“He who is discerning in dealing with a matter will succeed” (PROV. 16:20).
1, 2. What is insight, and how does it help us?
Insight is the ability to understand a situation well and see beyond the obvious. It helps us understand why certain things happen and why people act in a certain way.
Through discernment we can be more prudent and sensible. It helps us to restrain our words, to know when to be silent, to control our anger, to forgive others, and to accept counsel and discipline. Furthermore, when we act with discernment, we please Jehovah and also benefit those around us.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Insight is the ability to understand a situation well and to see beyond the obvious.
This ability also helps us to be more prudent and sensible, and to restrain our words. It enables us to know when and how to be silent, to control our anger, to forgive others, to accept counsel and discipline, to be more humble, to remain calm, and to trust fully in Jehovah.
In a morning worship talk, it was said: “Tell Jehovah whatever you want; tell him everything, even your anger, because it is normal to be angry.” We can confide in Jehovah, since he always listens to us and will never reject us for sincerely expressing our feelings to him, as Psalm 4:4 shows.
This quality will help us in difficult times. For example, if we have problems with other siblings and are tempted to react impulsively or give free rein to our emotions. In reality, if we act that way, we wouldn't be demonstrating discernment. Therefore, if we cultivate this quality, we can avoid those kinds of reactions and act with more prudence and balance.
The paragraph states that insight is the ability to understand a situation well or to see beyond the obvious. What does that imply? It means understanding what is happening when certain things occur; not only seeing what is happening, but also why it happened. Furthermore, it allows one to understand why some people act in one way or another.
A good example is found in Proverbs 10:19, which says: “When many words are spoken, it is inevitable to sin.” Elsewhere in the Bible, those who speak too much without thinking are called foolish. The proverb then adds: “But he who bridles his lips acts prudently.” Therefore, a discerning person is careful and weighs his words carefully before speaking.
INSTEAD OF BEING PROUD, LET'S SHOW HUMILITY
3. Who was Naaman?
Naaman was a man of great authority, the commander of the army of Syria, a nation north of Israel. However, he suffered from leprosy, a terrible skin disease.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
He was a man of great authority: the head of the army of Syria, a nation north of Israel. However, despite his great authority, he suffered from a skin disease: he had leprosy.
We also see that, despite his position, Naaman demonstrated humility by listening to the advice he received and obeying the instructions given to him by the prophet Elisha.
4. How did Naaman demonstrate that he was able to see beyond?
Naaman showed he could see beyond the surface because he didn't act arrogantly or dismiss the young Israelite woman's words. Even though she was a slave from an enemy nation, he was humble and took seriously what she said about Jehovah's prophet. Because of this, he was willing to go to Israel in search of a cure.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Naaman demonstrated his ability to see beyond the surface because, when the Israelite girl told his wife that a prophet from Israel could heal him, he could have easily dismissed her as just a child, and a servant from an enemy nation at that. He might have suspected that she had no real intention of helping him. However, instead of acting arrogantly and ignoring her, he humbled himself and took her words to heart.
5. What happened to Naaman when he arrived in Israel?
When Naaman arrived in Israel, he went to King Jehoram hoping to regain his health. However, Jehoram thought the king of Syria was looking for an excuse to fight. Later, Elisha didn't even go out to meet him personally, but instead sent a messenger with instructions on what he should do to be healed.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
When he arrived in Israel, things didn't go as he expected. Elisha didn't even come out to meet him, and that tested his attitude and his expectations.
King Jehoram of Israel didn't take kindly to Naaman's visit either. Unlike the Israelite girl, who trusted Jehovah and his prophet completely, he thought the man had been sent to start a fight. So things didn't go as Naaman had hoped.
To make matters worse, Elisha didn't go to meet him; he didn't even leave his house. He simply gave him instructions through a messenger about what he had to do. So Naaman's expectations were not met as he had hoped.
The situation that unfolded before Naaman was humiliating. First, he had to turn to a God who wasn't his own; then, accept what a little girl had told him; next, arrive and find that the king didn't even pay him any attention; and, to top it all off, the prophet wouldn't even receive him personally. So the situation wasn't turning out as he had expected.
