Experience of God

Personal experience of God

Contrasted with academic knowledge

Job 42:5 LEB

5 By the ear’s hearing I heard of you, but now my eye has seen you.

See also Je 31:34; Jn 4:42; Jn 5:39–40; Jas 2:19

Experience of God’s blessing

Psalm 34:8 LEB

8 Taste and see that Yahweh is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

See also 1 Pe 2:3; Heb 6:4–5

Experiencing God through Scripture

Mt 22:29; Jn 5:39–40; Ac 17:11–12; 2 Ti 3:15–17

Knowing God through the Spirit

Romans 8:15–16 LEB

15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself confirms to our spirit that we are children of God,

See also Jn 14:16–17; Jn 14:26; Jn 16:14–15; 1 Co 2:9–10; Is 64:4

Examples of personal encounter with God

Deuteronomy 11:2–7 LEB

2 And you shall realize today that it is not with your children who have not known and who have not seen the discipline of Yahweh your God—his greatness, his strong hand, and his outstretched arm, 3 and his signs and his deeds that he did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to all of his land, 4 and what he did to the army of Egypt and to their horses and to their chariots, and how he made the water of the Red Sea flow over them, when they pursued after them, and so Yahweh has destroyed them, as is the case today, 5 and what he did to you in the desert until you came up to this place, 6 and what he did to Dathan and to Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth wide and swallowed them, their households and their tents, and all of the living creatures that were in their possession and that were following along with them in the midst of all of Israel. 7 The fact of the matter is, your own eyes have seen all of the great deeds of Yahweh that he did.

See also Dt 5:3–4; Ge 32:30 Jacob; Ex 3:3–4 Moses; Is 6:1 Isaiah; Ac 9:3–6 Saul of Tarsus; 2 Co 12:2–4 Paul; Re 1:17 John

Sharing experience of God

Experience of God through his people

Zechariah 8:23 LEB

23 Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from the nations of every language will take hold of the hem of a Judean man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you!” ’ ”

See also Is 45:14; 1 Co 14:24–25

Leaders with experience of God

Joshua 24:31 LEB

31 Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who lived long after Joshua, and who had known all the work that Yahweh did for Israel.

See also Nu 12:8; Jdg 6:22; Ac 1:21–22; 1 Co 15:3–7; 2 Pe 1:16–18

Speaking to future generations

Deuteronomy 4:9–10 LEB

9 “However, take care for yourself and watch your inner self closely, so that you do not forget the things that your eyes have seen, so that they do not slip from your mind all the days of your life; and you shall make them known to your children and to your grandchildren. 10 Remember the day that you stood before Yahweh your God at Horeb when Yahweh said to me, ‘Summon for me the people so that I can tell them my words, that they may learn to fear me all of the days they are alive on the earth and so that they may teach their children.’

See also Ex 10:2; Dt 6:20–21; Job 8:8–9; Ps 71:18

Speaking from personal experience: OT

Deuteronomy 7:18–19 LEB

18 then remember you must not be afraid of them; you must well remember what Yahweh your God did to Pharaoh and to all of Egypt: 19 the great trials that your eyes saw and the signs and the wonders and the workings of the strong hand and the outstretched arm by which Yahweh your God brought you out; so Yahweh your God will do to all of the peoples because of whom you are in fear before them.

See also 1 Sa 17:34–37 David’s experience teaches him to trust God.

The exiles’ confidence is based upon God’s deliverance in the past:

Is 43:14–17; Is 51:9–11

Jeremiah 16:14–15 LEB

14 Therefore look, days are coming,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and it will no longer be said, “As Yahweh lives, who led up the Israelites from the land of Egypt,” 15 but only “As Yahweh lives, who led up the Israelites from the land of the north, and from all the lands where he had driven them,” for I will bring them back to their ground that I gave to their ancestors.

Speaking from personal experience: NT

John 3:11 LEB

11 Truly, truly I say to you, we speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony!

See also Jn 20:18; Ac 4:13; 1 Jn 1:1–3

John 9:25 LEB

25 Then that man replied, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I know—that although I was blind, now I see!”

See also Mk 5:19–20; Jn 4:28–29

Confidence based on past experience

Mt 16:9–10 The disciples’ experience of Jesus Christ’s provision should have taught them not to worry about food; 2 Ti 4:17–18