Your Daily Slice

 

ADAR BET 18

Knowledge

 

“…add to …virtue knowledge.” (2Pet 1:5 KJV)

 

Most of us have witnessed young children playing with a set of Legos (and the dangers of stepping on one!), and the exercise of placing one block upon another is important to these young minds.  We have a similar exercise happening in the verses from 2Peter.  Our foundation block is that of our faith – our emunah – and to that we have already added the block called ‘virtue’, or moral excellence.  We now place the block called ‘knowledge’ on the top of these other two; we are bringing the concept of knowledge along side of virtue, which itself is along side of faith. 

And yet, what exactly is knowledge?  The dictionary defines knowledge as “acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation”[1], and while I can appreciate this definition, I conclude that knowledge is so much more.  After going through dictionaries, thesaurus, Greek and Hebrew lexicons, I recognize the joining together of wisdom, knowledge and understanding, as three pieces of a whole pie.  Knowledge may be the learning part of it, of acquiring the facts that are needed, but without the understanding that brings illumination, the knowledge is worthless.  Once the understanding is complete, then it is wisdom in knowing how to apply this knowledge.

I would venture to say that it is this three-faceted jewel that we are to add to the seasoning of virtue.  Reminding ourselves that virtue can also be explained as willing obedience to the truth of Torah, by adding all that is inclusive within knowledge, we gain the edge of knowing what to do, how to do it, and the when as well.

In the days of yesteryear, it was not uncommon to ask young children (perhaps while they played with their Legos?) what did they want to be when they grew up.  And while many went on to pursue goals that were in no way related to what their first aspirations were, there were many that clung to those dreams of childhood.  I very seldom see this anymore.  I don’t see young people chasing after knowledge (together with wisdom and understanding) just for the joy of it.  Do you suppose civilization has bred the desire for knowledge right out of us?  How frightening …

Let us be careful how we build our blocks, and what we are using to build with.  And let us always remember that all wisdom and knowledge finds its source in the depths of our Creator, and in the words of His Torah.

 

“Oh, the depth of riches, and wisdom and knowledge of Elohim! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways!” (Rom 11:33 ISR)

“…to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, in order that you might be filled to all the completeness of Elohim.” (Eph 3:19 ISR)

 

©2022

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[1] https://www.dictionary.com/browse/knowledge