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Miscellaneous

Insight Density

By June 25, 2010No Comments

(Aaron Blumer, SharperIron.org)

“Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.” (Proverbs 4:5, ESV).

I recently read a forum post in which someone described the work of a writer or speaker as possessing a “high insight density.” I immediately knew what he meant. In His sovereign and gracious wisdom, God has gifted some of His servants in such a way that their work offers a high number of insights per page or per minute of speaking time.

But what exactly is “insight?” Webster says it’s “1 : the power or act of seeing into a situation : penetration. 2 : the act or result of apprehending the inner nature of things or of seeing intuitively.” That’s pretty good, but I’m not sure it’s what we believers usually mean when we use the word in reference to preaching and teaching. We usually mean something like “seeing important things I would not see myself.”

For me, it’s been a high insight-density week. Most of it has come from the pulpit and workshops, but some has come from conversations with exhibitors, fellow pastors, missionaries. Some has come from songs. Some from moments of quiet reflection between events and conversations as the things I’ve seen and heard swirl around in my heart and mind. Insight is a priceless commodity. It’s part of the wisdom Scripture calls us to pursue and values as “far above rubies.” It’s also part of what Proverbs 4:5 calls us to “not forget.”

So as I prepare to head back to my neck of the woods I have new responsibilities. As our speakers have emphasized, Daniel (and all of Scripture) is not there to satisfy curiosity. We are supposed to be changed by it, obey it, use it.

Thanks to everyone who has had a part in offering this week’s insight-dump (that’s “dump” in the sense of “flood of data” not “pile of garbage!”). Above all, thanks to the God who not only reigns but rains (to barrow a Lance Augsburger insight) so many blessings down on us.