every day and minute throughout our lives, we are conscious of how we are living so that Jesus Christ is being honored and glorified. How many times a day do we pass a person who could use a kind word, helping hand, an acknowledgment, or word of encouragement? We get tied up being busy and allow the busyness of life to trap us into thinking we are too busy, too important, not important, or unable to see people through God’s eyes. “Teach us to number our days”, “making the best use of the time”, “number our days”, and “make me know my end and what is the measure of my days” all speak to having godly wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and understanding of who we are in light of who God is and to what He has called us to. How can we be or reflect the light of Jesus Christ if our eyes are closed to the people around us? How can we grow and mature in displaying grace when we don’t even see others around us. I am reminded of a time my wife and I went to visit a dear friend who had just lost His wife. We went out to eat and this man, whose heart what aching from loss, noticed our server seemed out of sorts, troubled. He graciously spoke to her with true concern and then asked if we could pray for her right there as she was taking our order. This is having eyes open to others and discernment to their hurts and needs, no matter what life has thrown at us. Even in his grief, his eyes were open for opportunities to show God’s grace and concern.

We do well to ask God to reveal deep within our hearts and minds, that which is important and that which is not. Busyness does not mean it is important. When we seek wisdom, knowledge, and understanding with the intentional choice, to be led by the Holy Spirit and honor and glorify Jesus Christ, in all things and at all times, it is then we will discern the world and people around us in the light of His grace and love.

29.d. “A secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory”

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

1 Corinthians 2:7    But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

Ephesians 3:3-10   how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.  When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,  which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Jeremiah 6:10    To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.

Jeremiah 3:15   “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

1 Corinthians 2:6    Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

In the Biblical sense, a mystery is not a riddle. It is a truth that can only be known by revelation and not by intuition. Now it can be known because it now has been revealed to His saints. There are aspects to God’s plan that were not clearly revealed until Jesus Christ. The mystery of salvation for all who would believe and trust in and rely on Jesus Christ. The mystery of God’s grace, mercy, and love reaching out to all mankind. The mystery of the new birth and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The mystery of hope, joy, peace, courage, love, gentleness, kindness, patience, in all things at all times through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts ought to overflow with thankfulness and our lives are lived in such a way that in all things Jesus Christ is honored and glorified.

28.l “Powers of discernment trained by constant practice”

Philippians 3:15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Romans 15:1     We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

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.

1 Corinthians 14:20  Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Galatians 5:10   I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.

Psalms 25:8-9    Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.  He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Proverbs 2:3-6   yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

James 1:5   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Mature, strong, trained, confident, humble, and with constant practice able to distinguish good from evil are all words used to convey the importance of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding in the life of a Christian. Have you ever heard a child say, “I can do it myself”, or “I want to do it myself”, for a task that is beyond their ability to do? They are not physically mature enough to execute what they want to do. They are more than willing to try but not mature enough to know their limitations. The opposite is true as well when you hear a child say, “I can’t do it”, “I won’t even try to do it”, for tasks that are well within their ability to do them. They are physically able but mentally they are not mature enough.

Being strong means that a person has the physical and mental ability combined with maturity so that they are able to stand up to obstacles and opposition. An immature person will think they have the strength (they do not have) for a task they are facing. They will go headlong into a mental or physical battle for which they are not strong enough to overcome. Others use their strength for very immature things. Having physical and mental strength but lacking mature wisdom, knowledge, and understanding is what you see in the world. These are those who shun God, reject Jesus Christ, and live in self-reliance and self-confidence. There is no surrender, humility, or acknowledgment of God. As Christians, we are tempted to think we are stronger and more mature than we are. When this happens we start relying on ourselves rather than the strength of the Holy Spirit. When we rely on ourselves we become self-reliant and self-confident which is neither humble nor surrendered.

We need constant practice at doing what is right, good, and true. This is what yields maturity. How do we put into practice that which we have chosen to neglect? How do we become strong in things of God when all we practice day in and day out are things of this world? We can be very mature in things of this world and even be seen as having wisdom, worldly speaking, but in the things of God we are immature, weak, and void of Godly wisdom and strength. It is sad to see those who are years into being a born-again Christian acting, speaking, and thinking like infants.

