Know Your God

Appearing over 225 times in the NT, ginōskō is the verb related to γνῶσις (gnōsis, “knowledge”). Although used less often in the NT than οἶδα (oida), ginōskō is the basic Greek verb for knowing. One can cognitively know or be ignorant of facts (Matt 12:15; John 7:27; Acts 19:35; Col 4:8). One can understand knowledge received (Matt 10:26; John 8:32; Acts 17:20; Eph 3:19) or fail to understand knowledge received (1 Cor 2:8). Not to know God’s ways is to be disobedient (Heb 3:10; 8:11; 1 John 3:6), but to know God is to obey his commands

I believe that many people misunderstand the bible when it comes to knowing their God.

considering that the Bible is deemed as the word of God…you could say to better know God is the entire purpose of scripture!

Not only do we better now God on an informal basis by reading the bible, we also establish a personal relationship with the holiness of God..

We better understand his ways and our purpose.

our relationship with God is not only a feeling but as well, in understanding

can a person really “know God” without any knowledge or understanding?

2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

through grace and knowledge we grow spiritually....

a relationship with God is not just automatic but is established in time according to his grace....through the persistence of our faithfulness to him.

John 17:3 NKJV

3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

the way people are lead astray is in their lack of knowledge and relationship with God

there was a king, in the bible, that had ruled for nearly forty years, and his nation had grown and prospered under the wise administration of that king.

But now the king was old, and was nearing the end of his life.

In order to reaffirm the appointment of his successor and to enlist the nation’s support of him, the king summoned all the princes and officials from throughout the land.

In time, these many leaders gathered to the capital city of Jerusalem, and the aged King gave them wise parting counsel.

this king was King David.

1 Chronicles 28:8–9 NKJV

8 Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever. 9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

He encouraged them to “take care and search for all the commandments of Jehovah.”

for us to fully know our God…we must fully commit to and fully seek to understand the God that we profess to serve and love.

there is only one way to fully know our God and that is when we serve him with everything possible that is within us.

with every fiber of our being

with every bit of strength we can muster

with a commitment level that is commensurate to what we say and profess.

with a heart full of thanksgiving....not complaining and groveling and seemingly with a attitude of remorse.

with a continual looking forward to that day when we shall meet him in the air....and forever be with him.

what a day that will be…when my Jesus I shall see....when i look upon his face....the one who saved me by his grace.

Mark 12:30 NKJV

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

this must be our goal, not only in starting, but in finishing.

Then the king directed his attention toward the successor to the throne and, before those congregated , said this to him:

“And you, Solomon my son:

know the God of your father

and serve him with a complete heart

and with a delightful soul;

and do this, not only for yourself, but that though might leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.

for all hearts Jehovah is searching, and every inclination of the thoughts he is discerning.

If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you; but if you leave him, he will cast you off forever.”—1 Chron. 28:8, 9.

What an awesome counsel for a father to give his son!

How appropriate was it for David to instruct Solomon before the prominent officials of the entire nation to:

know God and to search for Him!

It is equally appropriate that we as parents give similar instructions to our children today.

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

we must train our children to know their God.....we simply do our best and let God do the rest.

but the question we must ask is what did King David mean by saying: “Know the God of your father”?

Did King David simply mean that Solomon should know that his God was Jehovah, and not Molech, Baal or some other deity?

for us to understand this we must know what is involved in knowing God?

this in-devour must first start with this premise:

Humanity, potential with God

All great knowledge is this, for a man to know that he himself by himself is nothing; and that, whatever he is, he is from God and on account of God.

Augustine of Hippo

The significance of the word “Know”

The word “know” can carry a wide range of meanings.

For example, a person Who had never met him might say: “Yes, I know Dwight Eisenhower, He is the former president of the United States.

” On the other hand, another person who has, on numerous occasions, seen the former president might acknowledge: “No, I don’t know Mr. Eisenhower.”

In the first instance, “know” simply denoted that the person had knowledge of Mr. Eisenhower’s former position as president of the United States.

In the latter instance, however, “know” had reference to a personal acquaintance with the former president, which the person admittedly did not have.

Thus, you might know that a person exists and know the title of his position, and yet not know the person intimately as a close friend or companion.

In the Hebrew language spoken by King David the Hebrew word for “know” is: yada‘, which had a similar wide range of meaning.

1 Samuel 2:12 NKJV

12 Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.

This was the time, for instance, when the high priest Eli’s sons ministered at Jehovah’s tabernacle at Shiloh

These priests were extremely bad, the Bible records saying: “Now the sons of Eli were corrupt or base men; they knew not Jehovah.” or the Lord.

