Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, Proverbs 2:11
In our world a great number of people purchase a security system. They do so because they are wanting someone to watch over them and the things that they own so that they are safe. What we read in Proverbs today tells us that when we walk in wisdom, we are guarded and watched over by God Himself. Now that is security!
As we open ourselves up to God for Him to do His work in our lives, we will begin to watch two very helpful things begin to happen in our thinking. The first is that we will begin to have biblical discernment. The word used here for discernment is "mezimmah." It means to have prudence and discretion. When God's wisdom comes into our lives - we begin to live with prudence. This means that we begin to look things over before doing them. We are prudent in that we think about the end of the matter before doing something. The ungodly just jump into an action because it is what they want to do. But when wisdom begins to guide our way - we think about what this is going to do in the end. We ask the question, "If I do this, what is the result going to be?" If we see a bad result or a costly one, we choose not to do it. This is how we are guarded by discretion. We are guarded from making a quick decision that is not thought out beforehand. This keeps us from many problems.
The second thing we begin to experience is understanding. This is the often used word "tebunah" which refers to someone with insight. They receive the information God gives them from the Word and from His Spirit and begin to understand all things from that perspective. Their understanding will watch over them - because as with discernment - they are loathe to do something just because it is what they want - or what others want for them. They see things from God's perspective - and having seen that - they avoid danger and stupidity like the plague.
A wise man listens to God through the Word of God. That Word speaks a myriad of things to him - and helps him begin to see the world as God sees it. When that happens - he will also begin to discern the best course of action - and takes it. This habit will help make that young man or worman - a person who is protected from evil - and will watch over them for good as they learn to follow God with all their heart and soul.
In our world a great number of people purchase a security system. They do so because they are wanting someone to watch over them and the things that they own so that they are safe. What we read in Proverbs today tells us that when we walk in wisdom, we are guarded and watched over by God Himself. Now that is security!
As we open ourselves up to God for Him to do His work in our lives, we will begin to watch two very helpful things begin to happen in our thinking. The first is that we will begin to have biblical discernment. The word used here for discernment is "mezimmah." It means to have prudence and discretion. When God's wisdom comes into our lives - we begin to live with prudence. This means that we begin to look things over before doing them. We are prudent in that we think about the end of the matter before doing something. The ungodly just jump into an action because it is what they want to do. But when wisdom begins to guide our way - we think about what this is going to do in the end. We ask the question, "If I do this, what is the result going to be?" If we see a bad result or a costly one, we choose not to do it. This is how we are guarded by discretion. We are guarded from making a quick decision that is not thought out beforehand. This keeps us from many problems.
The second thing we begin to experience is understanding. This is the often used word "tebunah" which refers to someone with insight. They receive the information God gives them from the Word and from His Spirit and begin to understand all things from that perspective. Their understanding will watch over them - because as with discernment - they are loathe to do something just because it is what they want - or what others want for them. They see things from God's perspective - and having seen that - they avoid danger and stupidity like the plague.
A wise man listens to God through the Word of God. That Word speaks a myriad of things to him - and helps him begin to see the world as God sees it. When that happens - he will also begin to discern the best course of action - and takes it. This habit will help make that young man or worman - a person who is protected from evil - and will watch over them for good as they learn to follow God with all their heart and soul.
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