The gift of discernment is so wrought up with the gifts of wisdom and knowledge that the very same episode of Solomons request in 2Chronicles 1:10-12 is related in 1Kings 3:9, 11 as: Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? (9) ... Then God said to him: Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice... (11) In 2Chronicles 1:10-12, Solomon asked for, and was given wisdom and knowledge. In 1Kings 3:9, 11, Solomon asked for and was given discernment. But these two excerpts are one and the same story. In other words, discernment, wisdom and knowledge go together. That much is clear. However, we must clarify something else: Discernment, wisdom and knowledge are not to be confined to kings like Solomon. Paul in Philippians 1:10 exhorts his converts, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.... Discernment, the ability to distinguish between good and evil, is necessary to remain pure and blameless while awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. Discernment is not possible without wisdom and knowledge, because all three come together in one package. And discernment, wisdom and knowledge must be learned by ALL who believe in and await Christ. Job 34:4 enjoins, Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. Discernment is not meant for kings, priests and prophets alone; it is meant for the masses of believers. Ezekiel 44:23 demands of the priests, “And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. In fact, priests are commanded to teach discernment to the people! And not only that. Hebrews 5:14 REQUIRES the EXERCISE of our senses to DISCERN both good and evil so that we can mature in the faith and be given the solid food of the Holy Spirit! But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14) So why am I so concerned that Christians exercise discernment, wisdom and knowledge and not just swallow every hook, line and sinker that come their way? Because I can glean a laziness of intellect that leads to an acceptance of rank evil in sheeps clothes. What leads to this acceptance? The lack of discernment, wisdom and knowledge. In the Complete Word Study Bible, one antonym for discernment is the Greek word agnoema. Do you know what agnoema means? Brace yourself. It means IGNORANCE.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 10:03:57 +0000
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