Devo 16: A Cry for Understanding

Proverbs 2: 1-5

1 My son, if you receive my words,
   And treasure my commands within you,

2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
   And apply your heart to understanding;

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
   And lift up your voice for understanding,

4 If you seek her as silver,
   And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
   And find the knowledge of God.

This passage in the book of Proverbs has been reverberating in me lately, “God, give me understanding!” I have found that this cry for understanding is not only prevalent in Proverbs, but throughout the Bible. In countless passages, the Lord highlights this cry for understanding so much that it must become a part of our daily lives.

Proverbs 1:5-6 says, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.” When I think of this verse, I think of Daniel.

Similar language is used in Daniel 5:12; the queen comes to Belteshazzar when the hand writes on the wall and says, “Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel…” This definition of Daniel’s wisdom is almost identical to Proverbs 1:5-6.

Likewise, in Daniel 2, Daniel lifts up the name of the Lord after he reveals the dream and its meaning to Nebuchadnezzar and says, “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding, He reveals the deep and secret things…” Daniel was known as a man of understanding and wisdom. He sought the Lord daily even in the midst of trying circumstances and lived a life of faithful dedication to the Lord. The Lord was glorified through his life and many secrets about things to come were revealed to him.

In I Corinthians 2, Paul speaks about the wisdom of God that has been ordained through the ages (vs. 7), and how those deeps things will be revealed to us through His spirit (vs. 10ff). He says that the natural man does not receive the things of the spirit because they are spiritually discerned (vs.14).

I believe it was for this reason that Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened…” (Eph. 1:17-18).

When I ponder wisdom and understanding, I also think of Isaiah 11:2 where Isaiah prophesied of Jesus (the branch of David from the root of Jesse) that the Spirit of YHVH, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, might, and the fear of the Lord would rest on him. I believe this is “all the fullness of God” that Paul also prayed for in Ephesians 3:19. Although it is debated, I also believe these are the “seven spirits of God” before the throne in Revelation 4:5.

We need understanding and revelation to even begin to understand the knowledge of God. We need to be “transformed by the renewing of our mind” (Rom. 12:2) so that we can discern by the spirit rather than our natural man. The writer of Psalm 119 knew that he needed understanding in order to keep the Word. He says, “Give me understanding and I shall keep your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Ps.119:34).

Therefore, this cry for understanding has to become a cry of our hearts. If we ask for understanding, the Lord will give it to us, but it is more than just asking. It is a deep, heartfelt cry for more understanding of His ways. Even if you don’t yet feel the cry, just begin praying daily for understanding, and you will find you begin to long for it.

So, this week, set aside 20 minutes each day to quiet yourself before the Lord and meditate on Proverbs 2:1-5. Ask the Lord to make it a cry of your heart and cry out for understanding that you would be filled all the fullness of God.

Love,

Amanda

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