The situation that confronted Naaman was humiliating. First, he had to turn to a God who wasn't his own; then, accept what a little girl had told him; then, arrive and find that the king didn't even pay attention to him; and, to top it all off, the prophet wouldn't even receive him personally. So the situation looked anything but favorable for him.
6. a) Why might Naaman have reacted with pride to the messenger's instructions?
Naaman reacted with pride because he thought that, as leader of the Syrian army, he deserved more respectful treatment. Furthermore, he may have believed that Elisha was showing contempt for Syria by giving him instructions through a messenger.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Naaman was a powerful man and was used to being treated better than others. Therefore, he was not pleased that it wasn't Elisha himself who came to speak with him.
If we read the account in 2 Kings 5:11, 12, we will see what he expected. He thought that Elisha would come out to meet him, call on the name of Jehovah, and even perform some dramatic act to cure him of leprosy. And, to top it all off, he told him that he had to bathe in the Jordan River. For Naaman, this was an insult, since he believed that there were much better rivers in his own land.
When we read the account, it's only a few verses, and it seems as if Naaman's journey lasted only a few moments. However, the reality is that he probably spent many hours reflecting. In 2 Kings 5:11, it says, "I had thought...", which indicates that he already had a preconceived idea of what would happen. He surely spent a lot of time imagining how he would be received and what Elisha would do to heal him.
In 2 Kings 5:12, Naaman begins comparing the rivers of his land to the Jordan, wondering if they weren't better. This shows that he spent considerable time thinking about the purpose of his journey and what he would find. However, things didn't turn out as he expected.
6. b) How did Naaman’s servants show that they were discerning, and what happened in the end? (2 Kings 5:13, 14).
Naaman's servants proved to be wise because they helped him reason calmly and pleaded with him to reconsider. Thanks to this, Naaman set aside his pride, humbly obeyed Elisha's instructions, and recovered his health.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As 2 Kings 5:13 indicates, his servants asked him to think it over. They told him that if the prophet had asked him to do something extraordinary, he surely would have done it. So why not do something as simple as bathing in the river to be healed? Therefore, they encouraged him to reflect and follow the instructions he had received.
The result was that when he came out of the Jordan River, he was completely healed; he was cleansed of his disease. Incidentally, later in the story we see that Gehazi, Elisha's servant, acted greedily. As a consequence, Naaman's leprosy passed to him.
In this account, we see the importance of humility, which is precisely the focus of this subtopic. If Naaman had not been humble, he would have reacted as he did at first: he would have stormed off in a rage. However, because he demonstrated humility, he was able to benefit from the miracle that Jehovah performed through his prophet.
7. What do we learn from Naaman? (Proverbs 22:4; see also the pictures.)
We learn that discernment helps us to see beyond appearances and not let our emotions control us. It also motivates us to be humble and to recognize that we need the help of others and, above all, Jehovah's help.
Naaman showed wisdom because he listened humbly to the young Israelite woman, his servants, and Elisha, who spoke in the name of Jehovah. Because he set aside his pride, he made a good decision and recovered his health.
This story also teaches us that, before reacting to a situation or advice that we don't fully understand, we should stop and think about whether our words and actions will reflect humility or pride.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We learn that by being discerning, we see beyond the obvious and appearances. Furthermore, we prevent emotions that can arise when we lack discernment from leading us to make mistakes or react inappropriately. Above all, this quality helps us to be humble and to recognize that we need help on many occasions, especially Jehovah's help.
Naaman was able to set aside his pride, and thanks to that, he was able to recover his health. This teaches us that before reacting to a situation, we should stop and think.
In the image, we see an older brother listening to a younger sister. He doesn't appear to be thinking, "What does this young woman have to teach me?" or "What can she tell me that I don't already know?" He isn't proud of his experience or his responsibility in the congregation. On the contrary, he appears humble, willing to accept advice, and aware that he doesn't know everything. As the paragraph points out, this attitude is an excellent example. It shows that he allows himself to be guided by the direction provided by the organization.
How can we tell if we are perceptive people—that is, if we think things through before speaking or acting? As mentioned at the end of the paragraph, one way to check is by observing how we react when we don't understand something or don't accept it at first glance. In those cases, we don't rush to become upset, annoyed, or speak out against a matter we don't yet understand. Rather, we take the time to analyze it calmly.
