The Precepts and Understanding # 1

The Precepts and Understanding # 1

"A man of understanding will obtain guidance" (Proverbs 1:5).

"Understanding shall guard you" (Proverbs 2:11).

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver" (Proverbs 16:16).

"Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools" (Proverbs 16:22).

"He who cherishes understanding prospers" (Proverbs 19:8).

Do we really believe those statements? Re-read them slowly, and then answer our question. If we did, would we not more earnestly and diligently seek to respond to that injunction, "Though it cost all you have - get understanding!" (Prov. 4:7)? But what is meant by "understanding" in these passages? Not book learning or intellectual instruction, for there are many educated fools. Rather, holy prudence, spiritual knowledge, pious discernment and intuition, godly wisdom. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Prov. 9:10). "He who chases fantasies is void of understanding" (Prov. 12:11). "He who hears reproof gets understanding" (Prov. 15:32). "Those who seek the Lord understand all things" (Prov. 28:5).

How many of the Lord's people there are, who feel that to a large extent, they are lacking such understanding.

How often are they conscious of being lacking in spiritual discernment, that the eyes of their hearts are defective in vision. They deplore the foolish mistakes which they so frequently make and wish they had "good judgment." Now the Word of God makes known how that lack may be supplied and that defect remedied - and in language so plain and simple that the unlettered can grasp it - and points to an antidote which is not beyond the reach of the poor and untalented.

"The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes" (Psalm 19:8). "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light" (Prov. 6:23). "A good understanding have all those who do his commandments" (Psalm 111:10). "Through your precepts I get understanding" (Psalm 119:04).

And again we ask, do we really believe those statements? It is by making the Divine precepts the regulators of our character and conduct - that clear vision, holy wisdom, and a good judgment become our portion.

By nature, our understanding is darkened (Eph. 4:18), and just so far as the Christian is regulated by his fleshly inclinations, is his judgment clouded. Sin blinds and deceives, and we are only delivered from its obscuring and deluding effects - to the extent that we are governed by God's precepts. It is not only wise to obey them - but we become wiser in so doing. It is only as we are in practical subjection to the Divine Law that the clouds produced by our lusts and passions are dispelled, and we are able to see clearly. "By the Law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20); and therefore, it is by its precepts we are prepared to understand and appreciate the Gospel, as it is by the precepts of the Gospel, that we learn our need of drawing upon the fullness there is in Christ for His people. There is not only pleasure for the soul to be found in walking in the Law of the Lord - but profit as well. Obedience to the Divine will begets wisdom of heart. The way to increase in spiritual understanding is to be studious of practical holiness, thereby we learn to distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil.

"Through your precepts I get understanding" (Psalm 119:104).

1. Understanding of the Divine character. Those precepts are not only expressions of God's will - but also of His wisdom. They are not only mandates of His authority -but manifestations of His moral perfections too. As we ponder the substance and nature of those precepts - we the better perceive the spirituality, the goodness, the righteousness, the holiness of their Author.

The perfections of God shine forth through His precepts. They reveal His benevolence and benignity, His solicitude for the welfare of His people - for the keeping of those precepts is not only for His glory - but our good. We do not forsake our own mercies - when we ignore them. "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good" (Romans 7:12); and the more we meditate upon it and submit to its requirements, the more do we apprehend the excellency of Him who gave it to us.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)