14 ….People without discernment are doomed. (Hosea 4:14d CSB)

What does discernment bring to mind for you?

It is not a commonly used word. We will use words like understanding, foresight, enlightenment or others before we use discernment. Maybe because discernment holds a connotation that is deeper than these other words. A connotation that we have some ability to see beyond the situation and to “discern” or distinguish knowledge with our senses as much as with our knowledge. It says we have a deeper level of insight.

The Spirit provides discernment in many cases. Where our knowledge, wisdom or senses fail, God intervenes. He can provide us discernment into a situation where our visibility is limited in some way. It may only be a feeling we get that points one way or the other, but The Spirit is there to help with this.

But what of our scripture? At the very end of chapter 4 and verse 14 it tells us what we can expect when discernment is not present. Doomed may seem a really harsh word. It is another word we do not use often probably because of the finality of it. No one wants to be doomed. But when we do not have The Spirit in our lives we are, in essence, living a doomed life.