FAITH CAPSULE: it takes having understanding to keep man from reoccurrence of confronting challenges.
Proverbs 2
Gaining understanding in the word is crucial to having a knowing edge over confronting challenges. Understanding is of the heart. Proverbs 2:2 buttressed, “So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding.” It is a good thing to have the freedom to make a right decision that keeps man away from confronting challenge but it takes having understanding to keep man from re-occurrence of confronting challenges. Proverbs 2:11 stated it better, “Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you.”
At Gibeon, after Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord, the Lord appeared to him. It is recorded, “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5) Solomon could think of nothing better but responded to God’s question asking, “… give to Your servant an understanding heart…” (1 Kings 3:9) Understanding is crucial to continue and to prevail in the journey of life. The bible recorded in 1 Kings 3:10, “The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.” God added wisdom to Solomon’s request for understanding. Truly, wisdom compliments understanding and it is the combination of both that will give a knowing edge over confronting challenges of the world. Proverbs 4:7 admonished, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”
In the beginning of the book of Job (Job 1:1), Job is described as a blameless man and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Later in the same chapter, God testified of Job, “Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8) What else could be said when God testifies for a man just like He did for Job? With this description, and the testimony, of God about Job, it is possible to think that a man like Job has arrived in the things of the LORD. However, in the last chapter of the book Job, he confessed “I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. (Job 42:5) Until man begins to see in what is heard, understanding is not in place. When we hear and able to see in what was heard it becomes evident that understanding is in place. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith pointed out in His speech that having understanding is rooted in listening ability. (John 8:43) Trust God to give the grace of listening and gaining understanding.
Prayer for today: Ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.