Proverbs 9:10 (CSB)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Understanding Bible scripture is not about simply reading it. Truly understanding Bible scripture starts with knowing God. Having fear of the Lord is having respect of the Lord.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (CSB)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (CSB)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
If we rely on our own understanding, then we will never truly understand Bible scripture. By trusting in God with all our heart, we can ask Him for wisdom and understanding and God will provide us with these gifts, which will increase our knowledge of Bible scripture.
In my own journey with God, I have become very close to God (a serious Christian is how I would now describe myself). I pray and read my Bible and follow God’s commandments. I have asked God for wisdom, understanding, knowledge and discernment, and God has given me these gifts. There is scripture, that in the past I have found hard to understand, but now with being close to God, He has opened my eyes of understanding. He has enlightened me. The Bible is the living word of God.
Psalm 119:130 (CSB)
The revelation of your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.
James 1:5-8 (CSB)
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God – who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly – and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
To gain true understanding of the Bible you have to have faith in God.
Proverbs 2:6 (CSB)
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:10 (CSB)
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight you.
Wisdom, knowledge and understanding are very closely connected, so remember to ask God for all three of these gifts. Also, ask God for the gift of discernment.
1 John 4:1 (CSB)
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
In this context, spirit is meant as the attitude of false prophets. We are to carefully check everything these people tell us with the truth that is in the Bible. If these people reject Jesus Christ and/or the gospel, then they cannot be trusted or believed.
This is why discernment is so important to ask God for. By having the God given gift of discernment you will know good from evil and truth from lies.
Romans 12:2 (CSB)
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Faith and trust in God and asking Him for the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment will give you the ability to truly understand the Bible.
Onward Christian Soldiers 