We learn that there is an approved channel: the Bible. If we receive counsel based on it and coming from that approved channel, the discerning person regards it with respect and seeks to put it into practice.
Just as Naaman's instructions were very simple and didn't require much, the real effort he had to make was to set aside his pride. Similarly, sometimes what our brothers and sisters ask of us, even if they are younger, or the guidance we receive through the Broadcasting, are simple things. They don't involve drastic changes in our lives. However, what is truly required is to set aside pride and act with humility. That is precisely where we demonstrate discernment.
We learn that before reacting, we must stop and think. And this is not easy; in fact, it can be very difficult. But no one has ever told us that doing so would be simple.
What Jehovah has promised us is that if we strive to act humbly, as Proverbs 22:4 indicates, the result will be wealth, glory, and life. So, without a doubt, it is worth trying.
Sometimes it can be difficult to identify if we have any prideful traits. However, the question posed at the end of the paragraph makes it very clear: What do my words and actions reflect? Therefore, it would be wise to pay close attention to how we speak and act, especially when we are in intimate moments with people we love and trust. We should ask ourselves: Are our comments positive, humble, and constructive? The way we speak and behave can reveal if there are any aspects of our personality that we need to correct or improve.
What do our actions and attitudes reflect? For example, sometimes issues arise regarding dress codes or other matters where things may not be entirely clear. In such cases, what is more important to us: being right or being willing to follow the guidance we are given? Some of these issues may not be so important in themselves, but our attitude reveals a great deal. It shows whether we insist on imposing our opinion or whether we are willing to yield with humility and a spirit of cooperation.
We learn that we must be humble. Furthermore, it is important to listen carefully and follow instructions. For example, the Israelite girl spoke of a prophet, but Naaman went to see the king first. As expected, the king was frightened and thought, “This man is looking for trouble.” Later, when the prophet told him what to do, Naaman realized that things were not going to happen as he had imagined.
We learn that sometimes our imagination leads us to expect certain things, but reality can be very different. Fortunately, Naaman was humble, and thanks to that, he was finally healed.
ILLUSTRATION
Images of a brother being discerning by humbly listening to others: 1. He pays attention to a younger brother who is using the brochure “Become Better Readers and Teachers” to give him advice. 2. He listens to an older sister who tells him about the congregation’s plans to use mobile preaching carts. 3. He attentively watches a JW Broadcasting video on his tablet.
Let us be like Naaman and listen humbly when we are given advice, a suggestion, or instructions from the organization. (See paragraph 7.)
INSTEAD OF REACTING WITH ANGER, LET'S REMAIN CALM
8. In what situations might it be difficult for us to remain calm?
It can be difficult to stay calm when faced with frustrating situations, especially if someone doesn't treat us well or we suffer an injustice. In those moments, even if we have reasons to feel upset, insight helps us control our emotions and remain calm.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
These could be situations where we suffer an injustice or are mistreated. In such cases, we may have justifiable reasons to feel upset, which makes it even harder to remain calm.
The study note for the letter to the Ephesians explains that it is not wrong to feel this way. Both Jehovah and Jesus reacted with indignation to wickedness and injustice. However, that should not justify letting our anger, even if justified, erupt into outbursts of fury. Therefore, we need discernment to remain calm and act in a way that pleases Jehovah.
To illustrate a situation that many of us experience, imagine we're driving and suddenly another vehicle cuts us off recklessly. It's normal to feel annoyed and even think we have grounds for complaint. However, this is where common sense comes into play. If we act with common sense, we don't let anger take over or get into arguments or impulsive reactions. Instead, we remain calm and act prudently.
As the paragraph shows, there may be justifiable reasons for our distress. However, if we let ourselves be carried away by those emotions, we could end up acting inappropriately. The advice we are given is that, when we find ourselves in such a situation, we should turn to Jehovah in prayer and do our best to remain calm and control our emotions.
