Known

“O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me”.  Psalms 139:1 

Known –  The root (yada) of this word occurs nearly 1000 times.  It signifies the many contexts of gaining information through the senses.  It is used of God’s understanding of men as well as our understanding of God.  It describes the context of being acquainted with other persons, of distinguishing between good and evil, of moral insight and judgment and of the prophetic revelation directly to men of God’s will.  It is also used euphemistically to describe sexual intercourse and sexual perversions.

The Bible uses this word to proclaim God’s complete knowledge of creation.  Nothing can be hidden from His understanding.  God’s perception and recognition extend to every act and circumstance.  For Christians, this has the powerful consequence that none of our secrets were secret to God.  No matter how much we tried to cover up our dehumanizing compulsions and our sinful attitudes, God saw everything about us.  For many of us, this truth was terrifying.  We feared God as the all-observant heavenly policeman.  But through recovery, we have come to see that God’s full recognition of who we are is not about punishment but about care and affirmation.  God loves us in spite (or perhaps because) of our sinful addictions.  He knows everything about what we have done, and He still forgives, cares and grants His blessings. 

Sin has an awful power.  It is the power to convince me that even though I know that God knows all about me, I still think that somehow I can hide who I am.  God engineers my life so that there are moments when this massive delusion is broken and I see myself as He sees me.  Those are moments of great spiritual awakening.  They are usually very painful.  We suddenly wake and discover that we are not nearly as honest or kind or gentle or patient as we thought.  We are filled with guilt and shame.  Stay in that moment long enough to realize that God knows who you are – and He loves you.

When God allows us a moment of spiritual awakening, take that hurt and turn it over to Him.  It is so difficult to admit our failures and weaknesses.  We want to run or fight.  Next time, just stop.  God knows you.  Give Him your guilt and shame.  Let His knowing become your knowing.  Then this verse will become a verse of hope.  God knows me, and still He wants to be my heavenly Father.  Thank God that He really does know me.  I am not alone.