It is in humble surrendered reliance in God with heart deep desire and seeking His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that we will find the path that waters our souls and matures our thoughts, speech, and actions.

27.b. “Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened”

Ephesians 1:15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Matthew 11:25    At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

1 Corinthians 2:10   these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God

John 14:26   But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

James 3:17-18   But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Man will think the proper study of mankind rests in philosophy, science, cultural and social, studies. There may be some truth to this but in its highest science, loftiest speculation, and deepest philosophy, it will never give wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of God apart from God’s Word. It may engage the attention of a child of God as a study of what man thinks they know or speculate to understand. (Spurgeon) It is good to know thy self but far more beneficial, glorious, and fruitful to know thy God. (Alford)

Our eyes of our heart need to be enlightened by God to understanding and knowledge of Him. Scripture speaks of “hearts of stone” and “hardened hearts) about those who intentionally choose to harden their hearts against the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of things of God. They are ever hearing the Word of God but there is no enlightenment in their heart. It seems as though it comes in one ear and out the other. We all need to be mindful of not only hearing but seeking to understand. Do we think we can we seek this understanding once per week on Sundays and have any growth, not to mention maturity, in God and things of God? Do we think we can gain this understanding and knowledge by osmosis – somehow it just filters in through all of the chaos and busyness of life? I can’t tell you how many times people quote what was on the news as if it was their own thoughts. They believe the fear, hate, anger, division, worry, etc… because that is what the narrative of “News” tells them to do. They actually believe they should fear or hate or worry or be divisive, or be angry and do not see that these are not their thoughts but the thoughts of those who do not know God or things of God. They have allowed them into their hearts and minds. They have allowed them to take root and grow. They see the fruits of them in their lives and think it is proper fruit. It is not wrong to be informed but we need to be mindful of the source and the underlying message it is giving. We can only do this if the eyes to our hearts and minds are seeking wisdom, knowledge, and understanding from and of God. When you read a news article scan it for words like, it could, it might, it may, it is possible, it is conceivable, it may be, it is feasible, potentially it could, it is probable, it is likely, you should worry about, etc…….. these are all enticing words to engage and develop your thinking toward a specific conclusion of the writer or speaker. When our hearts and minds spend more time on things of this world and what it deems and says should be important to us, we will be filled with dark clouds of thought and it will consume us. How much time is spent catching up on the daily news compared to quality time in God’s Word? How much of your thoughts are consumed with what someone else has determined for you to be worthy of your time and thoughts?

Watch out for what your itching ears are listening to. They will give you insight into what is filling your hearts and minds. Wouldn’t it be something if believers what believers spoke out of their hearts and minds was things of God rather than the vomit coming out of social and media outlets.

22.p. “Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Proverbs 9:6    Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

Galatians 6:7    Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

2 Timothy 2:16-17    But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,  and their talk will spread like gangrene.

Hebrews 12:15     See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Paul deals with the moral problems of the Corinthians: envy, divisions, pride, immorality, greed, irreverence, and selfishness. How much of this came in because of they kept evil company? This speaks to the vital need described in Romans 12:2: do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. By keeping evil company, the Corinthian Christians were being conformed to this world, and they needed to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Christians must let the Word of God shape their thinking, not the evil company of this world.

It is very easy to “get conformed to the world”. The world does not recognize God. The world does not speak about God, other than to say He does not exist. The world tries to replace the joy, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ alone with everything that promises to satisfy the soul but leaves the soul lacking and wanting more, something better. All-day long the world denies, rejects, and proclaims its self-center self-reliance and calls things of God foolish and false. Paul is saying rid yourselves of these influences. Take your guidance from the Word of God.

5.k. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you

Job 12:12  Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

Job 8:8   “For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.

Job 32:7   I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’

1 Kings 12:6-8   Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”  And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.”  But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him.

