On Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding
In the Old testament, we see that In I Ki 3:5-14
[5] In
[6] And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
[7] And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
[8] And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
[9] Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
[10] And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
[11] And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
[12] Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
[13] And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
[14] And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
Here we see that King Solomon entreated for an understanding heart. In doing this, he demonstrated humility, in acknowledging that “great people who could not be numbered,” were not his people, nor his father David’s people. They were God’s people. In response to this humility, God gave King Solomon a store of wisdom greater than any King before or after. What we many times fail to note, is that God gave him riches and honor above these things, and that his wisdom did not have a causal relationship to his wealth.
The inspiration for this lesson, was the observation in Ec 1:10,
[10] Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
This would appear to be in direct contradiction to the verse in 7:29
[29] Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Are these inventions then “new things?” We see that Bhudists and Hindus will commonly look to a cyclic nature, and call it re-incarnation. While we know in Heb 9:27
[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
we must suppose that what we call “inventions” are not new things, but things that were before, that have finally been brought to fruition.
Pr 8:[12] I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions
However, if we did not know the answer, to why King Solomon asked the question, “Is there any new thing?” We would not be faulted in anything, other than not having the complete wisdom of King Solomon in our person. This is an opportunity for us to whet our faith, by observing that there is an apparent contradiction, but on Judgement day, we could approach King Solomon personally and query him on it, and fully expect to get an answer. Any lingering doubts should be addressed by the further question, “If he sat down and explained the answer to you, would you actually understand it?”
In looking at these passages, and the book of Proverbs in general, we see that there are three words to describe thought processes: Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. Each is defined in scripture. The order that I present here is
1. Knowledge.
2. Understanding.
3. Wisdom
Knowledge: If you look through scripture, the most common use of the word knowledge is in context such that Jno 17:17
[17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Is knowledge. The Lord’s word contains all truth pertaining to Life and Godliness, and thus “the word that gives faith” (Ro 10:17) is knowledge, but knowledge about Rocket science, and Brain Surgery also exist.
Understanding: This word is more easily defined directly from scripture. In Pr 9:
[10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Here we see what understanding in the context of the Lord’s word is: knowing the holy (I suggest the holy is the Lord’s word here,) is understanding in exactly the same way as keeping God’s commandments is to know him in I Jno 2:3
Finally we look at Wisdom defined: Ps 111:10
[10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
And Pr 9:10
[10] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Both speak of the beginning of Wisdom being the “fear of the Lord.” In context, the word beginning indicates that wisdom is a process, not an instant on/off thing.
In earthly terms then, how do we resolve these together? I would suggest the following examples.
1. A Gun.
Knowledge is demonstrated in acknowledging the fact “This is a gun. It shoots a projectile.”
Understanding is demonstrated by the following.
“It has a twist in the barrel to spin the bullet, and compensate for Bernoulli’s principle.”
“It has a passage for gas to use recoil to rack the action automatically.”
“The cartridge has the shape of a wine magnum, to create far more pressure on the bullet than expanding gas could on its own.”
“The powder is made to burn at a certain rate.”
We could go on.
Wisdom is demonstrated in this way:
“We shoot high when aiming uphill, and low when shooting downhill, to compensate for the arc of gravity.”
“We remember the cone of dispersion, and do not attempt to hit a target that is too far away for our equipment to reasonably be accurate.
“We look beyond our target, and make sure we do not harm anything else either by missing, or by over penetration.”
“When we hunt for food, we surprise the animal, and we kill it mercifully if at all possible.”
I will use this gun to the glory of God.
2. A computer:
Knowledge is demonstrated in acknowledging the fact “This is a computer. It runs by electricity, and processes data for human use.”
“It has components both internal and external.”
Etc.
Understanding is demonstrated by the following.
“It has a particular Operating system.”
“Operating systems and programs are written in various languages.”
“Each language can be used to write Sorts and Databases and other things.”
In fact, the things there are to understand computers are so many, they are beyond mastery of any single person.
