God Knows Us Completely

Have you ever noticed that you can know someone for a very long time and still be surprised by them? Just the other day a friend I’ve known for 11 or 12 years told me they liked to paint. I never knew that. What’s more, we never completely know ourselves.

On the other hand, God’s knowledge of us is complete and perfect.

Psalm 139:1–6 NIV84

O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

We say that God is omniscient, that He knows everything, but do we apply that knowledge to His knowing all about us?

Not only has God come to be with us and dwell in us so that we can live closely in His presence, He knows us better than we know ourselves. Does that thought make us nervous? Have you ever thought, “If that person really knew what I’m like they would want to be with me.” Do we think that about God? We don’t need to worry. He doesn’t love us because we are lovable but because He is love.

Searched

It is an active knowledge, not just observing but searching out, thoroughly examining. He explores our innermost being.

Know

Because of His searching God knows all about us.

What I do – every activity

What I think

Includes our motives

From afar does not mean distance in space but in time, even before I’m aware of thinking it.

Where I go – from the beginning of the day to the very end

All my ways – my habits

What I’ll say, even before I start to speak – sometimes I’m not even sure what will come out of my mouth.

Hem me in

Surround for protection

Laid Your hand upon me

Also for protection and care, guidance

Our response

God’s total knowledge of us can free us to be ourselves with God. We don’t need to try and hide anything or put on a mask, we don’t have to pretend to be something we’re not. The amazing thing is that God loves us anyway and nothing we will ever do will change that.

When we fully appreciate how well God’s knows us, will it make a difference in the way we live? If I am looking to my own self-pleasing and away from God, I shall feel his overwhelming knowledge of me as a threat. As soon as I turn from sin and back to him, it becomes a comfort.

Awe – have a deeper reverence for God.

Recognize how great God is

Seek to please Him by serving Him – in gratitude

1 Chronicles 28:9 NIV84

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.