"Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee." Psalm 32:9
Back to "Listen to God's Lessons"
There's an old hymn that says, "We'll understand it better by and by." This song was written by Charles A. Tindley in 1905. The song implies that there are some things that we won't understand until we reach God's kingdom. I'm sure that Mr. Tindley had the best intentions; but those words really don't line up with scripture. To me, it's a cop-out. It allows saints of God to sit back in their complacency and mediocrity and not diligently seek out the Lord. It's easy to say, "I guess God doesn't want me to understand. I'll just have to trust Him on this one." It takes a little more effort to seek God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. God wants His people to have understanding. Let's explore scriptures that proclaim this edict. There are a lot of scriptures that deal with understanding. It's one of the treasures of wisdom that God wants to give His saints.
"But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." Job 32:8
"For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." Psalm 47:7
Psalm 119 is full of references of the importance of getting understanding. Here are a few examples.
"Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works." Psalm 119:27
"Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart." Psalm 119:34
(By the way, those words above each section of Psalm 119 represent the Hebrew alphabet. It starts with the first letter, aleph, and ends with the last letter, tau. Just an interesting tidbit -- some understanding.)
"Give me understanding, that I may learn they commandments." Psalm 119:73
"The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live." 119:144
"Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word." 119:169
In each of these instances, the psalmist is requesting understanding. In the next instances, the psalmist is declaring how to get understanding.
"Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way." 119:104
"I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation." 119:130
"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." 119:130
Then, when we study the Book of Proverbs, we see how our attitudes should be about seeking understanding and how important it is in our lives. This first passage from chapter two declares how we must seek after wisdom, knowledge and understanding. We can't lackadaisically approach the knowledge of God. We've got to go forth with zeal and gumption.
"My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God." Proverbs 2:1-5
(Think about the last time you searched for something you really wanted -- a car, a new mortgage rate, a vacation package, a new outfit, whatever. Now, we can ask ourselves, do we seek God's understanding, knowledge and wisdom that diligently? Do we seek for it like a hidden treasure -- because it is a hidden treasure?)
"For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee" Proverbs 2:6-10
The Book of Proverbs is loaded with references about the importance and value of understanding. Here are a few more. If you don't already have a good concordance, you should get one. A concordance will help you to find scriptures in the Bible. You can look up key words, such as, baptism, understanding, children, ANYTHING, and find all the scriptures that pertain to that subject. Concordances are wonderful tools for studying the word of God.
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her." Proverbs 3:13-18
"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many." Proverbs 4:5-10
"Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart." Proverbs 8:1-5
God wants us to have understanding. But, we've got to take the effort to seek out God and ask for it.
"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!" Proverbs 16:16
Here are a few examples of God's will for us to have understanding from the New Testament.
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God ..." Collosians 1:9-10
"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." 1 Corinthians 14:20
"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." 2 Timothy 2:7
If you want understanding on a matter. Ask God. He will give it to you.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:5-8
Keep in mind that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). If you want an example of someone who worked very hard at finding God's wisdom and understanding, read about Daniel. He fasted; he prayed; he searched the scriptures; he refused to bow to undgodly standards and a mediocre walk with God. God rewarded him with unbelievable knowledge and understanding. But, Daniel worked hard to get to that spot. But, sometimes it's easier to say -- "Well, we'll understand it better by and by."
"They that seek the LORD understand all things." Proverbs 28:5