Discerning and Decisive
Isn’t it a wonderful thing when you know – really know
– what you should do? Often we struggle with indecision because we aren’t sure
what course to take. Indecision exists across the entire human experience.
Sometimes, indecision is personal… Should I go to school? Or take that job?
Should I move to a new city? Or stay where I am? Sometimes, indecision is among
a community or church body… Which pastor should we hire? Should we spend more money
on outreach? Sometimes, indecision occurs withing the highest levels of
government… Should we require people to wear masks? Or get vaccinated? Should
we go to war with another nation? Should we spend taxpayer’s money on certain government
programs? Indecision has been known to paralyze people, communities, churches,
and entire nations.
David recognized the vital importance of being discerning
and decisive, so he gathered people around him to aid in directing the affairs
of the nation. Uniquely chosen amongst David’s appointments of leaders were the
men from the tribe of Issachar, who were chosen to serve as intelligence
gatherers and strategists. Verse 32 says these men “had understanding of the times”
and knew “what Israel ought to do.” David wisely placed these men within his
new government because he knew the importance of being discerning and decisive
as the king.
It has been said that “knowledge” is understanding information,
while “wisdom” is knowing what to do with that information. These men from
Issachar were uniquely gifted with both knowledge and wisdom. They had the ability
to discern the times, knowing how to direct the king and the nation. Discernment
is NOT the ability to know right from wrong, it is the ability to know right
from “almost right.” What a joy it is when we are so tuned in to our Heavenly
Father in such a way that we comprehend the situation and see which path is the
right path. These men of Issachar were
perceptive about what was going on in the world around them and, as a result,
they were uniquely gifted to guide the king and the country.
In our day, it is critical that every
follower of Christ be discerning. We must understand the times in which we live
so we can be equipped to know what we ought to do. The gift of discerning of spirits is one of the most needed gifts in the Body of Christ
today. ”The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will
fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines
of demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1) Jesus's mandate that we
become "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16) implies that we must develop supernatural
discernment, the ability to detect subtle spiritual irregularities and act
accordingly.
Your Heavenly Father loves you
intensely and completely. From that love comes His desire that you be
discerning and decisive as you follow His will. “Trust in the Lord with all
your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
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