Give me understanding – Part 2

 

Understanding … or the lack thereof is a life-changer!

Understanding… is a key to spiritual maturity!

 

Proverbs 1:5 is just one of the many verses sited in Part 1…” A wise man will hear, and will  increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”

 

The Psalmist asked the Lord, “give me understanding and I shall live” Ps. 119:144

 

The word “understanding” in the scripture has several connotations: reasoning, discernment, perception, wisdom, awareness, comprehension, mental togetherness, full knowledge, having healthy cognitive faculties, etc. Now; let’s see how what “believing and keeping the commandments” has to do with being a “person of understanding”?

 

Believing and keeping the commandments is another key to spiritual maturity! 

Jesus said, “if you will enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17

 

He also said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.:  John 14:15

And “He that has My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me.”

And “If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love…”

 

The meaning of “commandments”: principles, precepts, an authoritative prescription… what the Lord prescribes for our success.

 

The Apostles encouraged believers to “keep” the commandments so as to “please God” and “to abound more and more”.  (that sounds beneficial to each of us, right?) I  Thessalonians 4:1-2

 

Spiritual understanding helps us understand and apply the scriptures to our lives. 

“Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law, yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” Psalms 119:34

 

“give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments” Psalms 119:73

 

To experience the fullness of life that the Lord has offered us and to experience the full revelation of Who He is; we need spiritual understanding.  So then, how do we attain this understanding?

 

Deuteronomy 4:5-6 states this about the those that will believe and obey the Lord.

(Pastor Moses speaking)

5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God                     commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight     of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a       wise and understanding people.

 

Psalms 111:10

The fear (reverence) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments…

 

Keeping the Lord’s commandments, believing and obeying the scripture is vital to each of us obtaining spiritual understanding. Understanding comes after we obey God…not before.

 

This understanding of which we are considering, when is it important to us? Now…as we journey through life understanding helps us understand such things as: purpose, life’s experiences (pleasant and unpleasant), successes/failures, relationships, and how to please God.

 

This understanding also gives us enlightenment of spiritual things and the truth about eternal things. Those who have understanding also have insight that produces peace, fulfillment, a sense of destiny, a reverence for the things of God, and a confidence of a victorious finish even when their natural life expires.

 

In Deuteronomy 32:28-29 Moses speaks this of those who have turned from the Lord and have disobeyed and rejected His commandments.

For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

 

Jesus used the analogy of two houses built on different foundations to teach about the “latter end” of one’s life.

 

Matthew 7:21-27

21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;           but  he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and        in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work             iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto        a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that        house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And everyone that hears these sayings of Mine, and does them not, shall be likened            unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that         house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

 

My prayer continues…“give me understanding and I shall live.”

 

Coming up – Part 3 and the conclusion of “give me understanding” … the practical application of understanding in our daily lives.

 

Remember; understanding is not hiding from us… it is available to anyone who desires it.

 

D L Rogers