Who Knows Me?
I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the troubles of my soul Psalm 31:7 NASB
Known – Omniscience. Oh, it’s a great doctrine. God knows everything that can be known. It’s a significant statement about the scope of His observation and understanding. But it’s kind of sterile. It’s one of the those big ideas that lends itself to debates like, “If God already knows what I am going to do tomorrow, can it really be my free choice?” I wonder if David ever concerned himself with such cognitive issues. David’s approach is far more personal. God knows the troubles of my soul. When it comes to my relationship with the Lord, this might be all I really need.
The verb is quite familiar. Yada covers the widest range of knowing in Hebrew, from knowing the facts about the enemy army to knowing the sexual intimacy of marriage. It’s worth reflecting on this range. We have many distinct verbal expressions for different kinds of knowledge. We categorize our information. There’s a box for facts, a box for opinions, a box for theories, a box for observations, a box for involvements, etc. Nice, neat compartments where we can “know” the right thing in one area but never let it touch the things we feel or observe in another area. But yada reminds us that everything is connected. It isn’t possible to “know” something and keep it neatly separated from the actions that make up who we are. If God knows the troubles of my soul, certain implications about this fact must follow.
God knows my tsarah. He knows the distress I encounter, the adversities I face, the troubles life hands me and the vexations that plague me. God knows these things. That does not simply mean He observes them as facts. Yada-ata. He knows them. He experiences my troubles.
Think about this. When I weep, is God weeping with me? When I rejoice, does He dance? When I shake with fear, is He there beside me? When I battle with decisions, does He fight for the right? Yada says “Yes!” The full range of relationship dynamics is known to Him. He is not the God of disengaged research or the moral policeman. He is as close as my breath, my sight, my thoughts and my sighs. He is the God in my need.
Would it make a difference in our struggles for righteousness if we contemplated the God of yada? Would we feel His comfort, His guidance or His warning just a little more intensely if we engaged the Hebrew umbrella of knowing? David worships a God who is intimately involved in life. He doesn’t sit on His throne in Zion waiting for quarterly reports on our progress. He sits by our side, asking us to lean on Him. He is the ‘ezer, the benefactor who comes to our aid in times of need.
Topical Index: known, yada, omniscience, Psalm 31:7
This was an encouraging and helpful Today’s Word. Thanks.
Omniscience
Omnipotence
Omnipresence
Hi Skip,
I’ll never forget my first encounter with the Big Three.
My parents were not very religious but my mother had taught me the Lord’s prayer and I wanted to become a Catholic like most of the other kids in the neighborhood.
So my mother took me over to the Catholic grammar school and enrolled me in night classes when I was in the 5th or 6th grade.
When class started the first thing we learned was all about the qualities of God, starting with nothing on the chalkboard but the three words as listed above.
I don’t think I had ever noticed a Latin word until that night and needless to say I was very impressed.
After the Nun explained the three terms in some detail, she listed another column with the following words to th right of the first column: Father, Son, Holy Ghost.
Then the Nun explained how each of the God’s forms had all three powers.
If one believes Jesus is God, then it is a powerful argument IMO.
Wow, Michael,
That is an impressive description to me also, and I am not in elementary school! It sounds like, and in my mind it looks like, a Hebrew description – so graphic! Thanks for sharing this.
Hi Gayle,
I agree it is a great description, but I think it is probably a bit more Greek than Hebrew 🙂
“If God already knows what I am going to do tomorrow, can it really be my free choice?”
The answer to this question is a solid yes. He does know and yes it is my choice. I must choose Him every day starting with yesterday’s tomorrow.
Love is a choice. Today (the gift of G-d) is a day unlike any other and G-d is very present here and now, but I must (still) choose Him. Just as I must separate myself from all others and (today) choose to love my wife of thirty years, I must choose to love, serve, worship and work for YHWH. And I am totally free to do so (or not). Love is not forced. If it were forced then (of course) it would not be love. Did G-d know yesterday would I would be doing (in this present moment)? Absolutely. Does He know what I will eat for lunch today? Absolutely. Am I free to ‘choose from the menu’? Absolutely.
So what’s the “big deal?” What about all this free choice/sovereignty stuff? – It does make a difference and here is how. We are totally free in the choices we make. Go ahead now.. make a choice, any choice. (Choose you this day who you will serve). Could be “big”, could be “little”, but make a choice. Anybody stopping you from choosing? – Nope. We’re free as can-be knows how to be. Woohoo!
But here’s the kicker. Every choice I make (hello jelly donut) is followed by a ……. what? Every choice we make is followed by a consequence. Ruh-roh. Hello jelly donut. Having eaten said jelly donut I now experience the consequences of my own choosing. (Excuse me.. burp!)
