The Omniscience of God

The idea that God is all knowing is a fairly common one.

The term for this is Omniscience

Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs Omniscience: God Sees and Knows

Omniscient is a word that means “knowing everything.”

We may readily accept God knows everything, but how does/ did he come to this knowledge?

Think of how you learn?

You and I learn by observation.

God is not like this.

He is all-knowing by nature.

His knowledge is absolutely perfect.

It is innate- meaning he doesn’t learn.

It is complete, unlike ours.

His knowledge knows no ends.

God knows all past, present, and future events, and has declared that they come to pass.

Isaiah 46:8-10 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

He knows every thing about his creation, but so much more than this.

1 Chron. 28:9

9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

God knows the heart and intention behind everything you do. There is no stone that goes unturned from the almighty.

Lets look at David reflecting on this truth.

Psalm 139:1–6

V1

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

David begins with a clear recognition that God has searched Him and that God knows everything about Him.

He is going to show this in further detail by using a series of opposites.

V. 2-3

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

David is attempting to show that God knows all the actions of His life.

“Every emotion, feeling, idea, thought, conception, resolve, aim, doubt, motive, perplexity, and anxious moment lies before You like an open book”- Sam Storms

There is no action or thought that God is not keenly aware of.

V.4

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

Every single word, whether blessing or curse, God is aware. Every wandering eye, every unjust action.

V. 5

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

God’s expansive knwldege hems us in.

There is no realm to escape, which we will see in the next stanza.

Before God you and I lay bare like an open book.

Every sin that we may hide from our neighbors, God is aware. Every thought, meal, or choice God knows it. I cannot escape the all-knowingness of God. God knows everything about me.

The question for us is how does this make us feel? How do we react to such a fact?

V.6

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”

David’s words here are somewhat ambiguous.

They seem to be out of adoration, rightfully so.

However the word we translate as wonderful can also mean difficult or overwhelming.

This is likely on purpose.

The question for you today is how do you respond to the omniscience of God?

There are a two appropriate responses.

It should frighten me to my core if I don’t know Christ, or if I am uncertain about my eternal destiny. Because God knows my corruption better than any, and when the books are open I will answer for it all.

As a Christian, my first response to this should be praise, because God knows everything about you and still has chosen to love you.

This awareness of God’s omniscience should be a motivator for us to pursue holiness.

It also means God knows all the things that lie before me, and promises to work them for my good.

So what’s your response? Is it comfort or peril?

Discussion Questions:

How was God’s knowledge attained? Was it learned or something that is naturally a part of Him?

What is your response to this question? Do you see God being omniscient as a comfort, or is it something that is intimidating? Or both?

Job was a man tested by Satan, who questioned God. Read God’s response to Him (Job 38:1-7) and then Job’s response to God (Job 42:1-6). How did Job respond to God? How can we model this?