Understanding

Like a roaring lion and a charging bear Is a wicked ruler over poor people. 

A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, 

But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days. 

 Proverbs 28:15-16  

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; 

For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. 

The LORD builds up Jerusalem; 

He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. 

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. 

He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. 

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; 

His understanding is infinite. 

The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. 

Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; 

Sing praises on the harp to our God, 

Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, 

Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. 

He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that cry. 

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; 

He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. 

The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

 In those who hope in His mercy.

 Psalm 147:1-11 

Understanding simply means standing under someone, something or some situation.

This is the first step to lift up another.

Imagine an adult, towering over a little child, lifting him up by his little arms or by his head!

On the other hand, an understanding adult would squat down by the child, put his arms gently below the child to scoop the child up from the ground. 

Although our GOD is so great, He humbles Himself to understand the broken -hearted and the down-cast. He stands under them so that He could lift them up. He casts down the wicked who is proud so that He can then lift him up.

Picture a little child having climbed on a ladder, now unable to come down!

You could either stand above him on the ladder and push him down or stand below and gently coax him down, stretching your arms to hold him lest he fall.

If we don’t understand those over whom we have authority, we would be oppressors.

If we don’t come down to understand those under us, we would be oppressing them from above, trying to exert our authority over them and controlling them. This is not the way of the LORD. It is the way of Satan. He pumps us up and then finds great pleasure in causing us to fall.