LIGHT OF UNDERSTANDING

“The entrance of Your words give LIGHT; it gives UNDERSTANDING to the simple” – Psalms 119: 130

The LIGHT of UNDERSTANDING is the platform for outstanding living: “The entrance of Your words give LIGHT; it gives UNDERSTANDING to the simple” (Psa.119:130). The Light of Understanding is a Product of God’s Word! This psalm highlights some benefits of understanding. The Psalmist pleaded: “I am Your servant; give me understanding that I may know Your testimonies” (v.125). Understanding provides the platform in our hearts for the Lord to work and for His Word to produce testimonies (v.126). Therein God orders our steps; gives us dominion over iniquity; delivers us from oppression; and shines His face upon us (v.133-135). Understanding matters to living: “give me understanding and I shall live” (v.144).

Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding are intricately connected: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Pro.2:6). Understanding works with Wisdom: “GET WISDOM, GET UNDERSTANDING: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth” (Pro.4:5). In other words, add understanding to your Pursuit of wisdom: “The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens” (Pro.3:19). Understanding never negates wisdom: “Does not wisdom cry, and understanding lift up her voice?” (Pro.8:1). Rather, they always complement: “He who gets Wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good” (Pro.19:8).

“Through WISDOM a house is built, and by UNDERSTANDING it is established; by KNOWLEDGE the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches” (Pro.24:3-4). Knowledge gives information, the WHAT; Wisdom the HOW; Understanding unravels the WHY! Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30). Knowledge is never sufficient without Wisdom and Understanding. Knowledge in isolation “puffs up” and “shall vanish away” (1Cor.8:1; 13:8). That’s why some people are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2Tim.3:7). Understanding unravels the essence of knowledge and wisdom.

The Understanding that comes from God differs from the natural or soulish: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding…Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.” (Pro.3:5-7). This Light of Understanding comes through Prayer and the entrance of God’s Word: “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know…” (Eph.1:18a). This demands committed processing of Knowledge, digging deep to mine the meanings, lessons, and blessings encoded in a body of knowledge. Other people may have access to similar information, yet remain in mediocrity. Practically, Confession and Meditation are the gates into Understanding: “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psa.119:99).

As you meditate in God’s Word, His Spirit opens the eyes of your understanding, making you of “quick understanding” (Eph.1:18). He ignites your understanding to become supernaturally smart in making sense of life’s issues and eternal realities. Your depth of understanding determines how outstanding you become in life. Understanding helps you to tap into the fullest benefits of knowledge; to actualize all you have acquired through knowledge, and obtain tangible results. It is by understanding that the believer walks in the realities of redemption: in dominion over sin, Satan and demons, divine healing, marital bliss, covenant wealth, and prosperity. Understanding is a key secret of Favour: “Good understanding gains favour, but the way of the unfaithful is hard” (Pro.13:15).

Understanding and wisdom enhance profitable application of knowledge, making the believer to: “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work…” (Col.1:9-10). The three together produce profound results: “For the LORD gives WISDOM; from His mouth come KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING. He lays up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. He guards the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; UNDERSTANDING WILL KEEP YOU” (Pro.2:7-11). Understanding will keep you safe and secure, navigating through this world that’s covered with darkness!