Naaman was a man of great authority, accustomed to leading others and having those under his command do as he said. Therefore, humility was probably not his most prominent personality trait. However, when he finally demonstrated it, he achieved very good results. Similarly, in our daily lives, and even in the spiritual realm, we may find it difficult to act with humility. Even so, we must remember that cultivating this quality always bears good fruit.
9. How did Nabal treat David?
Nabal treated David with contempt and insulted him. Instead of thanking David and his men for the protection they had given his shepherds and flocks, he responded disrespectfully when David politely asked him for provisions.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
As the paragraph shows, it's easy to imagine the scene. David and his men were fugitives, being pursued by King Saul. They took refuge in the Desert of Paran. There lived Nabal, a man of great wealth, prestige, and numerous flocks. When it was time to shear the sheep, David decided to ask him for some food. He did so respectfully, sending messengers to deliver his request. However, Nabal treated them with utter contempt. He replied, “Who is this David? What does the son of Jesse think he is? Why should I give you anything?” So the messengers had to return empty-handed.
We see how the avaricious Nabal directed reproaches and insults at David, treating him as a despicable person and considering him, along with his men, as runaway slaves.
Something that can happen to us is that when we do a good job and know we've done it well, we can expect to receive appreciation. However, sometimes the opposite occurs: we receive contempt or see our efforts undervalued, as happened to David and his men. It's understandable that this bothers us, but we must be careful not to let those feelings control us.
As 1 Samuel 25:8 says, David wasn't asking for too much either. Although he knew Nabal was a rich man, he said, “Please give us whatever you can.” So he wasn't taking advantage of the situation; rather, he was acting humbly by simply asking for what Nabal was willing to give him. However, Nabal treated them with great contempt, even though they didn't deserve it.
10. How did Abigail and David demonstrate discernment? (1 Samuel 25:32, 33; see also the picture.)
Abigail showed discernment because she was able to see beyond David’s impulsive reaction. Although he was furious and determined to take revenge, she understood that David was a good man and did all she could to help him calm down. Humbly, she brought him gifts and gave him wise counsel that reflected Jehovah’s viewpoint.
David also showed insight because he listened carefully to Abigail and recognized that her words were wise. Thanks to this, he managed to calm himself and avoided making a serious mistake.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Abigail was very perceptive because she was able to see beyond David's overreaction. And she had good reason to do so, for she knew her husband well. She did everything she could to calm David down. She brought him plenty of provisions and offered him gentle counsel. Moreover, all her words were focused on helping him see matters from Jehovah's standpoint and avoid doing anything that would displease him.
In 1 Samuel 25:26, we see Abigail tell David: “As surely as the Lord lives and you live, the Lord is restraining you from taking justice into your own hands.” And later, in verse 31, she adds that in this way “you will not have to regret in your heart that you took justice into your own hands and shed blood without cause.”
As we know, David was Jehovah’s anointed and a valiant warrior. He had participated in many battles, but in this instance, he had no right to kill Nabal. In fact, we know that on another occasion he had the opportunity to kill Saul and did not. Therefore, although David was very angry—and it was understandable that he felt that way—thanks to Abigail’s words and the counsel that reflected Jehovah’s viewpoint, he was able to restrain himself and act prudently.
Abigail was unaware of what had transpired between David's men and her husband's. However, when she was informed of the situation, she acted swiftly. Knowing Nabal well and understanding the gravity of the problem, she took the initiative. She even went so far as to say, "Blame me," in order to maintain peace.
Abigail demonstrated her complete trust in Jehovah and her willingness to take responsibility to prevent bloodshed. Even though David was furious, she trusted in Jehovah, bowed down with her face to the ground, and asked him to let her speak.
How beautifully the image reflects Abigail's humility! There she appears prostrate before David and his servants, with the gifts she had brought, asking forgiveness for something she hadn't even done. Moreover, it was Nabal who had committed the offense, and there was reason to believe he deserved the consequences of his actions. However, Abigail was very perceptive. She was able to see beyond the immediate situation and act in the wisest way.
Abigail's humility in asking David for forgiveness undoubtedly provides us with an excellent example for when we have to face similar situations.
What David did was recognize that the wise words coming from Abigail's mouth were as if Jehovah himself were speaking to him. So he was perceptive, because he was able to see beyond that situation and understand the counsel being given to him.
