The distinction between worldly wisdom and divine wisdom.
This world's wisdom is quite limited because it's human.
It's self-reliant.
Proverbs 14 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
The best of this world's wisdom is laughable, foolishness in the mind of God.
Divine wisdom is transcendent; it's God dependent; it's plugging in to the next level.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not unto thine own understanding, and all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Meaning God wants to participate.
Let's explore this word “discernment” deeply from the Hebrew perspective. And, I love the God who gave us multiple languages so that we can look at things from different angles.
The word “bînâ” is understanding, discernment, insight.
We let the Bible define the Bible. Here, it's used in the Proverbs for get wisdom, get understanding …forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”
Go after it right? The word here “bînâ” means to discern, to understand. But, here it is to consider.
Notice. It's another level. It's perception on a spiritual level. It's insight that only God can provide. It's of course attentive, considering diligently.
It does require mutual participation. I have to be present and God has to be present for active discernment. The word cunning…What a great word! Skillful, eloquent … like an instructor, one gifted, infused with the Spirit of God for delivery to get the message across.
“To discern” is to cause something to become separate by distinction. What is the difference between green and blue?
Discern— to make something extremely clear by strong contrast.
We call it knockout lettering. White, bold, courageous letters on a deep velvet dark backdrop to perceive differences with the physical senses, but also with the spiritual senses. To see what is truly good, to detect an error, to clarify what seems foggy.
What is discernment? It's razor sharp skill in cutting that which needs to be divided, pointing out distinguishing characteristics, making the evil appear abundantly evil, and making the good exceedingly, gloriously good. This is spiritual discernment.
It goes well beyond mere mortal intelligence. Do not trust in your own perception, but instead rely on spiritual perception.
We, with the gift of discernment. We can evaluate elements other people naturally find confusing or complex. They reach their limitations of computing power, and they don't understand how to separate. And, so they join and merge and blend and get confused over things that don't belong together. Right?
Discernment has a purpose to envision potential outcomes. If we slice it right here, and if we slide this far to the right and slide that far to the left, we can prevent some problems.
Discernment is a gift of God. Noticeably, it dwelled within Daniel. Many kings noticed that Daniel had the power to make discerning decisions under the guidance of God.
There's another word for discernment— “mᵊzimmâ” in the Hebrew “mᵊzimmâ”. I'm not pronouncing it perfectly because I'm not Hebrew. But discretion, thoughtfulness, prudent discernment. Here in Proverbs Chapter 1, it says…
The whole purpose of Proverbs is what? “To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.”
That word discretion implies the act of planning, usually from an evil mindset, which is machination. To machine together an evil construction that forces one's will to gain personal wealth or personal notoriety. Sometimes, this planning can be used for good.
Sagacity. Sagacity? Isn't that a great word? Come on! Try to say it with me.
Ready? SA-GA-CI-TY.
Now there can be a wicked device. But there can also be a gloriously un-wicked devising.
Discretion is the intent.
A witty invention…
You ever wished you could be an inventor, or that one of your inventions would come to reality? You could be mischievous as an evil device, or you can have creative thought infused by the Creator.
This power of discretion can be used for great good or great evil.
To purpose, to plot, to plan craftiness.
The power of devising, a blueprint to make something come to be.
Psalm 21:11, “For they intended evil against Thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.”
So, this is speaking negatively. And, sometimes the negative really highlights the positive, right?
So, we can intend the opposite of evil and mischievous mischief and mischievousness.
Proverbs 24, “He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.”
Well, what's the opposite of that? Right. That should be the question. Why is that even in there? Well, it's to warn people to not be a blazing idiot, to be the opposite.
Discernment in Scripture involves the ability from on High to make a careful distinction, to separate truth from falsehood, to perceive beyond surface appearances. It's not merely intellectual, but it is significantly spiritual in nature.
It is another sense. It's not just tasting or listening with the ears or sensing. It is spiritual alertness and awareness as to what is wrong and what is right.
Who is the Source of this discernment? This dividing?
“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.”
How? From the Source.
Here, we see that discernment isn't just an optional step, but a divine gift that enables righteous living. It's purposeful. It's the spiritual faculty that helps navigate safely between right and wrong, between truth and deception, which is always trying to trick us.
Another important verse showing how discernment functions as our protector says in Proverbs 2, “Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;”
That's belligerent, blunt, rebellious, courageously corrupt evil things.
Well, most people often rush on ahead toward capturing wisdom without cultivating the necessary foundation.
First of discernment in the progression of Proverbs, we will find that discernment acts as the spiritual sensor that allows us to properly apply knowledge.
Without discernment, knowledge remains merely intellectual and human, rather than transformative and supernatural.
The best wisdom cannot be exercised apart from discernment from God.
The next section will cover is the six steps towards wisdom.
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