Discernment – What Is It?
If God gave you the opportunity to receive anything from Him, what would you ask for? Fame? Fortune? Followers? A better marriage? A better prayer life? Some requests would be far superior to others. God did, in fact, ask that question of a king many years ago. God appeared to Solomon on that pivotal night and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” (1Ki 3:5).1 Solomon’s answer reflected the reality of his love for the Lord as he replied in a way that many of us would not have if given the same opportunity. He said, “Give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (v9). For Solomon, there was nothing greater that he desired, no grander blessing that he could imagine above discernment. That’s what he desired, what he asked for, and what God granted to him. That day, King Solomon received discernment, and it paved the way for the most successful and blessed years of his life.
The Old Testament uses two different words to speak of discernment. Nâkar appears 50 times in the OT and in essence means to scrutinize or to look at something intently. The other word which we encounter in the story of Solomon is biyn, which appears over 160 times in the OT and signifies to separate something mentally or to distinguish something. So, to be able to discern something means to have understanding and the ability to analyze what is the best course of action. That was the very thing God granted Solomon in 1 Kings 3:11 – “understanding,” or “discernment” – being able to distinguish, scrutinize, and separate between good and evil. Solomon later wrote his own definition of the word when he advised, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully [biyn] what is before you” (Pro 23:1). So, Solomon in his experience would counsel us that discernment involves not jumping to conclusions, not making rash decisions, but considering a matter with care.
When you come to the New Testament, again there are two main words that communicate discernment, one being diakrinō, which indicates to separate something thoroughly or to make a distinction. The second word, diakrisis, is a derivative of the first, which means to make a judicial estimation or distinction. The imagery of the scale of justice comes to mind as evidence is evaluated on both sides of the balance to reveal which side carries more weight. The NT often speaks of maturity being associated with good discernment, primarily spiritual maturity, as is seen in Hebrews 5:14: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” If we are immature Christians, still feeding on milk, then it is much harder for us to have a deep spiritual ability to discern in keeping with the mind of God.
So, by looking at the Old and New Testaments alongside one another, we appreciate a clearer vision of discernment. It is the careful consideration and scrutinization of a matter, the judging of a decision by making a distinction between two sides of the equation.
Where Can It Be Found?
Where can one obtain such a profitable aptitude, the ability to discern? It won’t be found in self-help books with their foundation in human wisdom and a secular worldview. Nor can it be found in motivational speakers who encourage us to meditate and get in touch with our inner selves. Oftentimes in Christendom we encounter half-truths. We post and we share and we like and we forward quotes or steps that, on the surface, sound good. But if they are only half-truths, then they aren’t real truths and will not lead to real spiritual discernment.
Thankfully, when it comes to something as vital as discernment, God in His goodness is eager to provide counsel. He doesn’t lay before us three or four acceptable routes and tell us to choose the one that seems most suitable to us. He doesn’t leave us in front of various shelves of “Discernment for Dummies” books to choose one by our favourite author or with the best-looking cover.
Oftentimes when we identify those whom we think have the most discernment, we think of those of higher learning, those with the highest IQs, those who would do best in a debate or even those with the most life experience. But that is not where true discernment is found. Where did Solomon find it? He looked heavenward and God sent it down to him.
Job had the desire to discern where he had erred (Job 6:24) and what mistakes had brought about his suffering and misfortune in life. Even with the assembling of some of his intelligent, “opinion-rich” friends and hearing each one expressing his opinions on a whole range of topics, it wasn’t until Job heard from God Himself that he realized he lacked true discernment. He concluded, “Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand [biyn], things too wonderful for me” (Job 42:3). In other words, he lacked true discernment until he heard the voice of God.
David was another king who realized the source of true discernment. “Who can understand [biyn] his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults” (Psa 19:12). He cried out to the Lord above to be able to discern where he had erred and how to be cleansed of his sin.
The apostle Paul understood that true discernment can only come from the truly spiritual person, or, in other words, the redeemed soul that has the Holy Spirit dwelling within. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Co 2:14).
So, for us today, true discernment, the ability to correctly and carefully scrutinize and consider a matter, is something that comes from the Lord and from His Word, which “is living and powerful … and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12).
May the Lord help us to look above and look within the pages of Scripture so that, like Solomon, we may be found with the ability to discern between good and evil and make decisions in our lives that are pleasing to God.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the NKJV.