Hebrews 5:12   For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

Pro 1:2  To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,  to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,  to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

There is worldly wisdom that comes to most. It comes with time and age. It is cultivated through experience and observing good and bad, right and wrong, worldly and godly, smart and foolish, and justice and injustice. This wisdom can teach a man how to walk a worldly path and avoid troubles that have come to others. This wisdom can make one appear to have the secrets of knowledge and understanding. However, in the end, this wisdom only has the ability to help in worldly things. It is missing wisdom that comes from a surrender of self to Jesus Christ. Without this godly wisdom, we will miss grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, salvation, redemption, and eternity in heaven. Godly wisdom is a gift to those who desire and seek after things of God. This desire and seeking drive us to His Word, to our knees or to our hands lifted high in praise and worship of Jesus Christ. It is in this reverence we touch the surface of godly wisdom and it is in this that we will grow and mature. Choose today to start fresh and committed to seeking and growing in Godly wisdom.

2.p. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

2 Chronicles 20:35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.

Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 9:6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

We are bound to make mistakes during our life. They seem to be right at our doorstep knocking and enticing us to open up that door. These door-knocking guests are either our sinful natured self or some other friend, colleague, or new acquaintance. We have the choice to make once we open the door.

Do we let them in? When it comes to self we are told to take every thought captive and recognize it for what it is against the word of God. We can only do this if our heart, mind, and soul seek and desire to intentionally humbly serve, honor, follow, obey, and trust God. We spend time in His word with a hunger to know Him more and more so that we can honor Him more and more in every part of our life.

When it comes to a friend, colleague, or new acquaintance knocking we also have a choice to make. We open the door and their intention is made known to us. This is where we compare what is being said with and against the word of God. This is where we need leading from and through the Holy Spirit to discern what we are thinking about doing or what is being asked of us. This is where we lean not unto our own understanding but seek Jesus Christ to make it know to our heart and mind. Many of Christians have gone down paths apart from God because they were blind, neglectful, or complacent with the word of God.

There is no substitute for time in God’s word. Time in His word feeds us, directs us, gives us hope, strength, peace, rest, love, and courage.

We were bought with a great price, the price of our sin, with the payment of whipping, beating, and nailing to a cross of God’s only beloved Son. We read where “for the joy set before Him he gladly went to the cross” This was the price that was paid for us while we were yet sinners. He did this to call to Himself those who would believe in sacrifice for our sin as full payment. Though we know this I wonder if somehow we have forgotten the great cost that was paid. Are we living as though we have been purchased? Are we living in constant remembrance of the cost? Are we living in such a way that honors and glorifies the one who paid the price? This is nothing to take lightly or half-heartedly. Christ deserves all honor and glory from His redeemed. Anything short of this does not reflect the price that was paid.

If we keep this in mind then we surely would spend more time in His word so that we grow in understanding and knowledge of Him and how to humbly live in service, honor, glory, to Him at all times.

135. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

1 Kings 3:3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

1 Chronicles 22:12    Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God.

Proverbs 16:16     How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Proverbs 3:13-18    Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,  for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.  She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Proverbs 2:3-9     yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

If I was to ask where do you find understanding, knowledge, and wisdom what would the first answer come to your mind? Would it be “Alexia” or “Google it?” For sure you might find information enough to give you knowledge (facts) and you might read more about how you might understand these facts (meaning), but how to use this wisely (application) is somewhat evading.

Charles Spurgeon wrote; “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”

Those with wisdom know what actions to take next. They do the right thing in the given situation. In contrast, there are many who have great knowledge and understanding but who consistently do the wrong thing.

There is Godly and worldly knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Sadly, with the internet, worldly knowledge and understanding seem to overshadow the need to have Godly knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Worldly knowledge and understanding do have a place in our lives but not at the expense of not having Godly knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. To make sense of the world around us requires more than what it can offer in knowledge and understanding. It requires knowing the Creator with a desire to seek understanding and wisdom that only He can give and enlighten our souls with.

If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31–32).

R.C. Sproul; Our Lord calls for a continued application of the mind to His Word. A disciple does not dabble in learning. He makes the pursuit of an understanding of God’s Word a chief business of his life.