SORRY, BUT SOME THINGS CAN "ONLY" BE UNDERSTOOD THROUGH REVELATION AND NOT INTELLECT

            ENLIGHTEN

UNDERSTANDING THROUGH REVELATION

“…LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING…” (PROVERBS 3:5 KJV).

*

The bible admonishes us not to trust in our own understanding about life. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).

To understand can mean to distinguish, or to know, or have the aptitude to discern one thing from another, or be aware of the meaning of something. To understand can also mean to have the ability to reflect rationally about matters pertaining to life or godliness. Understanding is encouraged.  “…Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and WITH ALL THEY GETTING GET UNDERSTANDING…” (Proverbs 4:7 KJV).

Most understanding comes from cognitive, emotional, or intellectual awareness (mind/heart) derived from human efforts, but the ability to truly understand comes from God. “…THE LORD GIVE THEE UNDERSTANDING IN ALL THINGS…” (2 Timothy 2:7 KJV).

Human understanding is limited to one’s knowledge of something or their personal experiences. Human understanding of life has been broken and damaged by sin and cannot be relied upon to direct you in things pertaining to life and godliness. God gives you “...ALL things (including understanding) that pertain unto life and godliness…” (John 19:30; 2 Peter 1:3 KJV).

Relying upon human understanding is like asking for failure in many instances. In every manner, for every concern, or decision, and in all your ways acknowledge God. “…In all thy ways acknowledge him…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).

Acknowledging God in everything that concerns you is recognizing that God’s understanding of life FAR exceeds yours. In addition, not only do you prefer God’s understanding of everything that pertains to life and godliness, but you totally trust it. “…He shall direct thy paths…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV).

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV). When you trust in the Lord with ALL your heart you will securely rely on him for help and direction.

You CAN NOT rely on your carnal understanding. This God-given life far exceeds man’s ability to understand that life. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how UNSEARCHABLE are his judgments, and his ways PAST FINDING OUT (or understanding)! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?” (Romans 11:33-34 KJV). “…GOD IS GREATER THAN WE CAN UNDERSTAND.  His years cannot be counted…” (Job 36:26 NLT).

Trusting in the Lord with all thine heart is recognition that He is the ONLY one trustworthy. “….Don't put your confidence in … people [including yourself]… there is NO HELP for you there….” (Psalms 146: 3 NLT).

It doesn’t matter how educated you are, how rationale, how wealthy, how experienced, how astute, or how famous you are; trust God only. “…we are [NOT]… sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God…” (2 Corinthians 3:5 KJV). “…whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT).

King Jehoshaphat was an experienced soldier. He had adequate human knowledge regarding war, but when he came against enemies he could not, within himself, understand how he could defeat them; he acknowledged God.

“…the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites declared war on Jehoshaphat. Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.). Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance.” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).  

He acknowledged God. “... HE PRAYED, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. …We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’ …O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” …” (2 Chronicles 20: 1-30 NLT).

Jehoshaphat did not have the human understanding necessary to come up with a plan to defeat the vast army.  “…As all the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph…” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

Jehoshaphat decided to trust God and not depend on his own understanding. God spoke to him through a prophet. “…HE SAID, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. …you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you …Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

King Jehoshaphat did not rely on his human understanding, but trusted God. God used Jahaziel to send a message to him and he acknowledged God’s guidance. “…Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.” After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

Jehoshaphat didn’t try to understand God’s methods, but put his total confidence in God. “…At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them.

After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.

….On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today. …the Lord had given them victory over their enemies.

They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets …When all the surrounding kingdoms heard that the Lord himself had fought against the enemies of Israel, the fear of God came over them. So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side… (2 Chronicles 20:1-30 NLT).

King Jehoshaphat is a witness to the WORK of indwelling faith unhindered or limited by human understanding, and an indwelling faith that is empowered with confident trust that rest in the sovereignty of God.

When you lean on your own understanding it can often be in opposition of God’s solution and God’s sovereignty. The sinful nature DARKENS human understanding. “…They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts…” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV).

Therefore, darkened, human understanding certainly DOES NOT and CAN NOT give light to spiritual or biblical matters AT ALL. “….There is none that understandeth…” (Romans 3:11a KJV). "My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good..." (Jeremiah 4:22 NIV). “…They are darkened in their understanding …” (Ephesians 4:18 NIV).

Some things can only be understood IF God reveals them to you. “…Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has REVEALED THIS TO YOU. YOU DID NOT LEARN this from any human being…” (Matthew 16:17 NLT). “….When we tell you these things, we DO NOT use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words GIVEN TO US by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual CAN’T RECEIVE these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and THEY CAN’T UNDERSTAND IT, for only those who are spiritual CAN UNDERSTAND what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But WE UNDERSTAND these things, for we have the mind of Christ…” (1 Corinthians 2 NLT).

The human understanding needs to be ENLIGHTENED.