More Word to the World

Prov 2:9-10
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

Prov 2:9-10
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair — every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. NIV

As we return to our study after a short break, let us review those three recurring and interlinked topics found throughout Proverbs. Knowledge is acquired information; understanding is the ability to discern between information that is useless and useful; wisdom is the ability to apply understanding to everyday situations. We will now explore the topic, the value of wisdom. Today’s verses show just how interconnected these ideas are. It is advantageous for a person to possess wisdom for when wisdom enters your heart, it will also carry with it the benefits of understanding. The NIV says along with wisdom comes a good understanding of justice—“what is right, just and fair – every good path.” If you remember, good discerning skills come with understanding. So when wisdom enters your heart, you also gain the benefits of understanding. Seek to increase wisdom daily and over time you will find that your discerning skills also increase allowing you to make fair judgments more readily.

Prov 1:3-4
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

Prov 1:3-4
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young. NLT

In the first six verses of chapter one, Solomon states his reason for writing the Book of Proverbs. We have been talking about the three prominent words found in the Book, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. If we wrote a single paragraph summarizing Proverbs, those topics would have to be included. Allow me restate the very important connection between these words. Knowledge is information we acquire. Understanding is what we gain as we examine and weigh the value of that information. Wisdom is the skill of putting understanding to work in everyday living. One is directly connected to the next. But do not think of these as simply phases that we pass through to not return to again. Think of these as points on a circle that we continually pass through on our journey. Acquire more knowledge, apply more understanding, and put wisdom to work. Then start again and acquire more knowledge. These skills grow in us as we intentionally and diligently work through the cycle. Studying Proverbs allows us to “receive the instruction of wisdom,” and although we were simple and inexperienced when we began, the study will “give insight to the simple.” So keep studying.

Prov 14:33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

Prov 14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known. NKJV

In Proverbs chapter four, we saw the imperatives: “get wisdom, get understanding,” and, “with all thy getting, get understanding.” To get understanding means to diligently dig into information and discern, or weed out what is not useful and retain what is. After all that digging, evaluating and weighing the available facts, you gain a clear understanding of the important issues, and as a byproduct of that effort, something gets deposited into your heart. Today’s verse says wisdom “resteth in the heart” of those with understanding. Other translations say wisdom “reposes” or “is enshrined” in the heart. If we put forth the effort to seek understanding, that effort becomes the link to developing and storing wisdom in our heart, and as we saw last time, wisdom ultimately finds its way into our words as well. In contrast, the fool, through his course of foolish actions, deposits foolishness into his heart that ultimately ends up being made known or blurted out.

Prov 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

Prov 10:23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,
but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. NIV

Before we move to the next topic, wisdom, we are looking at the connection between understanding and wisdom. The last time we saw that as we develop understanding, it leads to the increase of wisdom that comes from our mouth. That happens as a natural progression. As we gain understanding, it also will change the things in which we find pleasure. He that lacks understanding, in other words, the fool, finds pleasure in doing wickedness. But the one who has gained understanding “delights in wisdom.” Shallow and depraved entertainment does not bring him pleasure. He delights in higher things. The KJV says he “hath wisdom” but other translations indicate he “delights” in wisdom. That is another reason that understanding leads us to wisdom, because the more understanding we gain, the more we crave wisdom.

Prov 10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

Prov 10:13 On the lips of him who has discernment skillful and godly Wisdom is found, but discipline and the rod are for the back of him who is without sense and understanding. AMP

We will move on from the discussion of understanding soon, but in transition, we will see how understanding ties into our next topic—wisdom. We began our current study by looking at the difference between knowledge, understanding and wisdom. One is like grade school, the next like high school, and the third like the university. It is necessary to complete one before moving on to the next, yet we should not stop with the completion of one because there is always more room to advance. Even in the final level, wisdom, there is always more room to grow as we repeat the cycle of obtaining more knowledge and understanding. As we learn to use our understanding, or as the Amplified puts it, our “discernment,” we will find that we have a few wise things to speak—more than we did before we focused on gaining understanding. If we seek to get understanding, it ultimately arrives and develops into wisdom. If we do not seek after understanding from life’s teaching points, we will be stuck at the same grade level and the teacher (life experiences) will strike us with the rod of correction (something like grandma’s switch) as the lesson gets repeated over again until we learn it.