Although it is said, “they knew not Jehovah,” obviously these priests did know Of the God at whose tabernacle they were serving..

The Hebrew word for “know” in this instance denoted more than merely having knowledge regarding God’s name and certain facts about him.

Thus, some translations render the passage, “they had no regard,” “they cared nothing for,” or, “they did not acknowledge Jehovah.”

The priests knew who Jehovah was, but they had not developed an appreciation of him so as to be moved to carry on his worship faithfully.

their desires where not towards the things of God.

A somewhat similar use of the Hebrew word is found at 1 Kings:

1 Kings 9:27 NKJV

27 Then Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, seamen who knew the sea, to work with the servants of Solomon.

” The expression “knowing the sea” didn’t mean that the shipmen of Hiram had only a casual knowledge of the sea, having simply heard about the sea, or perhaps only seeing it on a previous occasion.

the Hebrew word here referred rather to an intimate familiarity with the sea and its behavior.

Thus, other translations say that the shipmen “had knowledge of the sea” or “were familiar with the sea.”

there are numerous examples like this that are recorded in the bible.....

through out the bible, we can easily see, that the Hebrew word for “know” can refer to a close friendship or intimate relationship.

this being based upon:

intimate knowledge or merely head knowledge

So then we ask, how does this information help us to appreciate David’s instruction to his son:

“Know the God of your father”?

And what then, does it impress upon us, as followers of Christ.

The Depth of Knowing God

These passages we’ve read, allows us to understand and appreciate the real significance to David’s fatherly counsel.

Though at the time his son was a young man, he already knew of God.

I’m sure that Solomon had access to many, if not all of the inspired Hebrew Scriptures,

and it is only reasonable to believe that David had seen to it that he was acquainted with these writings about God.

So in giving his counsel to ‘know God,’ David meant much more than for Solomon to know a few fundamental facts about God, such as his name, his being from everlasting to everlasting, and so forth.

Rather, David desired that Solomon come to know Jehovah God in a real, personal and intimate way.

To follow God in all his commandments and with all of his heart in full understanding and obedience.

He taught him that, God should be much more to him than just a name or a doctrine that is read from a book.

God is not merely a word that has been committed to paper, or a figment of man’s imagination.

He desired that he know him in a way more powerful and intimate, rather than in just knowing that he exists.

A God to whom we can draw close to in prayer, and to whom we renders worship and obedience to.

One that is given and deserves first place.

1 Samuel 2:34–35 NKJV

34 Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. 35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

Eli’s sons, High priests, failed to appreciate this; “they knew not God,” and were cut off for disregarding His instructions. (1 Sam. 2:34)

David, on the other hand, wanted his son Solomon always to acknowledge and have respect for Jehovah God and His laws.

King David wanted his son Solomon to know God in the sense of becoming God’s intimate friend.

This meant that Gods interests must become Solomon’s interests,

his behaviors an imitation and reflection of God’s ways,

and his work that should be directed and ordained by God and for the purpose of God.

This could only be achieved by learning of God’s requirements and purposes and letting knowledge penetrate his heart.

After learning the will of God, he must do it.

And, too, Solomon needed to keep in regular communication with God through prayer.

Only in this way could he really come to know Jehovah

King David’s appointment and declaration to his son came not by a whim....but rather through learned experiences

perhaps, through a desire for his son to be the king, that at times, he was not.

to perhaps not make the same mistakes he had......

A Treasured Relationship

serving God and knowing God is the same today and is so vitally important to the believer and to our success as a christian.

but the only way it is going to have a meaningful impact in our lives, is when we allow it to penetrate our hearts

the heart is the core of one's innermost character, feelings, or inclinations....it is, who we are

when something gets into our heart, we no longer view it as optional…but rather, essential and of vital importance...

ESSENTIAL, FUNDAMENTAL, VITAL, CARDINAL meaning so important as to be indispensable.

indispensable meaning: not subject to being set aside.

something that cannot be lived without

Vital meaning: of the utmost importance

It is, therefore, one that should be guarded and nurtured and studied, for close acquaintances can again become strangers.

This occurs frequently in the marriage relationship.

Couples who once were very close have often been noted to drift apart, and have even said: “We live in the same house, but we are complete strangers.” Why does this happen?

It is principally because couples no longer discuss matters with each other, they lack concern about what the other is doing and they fail to share common interests any longer.

A persons relationship with God can deteriorate through similar neglect.

After learning about God by studying his Word and regularly spending time with him (prayer, study of his word, attending the house of God, etc.) we allow His qualities to sink into your heart. when we have truly come to know God we in turn begin to imitate his love, kindness, goodness, long-suffering and other wonderful qualities.