This account teaches us that often any brother or sister can give us valuable advice; it doesn't have to be an elder. If that advice is based on Jehovah's principles, we can consider it as help he provides to correct and guide us.
ILLUSTRATION
David listens attentively to Abigail's pleas as she kneels before him. David's men, standing beside her, watch intently. Abigail's servants wait behind her, their hands full of gifts.
David and Abigail showed discernment in a very tense situation, and thus avoided a tragedy. (See paragraph 10.)
11. How does insight help us when someone or something angers us? (Proverbs 19:11).
Insight helps us stay calm when someone or something angers us. It allows us to think about the consequences of our words and actions instead of reacting impulsively.
Furthermore, discernment helps us to seek Jehovah’s viewpoint on the situation and to control our emotions. Instead of acting in anger and without thinking, we can pray to Jehovah and reflect before reacting.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Insight helps us avoid reacting immediately when something angers us. As we've seen in the text, it allows a person to be patient and overlook an offense. Therefore, it helps us see the bigger picture, consider the other person's circumstances, and think before acting, instead of letting anger take over.
The paragraph discusses remaining calm, even when we have reasons not to. Proverbs 19:11 says that it is a beautiful gesture to overlook an offense. Sometimes we think about showing appreciation to someone in the congregation. Well, if we are upset with someone, a very beautiful gesture on our part would be to overlook what has offended us.
If something has upset or angered us, we should talk to Jehovah, present the matter to him, and not act impulsively. Instead, we should be discerning and consider the possible consequences. In that way, we will do things right.
12. How can others help us to be insightful and remain calm?
Others can help us to be discerning and remain calm by helping us to see situations from Jehovah’s standpoint. For example, a mature brother can give us wise counsel and help us to think before we react when we are angry.
Furthermore, we too can help others, just as Abigail did with David, by tactfully and calmly showing them Jehovah's viewpoint so that they do not act impulsively.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Proverbs 12:15 says: “A fool thinks his way is right, but a wise person accepts advice.” That is, at that moment, because of anger or displeasure, we may not see or reason clearly. But if we are humble, we can talk to a mature brother, and that brother can help us see things as Jehovah sees them.
In David's case, if he hadn't listened to Abigail, who hadn't suffered the same offense and who acted objectively, and if he had simply followed the angry group, he would have committed a very serious offense. However, by listening to the person Jehovah placed in his path, or to any mature brother, our actions can remain in harmony with Jehovah's will.
Perhaps something similar to what happened to Abigail could happen to us, because the moment she spoke, she put herself in front of David in a very tense situation. David was angry, and he had a group of soldiers who were also angry. Anyone would have become nervous in that situation.
This can happen to us with a friend or even a family member going through a tense time, when we have to be very careful about what we say. How wonderful it is to be perceptive and act like Abigail, being kind and expressing ourselves in a positive way so as not to worsen the situation and, on the contrary, to be able to help.
INSTEAD OF BEING AFRAID, LET US TRUST IN JEHOVAH
13. How does insight help us see beyond our fears?
Insight helps us see beyond our fears because it reminds us that any problem or situation that frightens us is nothing compared to Jehovah’s immense power. It also helps us to trust that Jehovah can help us in any situation, even when there seems to be no way out.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Psalm 27:1 says: “Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Jehovah is the strength of my life.” These words remind us that anything or anyone that causes us fear is nothing compared to Jehovah’s immense power. He will always help us in any situation we find ourselves in.
We can also see that insight invites us to pause, to look beyond our feelings, and to remember that no dead end is truly a dead end for Jehovah. He always has a way out, a purpose, and a way to sustain us.
14. Why might Jonah have been afraid of the task Jehovah assigned him?
It is possible that Jonah was afraid of the task Jehovah assigned him because he had to travel to Nineveh, an Assyrian city known for its cruelty and violence, to deliver a message of destruction. Furthermore, the journey was long and dangerous. Therefore, Jonah felt intimidated and decided to flee rather than obey immediately.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jonah was probably afraid because Jehovah sent him to Nineveh, a city known for its violence and cruelty. Preaching there was dangerous, and besides, he had to deliver a message of judgment to people who were enemies of Israel. Perhaps he feared rejection, mistreatment, and even losing his life.