Prov 4:5, 7
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Prov 4:5, 7
5 Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!
Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!
7 Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! THE MESSAGE

Understanding is the ability to gather knowledge and decide what among that knowledge is useful and what is not. It is like having good discerning and judgment skills.  We have seen these benefits of obtaining understanding: knowing when to hold one’s tongue; being happy; gaining favor of others; and walking uprightly. We have also examined how to obtain understanding: by drawing out and listening to counsel; by accepting correction and reproof; and by increasing knowledge of God. That is a lot to chew on, but demonstrates how valuable it is to possess the characteristic of understanding. Therefore, get it! I like the way The Message sums it: “Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!” Do not be content with a life without understanding. Go after it. Treasure it. Put some of these tools to work and get it.

Prov 19:25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

Prov 19:25 If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson;
if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser. NLT

We have already seen (in 15:32) that when one receives reproof, they gain understanding. Today’s verse states the same principle but takes a deeper look at the underlying reason. The idea is very simple. In fact, it is so simple that even the simple learn a lesson from reproof/punishment. When I was around nine years old, my mother was singing a patriotic song while folding clothes. I must have been feeling unpatriotic that day, because I remember mocking my mother and telling her, “Shut up. Shut up!” Yes, I was a baaaad boy. Not realizing that my father was in the house, I continued to disrespect her in this way. My dad had enough of this scorner and made a surprise entry into the room and smote the scorner and reproved him with strong words. This simple boy sure learned a quick lesson. That may have been the very last time I told my mother to shut up. That smiting and reproof made a lasting impression on me because I gained clear knowledge of the connection between choices and consequences and gained valuable understanding. Isn’t that simple?

Prov 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Prov 20:5 The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out. NIV

How can I obtain understanding? Another way is to “draw out” counsel. We already mentioned that a person of understanding seeks counsel and does not trust his own knowledge when we looked at Proverbs 1:5. However, this verse places a strong emphasis on the effort of the “man of understanding.” He “draws out” counsel. That phrase comes from the Hebrew word, “dalah,” which refers to letting down a bucket as into a well, to obtain the treasured water well below the surface. Do you want to be a person of understanding? Do not be satisfied with a superficial understanding of an important matter. Dig deeply into the heart of the matter to discover its cause and purpose.

Prov 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Prov 9:10 For the reverence and fear of God are basic to all wisdom. Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding. TLB

Another way to gain understanding is to obtain knowledge of the holy.  Several translations use “Holy One,” so the idea is accurately reflected in the Living Bible as, “knowing God.” How can I gain understanding? Get to know God. The more you know about God and the better you get to know God, the more understanding you will have. The two ideas presented here are: In order to gain understanding, (1) study God’s Word and (2) develop a personal relationship with God. For those like many of you who regularly study the Word and make a relationship with God a priority, you have already reaped some of the fruit of that effort. To increase understanding, keep up that effort. And most of us can stand to intensify that effort.

Prov 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Prov 15:32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;
but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. NLT

We have looked at some of the benefits of having understanding, like knowing when to keep silent, gaining favor, and knowing the path to walk. But how may I obtain understanding? One way to grow in understanding is to listen to reproof or correction. Remember that understanding is the ability to discern between information that is useless and useful. A very handy way to increase our discerning skills is to pay attention to those in authority over us when they offer their insight. Whether it is a parent, partner, pastor, or supervisor, when you take in words of reproof or correction in a situation in which you made a mistake, you will increase in understanding. We need reproof when we do something wrong so that we can find and get on the correct path. Heeding correction, therefore, allows us to gain understanding. Watch for your own defensive remarks when you receive reproof. That is a sign you are rejecting reproof and “you only harm yourself.”