Wisdom is demonstrated in this way:
“I will use this computer to organize data, so that an Insurance company can fairly compensate all claimants.”
“I will use the computer to keep track of pricing for a Grocery store.”
“I will use the computer to serve the Lord by making Bible lessons.”
I will use this Computer to the Glory of God.
3. A bicycle:
Knowledge is demonstrated in acknowledging the fact “This is a bicycle. You can ride it.”
Understanding is demonstrated by the following.
“It has a gear ratio between the front gear and the rear to make it go faster or slower when you pedal.”
“It has ball bearings that may be housed in a race, to save on wear and tear.”
“The wheels are not supported by the spokes from the axle down, but rather hang suspended from the top of the rim.”
“The rim can be ‘trued’ or straightened, but tightening and loosening different spokes.”
Wisdom is demonstrated in this way:
I will use this bicycle in a weight loss program.
I will use this bicycle to get Medication for poor people from the pharmacy.
I will use this bicycle to the glory of God.
Sometimes, we make the mistake of thinking that wisdom causes riches. At first, this might appear to be born out by Pr 14
[24] The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
However, we should understand that wisdom does not actually cause wealth, but rather crowns it. By reviewing, we can recall that the beginning of wisdom is “the fear of the Lord.”
What are the other things we can know about this “fear of the Lord?”
1. Pr 8:
[13] The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Here we see that if we do not actually hate the evil, we have not begun the steps to wisdom. So when I look at a TV program where the producers “make a mock at sin,” (Pr 14:9,)
[9] Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
I need to evaluate myself sincerely as to whether I honestly hate that evil. We know that we hate the evil/sin, and not the evil doer/sinner, when we can “understand their end” (Ps 73:17 ff.)
Ps 73
[1] Truly God is good to
[2] But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
[3] For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
[4] For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
[5] They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
[6] Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
[7] Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
[8] They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
[9] They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
[10] Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
[11] And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
[12] Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
[13] Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
[14] For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
[15] If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
[16] When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
[17] Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
[18] Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
[19] How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
[20] As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
[21] Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
[22] So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
[23] Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
[24] Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
[25] Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
[26] My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
[27] For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
[28] But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Even if we do not understand their end, this exercise is well worth doing, because we see that Pr 16:
[6] By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Here we see that this causes us to depart from evil. It is very interesting to note, that in the same context, the wise man also mentions “mercy and truth.” This purges iniquity, both from our hearts, and possibly by word or example from the hearts of those around us. How then do we begin? Pr 14:
[22] Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
This brings us to a very good and fruitful starting place. It has the added advantage that it establishes our thoughts also: Pr 16:[3] Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Let us now return to the discussion of paradox.
In Pr 9:
[7] He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
[8] Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
[9] Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
We see a question: in vs 8, if a man was truly wise, when would he ever need a rebuke? In spite of the fact that he was wise, the man in vs 8 still at some point needed a rebuke. We look carefully in vs 7, to see that we should know our audience when we set out foot to this path though, and rebuke advisedly.
We often teach that there are no contradictions in the bible (the law that we study to approach the lawgiver.) Let’s look at Pr 26:
4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
[5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
To answer this, we most commonly turn to Ecc 3:1-ff. However, we might observe another thing. Paradox has the use of making a person “fish or cut bait.” Consider a dictionary. If you cannot read English, what good is it to you? None at all. On the other hand, if you do know English, why would you ever need it? An obvious paradox. In spite of this, we do not question the need and use of dictionaries. In the same way, we should consider that bible verses are good and correct, without having to reconcile every apparent contradiction. If the bible speed limit was 70 spiritual miles a lifetime, and the Thessalonians were going 90, and the Galatians were going 45, they would each get different messages. The bible message has not changed.
Finally in closing, we should look at our worthy goal in seeking wisdom. What does wisdom get for us?
Pr 11: [30] The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Here we see an excellent measure of our wisdom. Stay well, devise good, seek wisdom.
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