Do you understand?
I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, “How will all this finally end, my lord?” Daniel 12:8
This passage of scripture grabbed my attention earlier this morning as I was getting ready to get out of bed. Daniel here, was being lectured by Michael on the latter days or end times, as most people know it.
The times we live in has been tagged as the information age – we can access literally anything on a whim – how to write a book in 10 days, build your confidence in 24 hours, attract a guy, find a man and keep him in a day, make a million in one year .. .just reach up and grab it … the list goes on. The chockfull information unfortunately has not been able to eradicate or minimize the quest for understanding; if anything, it has increased it.
Prophet Danny wrote about hearing what was said but not understanding. And to get clarity, he asked a question – How? Just as reading does not translate assimilation, hearing also does not equate understanding.
I have been thinking about this since morning and have continuously asked myself these questions:
- What have you heard lately?
- Do you understand what was meant?
- Have you asked for clarity?
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established. Proverbs 24:3
Yes, for lack of knowledge the people perish, but I would like to excel above and beyond hearing what was said (knowledge acquisition – being built) to understanding what was meant (life application –being established).
May God help us!