Proverbs 2:3-5..."3) Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4) If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5) Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines discernment as being able to grasp and comprehend what is not clear. When you ask God in prayer for discernment, you’re asking for understanding of God’s hidden treasures. These hidden treasures, are godly principles that help you develop the godly character that makes one in right-standing in God’s eyes. These hidden treasures are only reserved for those who choose to seek God on their own. God will never force anyone to choose Him over worldly wisdom, which is of the devil (Titus 2:12 ).

That is why in Job 17:4, Job says, “You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore you will not let them triumph.” Job is referring to people who know or have been told about God, but still choose to live according to the worldly ways or as Proverbs 2:13 describes it, “walk in the ways of darkness.” They deny God, so even if truth is explained to them they will not understand, their minds will be closed.

Proverbs 2 starts with a very father-like request by God to His children, it reads, “My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you." Our relationship with God, whether we believe it or not, is very much like a natural father and son relationship. And, just like a father and son relationship, we as children of God can choose to disobey and not heed our father.

The difference between or earthly father and God, is that God is perfect— our earthly father is not. Even thou our earthly father is not perfect, and some are more imperfect than others, every father wants what’s best for his child. Although I speak of earthly fathers as imperfect, Jesus takes it one step further and calls earthly fathers evil. We find this in Matthew 7:11, which reads, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

If God were a natural father, who was physically there and interacting with us on a daily basis, I believe more people would take heed to what God is saying to us throughout the Bible. The problem is, as physical human beings, we find it difficult to relate to God, who initially does not seem real to us.

Because God is spirit and of a different world than we are, people just find it difficult to adjust to a relationship that is so different from what we are use to. Even those who choose to worship God and want to develop godly character, find it difficult to develop the relationship. I know my struggles early on in my new born-again life were directly related to this problem.

That is why throughout the entire Bible we are told to seek God through knowledge and understanding. The more time we dedicate to reading the Bible, which is God our Father in the physical realm, the faster we will discern our Father and begin to love Him as we would our earthly Fathers.

The Bible is our Fathers instruction— it is Him speaking directly to us. We in this generation of mankind, have more access to our Father than any generation prior. The Bible speaks of an abundance of knowledge that will come in the end times— and we are certainly in the end times, because that abundance of knowledge is available to us. You do not even have to buy a Bible anymore— if you have internet access you can get the Bible free online at www.biblegateway.com. Not only can you get the Bible, but it comes in multiple languages and translations. Yet, our generation is growing more perverse, than any other generation since the time of Noah.

It’s ironic because, the days of Noah were highlighted by the fact that God needed to wipe man off the face of the earth to start fresh because man became so perverse in his ways. Except for Noah and his family, which God preserved to re-populate the earth, all other men were destroyed. What makes this ironic, is when Jesus was asked about what would be the signs of the end and when they will happen— Jesus responded by saying in verse 36, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

Jesus went on to give us a hint of what to look for in our societies as a sign that the end is near, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Although we have more access to godly knowledge than ever before, our societies are growing more, and more perverse.

Yet, when you read the entire chapter of Proverbs 2, and really listen and believe what you are reading is coming from your Father who truly cares for you, and wants everything good for you, and through Jesus has put everything into place so you can have His best for you, you should do what most children would do with their earthly father whom they care for and love— you should obey! Because He, like our earthly fathers who teach us from experience— He knows best!

If you would like to read Proverbs chapter 2 in its entirety, click here. In the mean time, I urge you to do as God says and seek his wisdom, His knowledge, and understanding. He will not let you down— as Jesus said in Luke 11:9-10, “9) So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10) For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

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