Why didn’t someone stop me before I ate this thing. Oh wait.. what did G-d say about this? Did G-d have anything to say about diet or food? Have I forgotten his words or failed to remember what He has said? -(About a jelly donut?) Are you serious? Is it a ‘sin’ to eat a jelly donut? Well, my (fat) brother, (lol!)- every choice is followed by a consequence. It is the “law” of sowing and reaping. And all of our “free” choices are additive. I am today (right now) the sum total of every “choice” I have ever made. (man- that’s a lot of jelly donuts!). I chose to go to be a little late last nite. The “consequence” this morning? zzzz. Where was G-d? Why didn’t He stop me? lol! Look how fast we whip out the “finger of blame”. lol!- No, no, and no.
I have no one to “blame” except for the old man I shaved this morning. The “fault” squarely rests upon the poor choices he has made (over fifty years worth!). What a dummyhead!
Is it time for a wake-up call? – Yes. The wonderful part of this “law” of sowing and reaping is- I get to choose what is sown. (cool!). This is sometimes referred to as “good choices.” Or better yet- “G-d choices.” And another beautiful thing to consider is the book YHWH has given to guide us. A User’s Manual. Yeah- we know the drill, – when all else fails- read the instructions. (I don’t know whether to laugh or cry..)
Actually, I do know what to do. He has not left me “comfortless” or without instruction. He has not abandoned us to our own (exceedingly dumb) devices. Praise G-d from whom “all blessings flow.” He has made a way for me today to “know” Him. Isn’t that awesome! I get to “choose Him.” I have His permission (and even invitation!) to “follow Him.” This is grand!
He leadeth me- O blessed thought- O words with heavenly comfort fraught. Wher’ere I go.. where e’re I be.. still ’tis G-d’s hand that leadeth me. He is Emmanuel. G-d with us. (Right now, right here- in this present darkness). He is the light of the world.
These are His words. “Come unto me”. This is His invitation. My response? My “choice?” Lord Jesus, I give you (now) my absolute yes. I surrender the “all” of me.
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessèd will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Every choice is followed by a consequence. What are the consequences of “choosing” Him? (James 4:8)
While I do not want to start a discussion of the issues about omniscience, infallibility and free will, I will say this much – and only this much. The Augustinian answer that God knows in advance what I will freely do without consequently constricting my freedom has long been the standard Christian solution to the dilemma. Since Augustine proposed it and Aquinas refined it, Christian doctrine has espoused the infallibility of God’s knowledge and the freedom of the individual. Unfortunately, this solution has come under considerable attack and, in my opinion, fails (I wrote my doctoral dissertation on this topic). I believe that the solution depends on a Greek view of the connection of motion and time. It is actually quite complicated, but the bottom line is that there is no biblical text which demands that I view God’s omniscience as knowledge of the future free will acts of human beings. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, especially when Christian preachers have told us for generations that God knows everything. But obviously there are serious epistemological and moral problems that result from such an unrefined statement. Even in theology, we need to be careful about what we say.
just the facts… G-d knows the end from the beginning. Yes/No? Hey that was a pretty good guess telling us the over three hundred prophesies concerning the Messiah. And then we could “fast forward to the book of the Revelation telling us the song we will be singing “when we get there”. (By the way “someone’s name is written on His robe and on His thigh). If G-d can operate outside the realm of man’s will (and He can and does) and G-d can operate not only (in time) but outside of “time” (chronos vs. kairos)- what’s the problem? Why do we (insignifigant) creatures insist on figuring G-d out? We want so badly to “fit G-d into a test tube!” lol!! It just ain’t gonna happen friends! The only “thing” we have to go by is the very comforting word He has given unto us- “His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not are thoughts. G-d is just a tiny bit bigger than we know. BTW- I’ll take five minutes of trembling before a holy G-d over a four year degree anytime. (not to “put down” those who are seminary trained.. (this is only opinion!).
Hey Carl,
Just wanted to say that over the past year and a half, I’ve really come to appreciate your passion and love for our Lord and Savior.
Your energy is contagious. Your knowledge is apparent. I’ve learned much from you.
And…your sense of humor is great!!! :-)))))
G-d Bless,
Judi
“Would it make a difference in our struggles for righteousness if we contemplated the God of yada? Would we feel His comfort, His guidance or His warning just a little more intensely if we engaged the Hebrew umbrella of knowing.”
God of yada!!!
To day we celebrate Purim in Israel. I have been contemplating the book of Esther; during that whole book, HaShem is not mentioned, but you can feel the reality of G-d in Mordecai’s life. Mordecai also “wakes up” this reality in Esther.
Est 4:13-17 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.
WOW!!!!
Hi Antoinette,
I imagine Nathaniel Hawthorne had Esther and Hathach in mind when he created his heroine, Hester Prynne.
And as a kid, I always wondered where the name Mordecai came from; didn’t Matt Dillon have an old sidekick called Mordecai in Gunsmoke back in the 60’s?
In any case, I know Mordecai reappears a few years later as character in Clint Eastwood’s High Plains drifter in 73.
“I imagine Nathaniel Hawthorne had Esther and Hathach in mind when he created his heroine, Hester Prynne”
Hi Antoinette,
I don’t know where I came up with that idea, but lately I been thinking
That if I were to have become an academic, I would change the title
Of my thesis to The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne’s Anti-Puritan Android