“The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him, a spirit of…understanding” – Isaiah 11:2 (CEB)
Paired with Wisdom is Understanding. What’s the use of wisdom without an understanding of that wisdom? What is the point in having spiritual wisdom if you cannot understand anything spiritual?
Understanding is the very next gift of the Spirit listed in
Isaiah 11 verse 2. Understanding is crucial in the development of the mind of Christ
in you.
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding." Proverbs 4:7 (KJV)
King Solomon, to whom God bestowed a unique gift of wisdom (see
1 Kings 3:12), says that in all your getting you must get understanding. You
see, it will profit you nothing to read the Bible from cover to cover,
memorizing every Scripture verse in order that you might rattle off any one of
them at will, yet not understand one single thing you have read or memorized.
You’ve become a master Scripture-quoter but do not ask you for an explanation
because you haven’t truly understood a word far less a sentence and worse yet a
chapter. In all your getting you did not get understanding. You’re spiritually
ignorant.
It happens. I’ve been to some Bible Study sessions where
sadly, from the participants’ contributions, it is quite apparent that they
have not even a basic concept of what the preacher has said. Religiously they
attend, week after week, unaware of the deeper meaning of God’s Word. Living on
the surface of the pages of the Bible, still in the milk stage, never
graduating to solid food eating (see 1 Corinthians 3:2).
Beloved, you cannot depend on yourself or others for this
understanding that Solomon is exhorting you to get. God is the source of
understanding and even though He may use people to guide you toward
understanding, ultimately that deep spiritual understanding is from Him. It is
a gift from God, imparted by His Holy Spirit. You can read God's Word until your
eyes are protruding from their sockets, never miss Bible Study and listen to 52
Sunday morning sermons, but unless He gives you understanding you just won’t
get it.
So how do you get this understanding? Ask for it. It’s that
simple. No matter who you are or think you are – whatever your status in life –
recognize that you are a servant of God, admit that without His insight you
will understand nothing. So, humble yourself and ask.
The King James Version puts it like this, “I am thy servant;
give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.” (Psalm 119:125) and I
also like the Message Bible translation,
“I’m your servant—help me understand what that means, the
inner meaning of your instructions.”
Understanding is there for the taking, available to anyone –
the intellectual and the craftsman alike; the extravagant and the simple; the
priest as well as the laity – whosoever will ask for it will be given it.
It is God who gives you the ability to understand the Bible.
It is only through His indwelling Spirit that you are able to comprehend and grasp
spiritual concepts. It is His Spirit operating in you that brings a proper
understanding. It is the Holy Spirit that illuminates and reveals the mysteries
hidden in the Word.
Pastors, Preachers, Priests and Bible Teachers may lead you
to the pasture to feed but in order to properly understand you must seek God’s Spirit
of understanding.
While on the road to Pentecost, “…stretch your mind toward
understanding. Call out for insight, and cry aloud for understanding. Seek it
like silver; search for it like hidden treasure. Then you will understand the
fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:2-5 CEB)
Amen †
Shelley Johnson “On the Road to Pentecost: Get Understanding” © 2016 revisited May 6, 2025
No comments:
Post a Comment