We see that the reliefs in Sennacherib's palace attest to the cruelty of the torturers. For example, young men and women who were prisoners were impaled, burned, or flayed; others were blinded or mutilated, losing hands, ears, or noses, among other things. Jonah surely knew all this. Therefore, if he also had to deliver a message of judgment, it is understandable that he felt fear. And so, those fears led him to go in the opposite direction.
15. What helped Jonah to trust Jehovah more? (Jonah 2:6-9).
What helped Jonah to trust Jehovah more was seeing God’s immense power when He saved his life in a spectacular way. That experience taught him that Jehovah could protect him from any danger and helped him to see beyond his fears. Because of this, Jonah obeyed the second chance Jehovah gave him and went to Nineveh.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The fact that Jehovah saved Jonah's life allowed him to experience Jehovah's immense power, which gave him the strength to not be afraid of the Ninevites. So, this time, he obeyed Jehovah, went there, and was very successful.
From a human standpoint, Jonah might have thought that no one would save him from the Assyrians after he delivered that message. But from a human perspective, it also seemed impossible that anyone would save him at sea in the midst of that storm. Then he learned that nothing is impossible for Jehovah, and that gave him confidence that Jehovah would also protect him in the assignment he had been given.
Let us remember that when Jehovah saved Jonah, he was not on his way to Nineveh, but rather he was fleeing from the assignment Jehovah had given him. Therefore, Jonah was able to perceive that Jehovah is not only all-powerful, but also a merciful God. And that undoubtedly helped him to trust in him.
16. How does insight help us to cope with intimidating situations? (Proverbs 29:25; see also the pictures.)
Insight helps us cope with intimidating situations because it enables us to focus on Jehovah rather than on our fears or fear of man. It also helps us remember how Jehovah has protected and helped us in the past, which strengthens our trust in him.
Furthermore, meditating on the example of brothers and sisters who faced difficult situations because of their trust in Jehovah encourages us to do the same. In this way, we can continue to serve Jehovah courageously and help others to trust him completely.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It helps us to trust in Jehovah and not to let fear prevent us from doing what is right and fulfilling our spiritual responsibilities. In other words, discernment helps us not to fear man in order to serve Jehovah.
We can also reflect on all these cases and on things that have happened to us personally, as well as on past experiences, and how Jehovah has helped us to overcome all those fears. We can also share this with other brothers and sisters.
The comparison shown in the image is very apt. Perhaps Jonah went to a very cruel city, as has already been described, and this brother in the image goes to a school that can also be very difficult at times, especially because of the different ways of thinking, as we see in the image, or because of differences in social standing. Having confidence in Jehovah and knowing that he will protect us, in addition to speaking confidently about what we have to say, helps us a great deal.
This can be demonstrated even by people who have only been serving Jehovah for a short time. In the article recounting our brother's experience, he had only been studying for a few months when he was baptized. Although he says he didn't have much knowledge, his love for Jehovah was so intense that he made the decision to be baptized. However, just two months later he was arrested. He himself comments that, although he didn't yet know much about the Bible, he knew Jehovah well enough to be loyal to him.
The experience described in the article leads us to ask ourselves a question: Do I know Jehovah well enough to remain loyal and trust in him, as Jonah did? It is something each of us must answer.
ILLUSTRATION
Series of images: 1. The prophet Jonah walks toward the gates of the city of Nineveh. 2. A young brother walks through the halls of his school. He is surrounded by things that displease Jehovah. Rainbow flags are everywhere. And one young man threatens another.
Jonah’s example teaches us that discernment helps us to do what Jehovah asks of us and to successfully cope with intimidating situations. (See paragraph 16.)
LET US STRIVE TO BE EVER MORE PERSPECTIVE
17. What can we do to become more insightful?
To become more discerning, we need to draw closer to Jehovah, for he is the one who can help us develop this quality. We can do this by meditating carefully on the Bible and applying its counsel to make good decisions and control our emotions.
