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"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever." (Psalm 131 KJV)

What a beautiful and wonderful submission - and ADMISSION!

Psalm 131 is called "a song of ascents". It may have been sung by the people of Israel as they approached Jerusalem for the annual holy days. The trek was an incline UP to Jerusalem. Perhaps David was pondering an analogy, as he ascended higher and higher. As he traveled higher, he reflected on the profound truth that some things in this life, no matter who we are, are PAST FINDING OUT. This should not surprise us. We are told specifically that God’s ways are past (to high?) for us to find out (Romans 11:33).

Here we have an admission by one the greatest men of the Bible, a king, a mighty warrior, a prolific author, that there were some things that were just beyond him. He refused to even comment about things he considered to be "too high" for him. What remarkable contrition and childlike humility! (Mark 10:15). If there were some things that David considered beyond him, then certainly there MUST be things that we, as God’s people today, are not high enough to address. There is some mysterious compulsion in the world today, however, that dictates that when someone speaks, they must speak to any and every issue that someone throws at them, especially if they are perceived as a professional or an intellectual.

We must have experts, whose intellects are gifts from God. These, in most cases, are wonderfully endowed individuals, and called by God for great and necessary endeavors - abilities in grasping and comprehension of the original languages and dialects of Scripture are of particular importance! These abilities are gifts of God (1 Chronicles 22:15). But at times we hear someone addressing an issue in which they are EXPECTED to speak to that issue AS an "expert", simply because of who they are, or who others feel they are. This can be very misleading and damaging. It is dangerous for anyone doing the addressing (Jeremiah 23:16), and can be so for those who may trust in what they hear. There is a type of intellectual environment that attempts to speak to issues about which there is not sufficient information or understanding, or perhaps concerning something that God has said through His word, cannot be known. Some "intellectuals" often use tunnel vision - "overlooking the obvious" while searching for the illusive.

Humanly, this is understandable. We all want complete answers to our questions, whether it is about science, politics, human relations, or the Bible in particular. There is enormous pressure upon a recognized expert to come up with something that will validate his or her expertise, when the expert is questioned about something outside the expert’s field. Then things can take a wrong turn. Pride can enter in. How will it look, if I do not express an opinion. After all, I am EXPECTED to know! This has occurred in almost every area and branch of knowledge. The most damaging has been that regarding church history, doctrine, and practice.

Evangelist Billy Graham was being interviewed by a television newsman a number of years ago. The interviewer asked him a very direct, blunt question, a question as I recall about which there was much polarization. I do not recall the question specifically.

But I definitely recall his answer!

Billy Graham said simply: "I don’t know. That is one of the first things I am going to ask Jesus Christ when I see Him!" Apparently, the interviewer was certain he would speak to the question - after all, this was Billy Graham! HE would CERTAINLY know, if anyone would know, and if not, he would speak to it anyway, so as not to look bad! My respect for Billy Graham, which was already high, took another giant leap. I could hardly believe what I heard. For most, however, it is one of those "no-no’s in the public arena. It is just not "cool" to say "I DON'T KNOW"!

It is very difficult sometimes to say those three little words. But there is another three word phrase which is even more difficult for some to say. They are: "I can’t know", or more specifically, "It can’t be known"! There is just something about most of us that does not want to believe that there are some things that CANNOT be known. With enough study, with enough prayer, with enough meditation, with enough time, with enough work, with enough digging, and enough determination, WE CAN KNOW - whatever it may be (Job 5:9).

But we are wrong... (Ecclesiastes 8:16-17).

There is a principle - some may call it a "doctrine", although it is not universal enough, I feel, to be labeled a doctrine - in theology called "Progressive Revelation". The short version of this is that God reveals more and more understanding with the passage of time. It is referring in particular to the Scriptures. This appears to be true, at least on some level. Perhaps God has slowly revealed more and more of how His master plan works, or how He IS working it. However, there were many things the Apostles did not know during their lifetimes (Acts 1:7). Jesus Himself did not know, apparently, the day of His return while on earth (Matthew 24:36). There was a commercial years ago that said something like this: "Inquiring minds want to KNOW!". We all WANT to know - nothing wrong with that. But as Christians, we would be wise to listen - and WAIT.

There are so many unanswerable questions in life. Some would wish to appear to have the answers to all of them. There is a not so obvious problem of arrogance in much of this. The Apostle Paul gave the church a very valuable guideline to help keep our feet on the ground regarding knowledge, knowing, or thinking we know. "We all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know But if someone loves God, he is known by God" (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). Paul was speaking here concerning food sacrificed to idols, but this a broad principle worthy of application to many circumstances of life.

