When compared with what has already been said about Wisdom and Knowledge in Christendom today, it’s a bit surprising to find out not so much has been said about understanding, in spite of the fact that the Word says so much about it.
In the Parable of The Sower, Jesus says that the Word will not profit you in the absence of Understanding.
‘When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart…’ (Matthew 13:21).
Understanding is deeper than what you think it is and we’d be trusting our Teacher to put us in the right path to understanding Understanding.
One of the most direct definitions of Understanding is found in Proverbs 9:10. It says, ‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding’
We’re more concerned with the second portion of that verse: ‘…the knowledge of the holy is understanding’
Now, I’m aware that some translations render that verse as ‘…the knowledge of the Holy One…’, but I believe that such translations are a bit limiting. We’d appreciate why shortly.
Understanding means possessing the knowledge of the holy, therefore, we need to know what ‘holy’ means before possess its knowledge.
So, what then is the meaning of ‘holy’?
Being holy simply means being set apart for God, by God.
However, nothing can be holy without God because God is the only one with the attribute of being holy and He’s the only One capable of inputing the attribute of being holy.
This inputing happens via the presence of God.
Throughout the scriptures, it is apparent that the Presence of God is what makes a place, a thing or a person…and even a particular time, holy.
For instance, the place where the burning bush burnt in Exodus 3:5 was not said to be holy AFTER Moses’ encounter with God. Neither was the place where Joshua met with the captain of the Lord’s hosts in Joshua 5:15 referred anymore as holy after the encounter. All these places became holy as a result of God’s manifested presence!
Great! But what does this have to do with understanding?
A lot, actually.
Since God is too big to lie (Titus 1:2), whatever He says is Truth. And whatever He declares as holy by His Presence becomes just that!
So, when you have understanding, you suddenly become highly perceptive to whatever, wherever, whoever God has marked and vetted with His Presence per time!
You become highly sensitive to realities of the Ultimate Truth from God’s point of view per time!
What do you think made the men of Issachar stand out from among their peers?
‘And the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…’ (1 Chronicles 12:32)
They were sensitive to what God was doing in Israel per time. They had picked up on their receivers that in the NOW agenda of God, David was the one who has been vetted by God to be Israel’s king. As a result, they broke camp with Saul and joined David.
When Understanding is established in your heart, you cannot be stranded!
When Understanding possesses you, you cannot be at a loss, neither can you be confused!
Rather, you’d find yourself in step with God and always one step ahead of what the devil, circumstances or the world throws at you.
Today, we live in a world where there’s a dearth of men and women of understanding and the Father is earnestly seeking and searching for men and women who would avail their hearts to stay sensitive to the realities from His point of view.
Would you be part of them?
