Our Value and our Faith

Thinking

Thinking encompasses a wide range of processes occurring within the mind. Included among these are the ability to reason and understand, remember, believe, hope, expect, and judge. Such processes are not restricted to human beings and are reflected in the sphere of the divine too.

Concept Summary

In the ot, the concept of thinking is often expressed with the verb חָשַׁב (ḥāšab, “to think”), which describes a wide range of abstract mental functions within the confines of the mind. It signifies the process of weighing incoming information and data in the sense of learning and understanding in addition to creating plans and schemes that are expressed in practical action. In the Septuagint, the usual translation of this Hebrew verb is λογίζομαι (logizomai, “to reckon”). The two most common words used to express this concept in the nt are δοκέω (dokeō, “to think”) and φρονέω (phronéō, “to think”); the latter primarily bears the nuance of having an opinion or attitude formed in the mind.

Judges 18:1

Judges 18:1 (NASB95)

In those days there was no king of Israel; and in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for themselves to live in, for until that day an inheritance had not been allotted to them as a possession among the tribes of Israel.

The children of Isreal was in the wilderness to understand who God was, and to understand what he is capable of.

When we lack true understanding of God and his true power and nature we have a tendency to make up our own, (or lean unto our own understanding).

Judges 18:2

2 So the sons of Dan sent from their family five men out of their whole number, valiant men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to search it; and they said to them, “Go, search the land.” And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Jdg 18:2.

Looking at the text seeking Land was not uncommon. This was what God instructed them to do when the enter the promise land.

The inheritance was lacking, not due the lack of power of God but the foundation of there faith.

Romans 12:2–3 (NASB95)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Philippians 4:8–9 (NASB95)

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

1 Peter 1:13 (NASB95)

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.