When someone gives the impression that says in effect, "just ask me, I can tell you..." no matter what the question is, don‘t walk- run! (Matthew 25:13). The odds are that they probably "know NOTHING yet as they OUGHT to know"! Misguidance is very near, and deception is around the corner. You know who the great deceiver is (Revelation 12:9). He is also a liar (John 8:44). In the last days, there will be those who will claim to know that Christ has already returned. Not only that, but also they will claim to know where He is on the earth. THEY are privy to this knowledge that others will not have, they say. They can give everyone the inside scoop, the "true facts". Just ask them - they know. No matter what questions arise, they will appear to have the answer. They will not be counted among those who admit that there are some things they do not know - or CANNOT BE KNOWN (Matthew 24:42-44). If someone is willing to admit that THEY DO NOT KNOW something, openly and forthright, then what they DO say is much more believable and more likely to be true - at least as they see it. And that brings up another important point. An honest and truthful holder of knowledge will likely QUALIFY his or her statements, if it is something that has not been absolutely proven. They may state that it is their opinion that, etc., etc., or that they feel it is true based on what they can ascertain or discover. They will generally, IN SOME WAY qualify their statements - even when it may seem to be true, or understood to be true by the majority. Being overly dogmatic can be suspect.. So listen for qualifying statements.

There is a very important lesson we all need to learn if we are to grow in TRUTH and in our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18): if the Bible is not absolutely specific concerning ANY issue, especially a doctrine, HOLD IT IN TENSION - A NEUTRAL POSITION! - even if you must wait until He returns before it is made clear. So many of the children of our Father, and our brothers and sisters in Christ, have been led astray and had their faith shipwrecked by someone who did not remain neutral until God makes an issue certain beyond any reasonable doubt. How then can we "grow" in this Truth? God's Word IS Truth! (John 17:17).

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few" (Acts 17:10-11).

This is ALWAYS the place to begin. This is the first line of defense. To God's Word is the place to run! EVERYTHING must be measured by His Word - even His Word must be measured BY His Word! Case in point: David's admission in Psalm 131. We must allow the Bible to RESTRICT our knowledge, as well as EXPAND our knowledge, if that is God's will (from His Word), to do so. How can this be done? How can we KNOW what is to "know" and what NOT to know? Notice:

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:12-16 KJV).

This is the way David knew.

This is the only way - by the Holy Spirit leading us in our spirit, and directing us as we absorb God's written Word, the Bible. As we do this, our RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ will become closer and closer at the same time. Any time we depart from this way, we are headed for the WILDERNESS of "knowledge". It is very hazardous out there. Some have become lost - and some have been found again - after their Lord left the "ninety and nine" for them.

Stay CLOSE TO YOUR SAVIOR - NOT A POSITION on some issue, unless you KNOW it is His position!

Maintain your neutrality on matters of uncertainty. Search God's Word. Ask for the Holy Spirit to direct you, no matter what credentials some may seem to have. When it is TIME for you to KNOW something, He will show you, and YOU WILL KNOW! One could say that its OK to just speculate or have an opinion, which is true. However, if speculations and opinions are voiced strong enough and often enough, by those with enough credentials, speculations and opinions can become accepted "fact". If the fact, so called, is incorrect, a lie has been perpetuated. Remember the father of lies? This is one way that Christians have been subdivided from within throughout history (Jude 1:3-4).

It is OK to just say "I don't know", because many times we just cannot know. Its OK to let the unknown rest. We all crave certainty in all areas of our lives. This can make us "feel" secure. Many struggle to know the reasons and meaning of the past - in their own lives, the lives of others - the "why?" of our lives and experiences. But in many things, God does not give us answers. Some questions will never be answered, some things will never be known, in this life. He forces us to wait before we can KNOW! This gives us more reason to trust Him.HE is our certainty! HE is our security! He IS our answer - for now. May we all be like David - realizing that for now, some things are "too high for me"! It is out of God's limitless love and wisdom that He asks us to WAIT...wait for Him to reveal it all at the perfect time, in the perfect way, for our good, and for His glory (2 Peter 3:8-9).

Until then, we cannot KNOW EVERYTHING we would like to know.

This will all come later...

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult I set aside childish ways. For now we see in a mirror indirectly but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known"- 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 NET.

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 30, 2010)