In addition, we should constantly ask for Jehovah's holy spirit, since it helps us to have insight and to see situations as Jehovah sees them so that we can react in the best way.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We can take advantage of the help that Jehovah offers us in his Word, the Bible, where he gives us advice for making good decisions, and his holy spirit also helps us to have insight.
The goal is for us to see things as Jehovah sees them, and in that way our reaction will be appropriate, it will be wise, as Proverbs 21:11 says, and we will develop even more insight.
The text of Psalm 32:8 says: “I will make you discerning and teach you the way you should go.” As we see, the teaching comes from Jehovah. Discernment is a quality that is not easily acquired; therefore, it is a work that we must continually do.
It is true that insight is not usually included when we think of the fruitage of the holy spirit. However, Nehemiah 9:20 says that Jehovah gave them his good spirit, or holy spirit, so that they would have understanding. The footnote explains that this relates to insight. In other words, if we ask Jehovah for his spirit, we can develop insight.
18. What are you determined to do?
I am determined to keep asking Jehovah for insight and to strive to show this quality in every situation. In this way, I will not stray “from the path of insight” and I will make Jehovah happy.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
I am determined to continue cultivating insight, and to do so, I must be consistent and ask Jehovah for it daily. I am confident that Jehovah will give me his unconditional help.
If we have identified with any of the situations we have seen, let us reflect on them and take action to ask for insight and work on them. In this way, we will make Jehovah happy, and we will also be happier ourselves.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE AS PERSPECTIVE AS THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERS?
Naaman
To be discerning like Naaman, we must strive to see beyond appearances and not let our emotions control us. It is also important to be humble and recognize that we do not know everything, so we need to listen to others and, above all, to Jehovah.
Before reacting to a situation, we should stop and think. If we receive biblical advice we don't like or don't understand an instruction, we should ask ourselves whether our words and actions reflect humility or pride.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We can humbly accept advice and focus not on who gives it, but on its source. If this advice comes from the Bible, then any brother or sister who offers it is undoubtedly giving us good advice.
We must be willing to listen. Naaman listened first to the girl, then to the prophet, and then to his servants. In this way, he could see that what they told him motivated him to be discerning and to follow their advice.
David and Abigail
To be as perceptive as Abigail, we must learn to see beyond the impulsive reactions of others, act with humility, and recognize the qualities the other person may possess. Just as Abigail realized that David was a good man, but that he acted out of anger, and did everything she could to help him calm down.
To be discerning like David, we must be willing to listen to advice and recognize when it reflects Jehovah’s viewpoint. We must also remain calm and not let our emotions get the better of us when we are upset. In this way, we can avoid making mistakes and act wisely.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
If we remain still and calm and think before we act, we will be able to see Jehovah's viewpoint when we face difficult situations.
An interesting aspect of what Abigail did is that she was able to see beyond the surface, to use discernment in the face of David's overreaction. She didn't judge him by the image she had at that moment of a furious man, but rather saw the good in him. She saw beyond the immediate situation and, therefore, was able to deal with him the way she did.
In David's case, he listened attentively to Abigail. He was also willing to reconsider and realize that he was going down the wrong path, to stop his companions and his soldiers, and to make the right decision and act calmly.
Jonah
To be discerning like Jonah, we must avoid letting fear of man stop us from serving Jehovah. We also need to focus on the fact that Jehovah is on our side, not on the challenges ahead.
Furthermore, we can see beyond our fears if we remember how Jehovah has helped and protected us in the past and if we meditate on the example of brothers and sisters who trusted in him in difficult situations. Thus, by trusting fully in Jehovah and helping others to do the same, we demonstrate true discernment.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The experience of the prophet Jonah teaches us a valuable lesson. We must not let fear of man hinder or paralyze our service to Jehovah.
In Proverbs 29:25, Solomon said: “Trembling before men is a snare, but he who trusts in Jehovah will be protected.” Thanks to his discernment, Jonah focused on God. He knew that Jehovah was on his side and he was not afraid of what lay ahead.
While in the belly of the fish, Jonah reflected and realized that, despite his fears, Jehovah was with him. He also remembered how Jehovah had helped him in the past, which taught him an important lesson. We too should do the same; we know that Jehovah has always helped us, is by our side, and our fears should not prevail.
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