Knowing God

Due to the advent of social media, how a person is “known” has changed remarkably. For instance, one can have a lucrative career simply from being “known” (famous) on Instagram. Most people are aware that Instagram is a photo and video sharing social network service.

Similar to other social media applications, a person can “follow” his or her favorite Instagrammers to view their latest posts, and they can do the same in return. The application tracks how many followers a person has. One is considered an Instagram influencer if he of she has a large following.

Professional Instagrammers are able to benefit from having a significant number of followers. Macro influencers have anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million followers, and companies often compensate them—based upon their audience size—to visit their businesses and post their thoughts. Some of these influencers can make anywhere from $3,000-6,000 for a single post. Instagram is just one medium to become known (famous).

Of course, much work is expended for the photos and videos posted on Instagram. One must use optimal lighting, and everyone must look great and everything be placed strategically without seeming artificial. Photos will be airbrushed and videos edited meticulously. Image is primary! Social media has created a culture that coerces one to promote the best possible image, and generally intensifies that compulsion by providing the platform for discriminating what images to share—including those that encourage jealousy as one “humbly” features the week’s best moments, and even carefully selected pictures of one’s meals.

The culture today allows for one to live with a caricature (image) of one’s true self, as opposed to character determining and reflecting a person’s identity. When image is more desirable and popular than character, life can become superficial in relation to others. To live in such a manner is to miss the opportunity to live in authentic community.

The psalmist declared, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me” (Ps 139:1). To be “known” by God is radically different than what occurs with social media. The sense in which God knows a person is experiential, intimate, and thorough; it is more complicated, even disorderly at times, yet that kind of vulnerability is more satisfying. To be known biblically does require transparency with others, letting them know your strengths and weaknesses.

Do you allow others to ask, “Is your soul well?” Do you either knowingly or instinctively give the impression that you are better than you are? The truthful answer to that question indicates whether a person is living hypocritically or with integrity. To be honest, the majority of people desire the type of community in which they are truly known.

The emphasis of Psalm 138 is a life of thanksgiving, both individually and communally. While it is vital for others to know our true character, Psalm 139 reveals that the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and omnibenevolent God knows the hearts and minds of people entirely. God knows His creatures thoroughly, even to how many hairs are on a person’s head (Matt 10:30; Luke 12:7). The truth that the Lord God is infinite yet intimate “is too wonderful” to comprehend (Ps 139:6a). Psalm 140 demonstrates the psalmist’s transparency in crying desperately for the Lord’s deliverance in a time of troubling affliction.

Ignorance of God’s nature and how to enjoy fellowship with Him, will always be the basis for a weakened spirituality. Psalms 138—140 show that the poet knew God vividly. Knowing God is certainly joyful, yet equally important are the challenges, disappointments, and self-denial involved in that knowledge (what may be regarded as cross-bearing; cf. Matt 16:24-26). While it is easy to respond to life’s “crosses” as disheartening and undesirable, Scripture exhorts the believer to “consider it all joy … when you encounter various trials” (Jas 1:2). Truly knowing God is not thinking in terms of loss but gain. Paul could write: “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him … that I may know Him…” (Phil 3:7-10). What was lost for the sake of Christ is rubbish and thus not worth consideration. What person contemplates refuse?

Knowledge of God is what brings contentment, joy, and satisfaction in life. The prophet Jeremiah proclaimed the words of the Lord: “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me…” (Jer 9:23-24). Knowledge of God is the greatest pleasure. The psalmist demonstrates how to know God in terms of His provision, greatness, and deliverance.

KNOWING GOD’S PROVISION
(Ps 138) Psalm 138 is appropriately placed in the Psalter, because the previous hymn expressed the inability to sing “in a foreign land” (Ps 137:4). However, in Psalm 138, the hymnist declares that “all the kings of the earth” will praise God (v. 4). Psalm 137 expresses the need for silence before one’s tormentors, yet now in Psalm 138 the excellence of a bold testimony is highlighted. There is a time one does not cast “pearls before swine” (Matt 7:6), and another in which “woe” is declared for not speaking (1 Cor 9:16).

The psalmist had many reasons to express thanksgiving and used a repetition of verbs for praise: “I will give … sing … bow down … give thanks.” David boldly declared to withhold nothing in his praise to God (“with all my heart”). In declaring his allegiance to God alone, David witnessed against the powerlessness of idols (“the gods,” Ps 138:1). His worship was in accordance with God’s direction (“toward Your holy temple,” 2a). His “lovingkindness” and “truth” are reasons to praise God (v. 2b), who has magnified His “word” beyond His very “name,” His character (v. 2c). David’s practical reasons for praising and thanking God were that the Lord “answered” and strengthened him spiritually (v. 3).

When other kings (like David) would know the Lord’s greatness, they would also worship Him (vv. 4-5; cf. 1 Kgs 10:1-13). Scripture consistently testifies to the necessity for those in positions of authority to hear God’s saving truth (cf. 1 Tim 2:1-4), which requires sending someone faithful to proclaim that message (Rom 10:14-15). The psalmist expected these leaders to humbly guide others in communal adoration, praise, and thanksgiving to the Lord (Ps 138:4-6). Earthly glory is nothing compared to God’s eternal splendor (vv. 6-8).

KNOWING GOD’S GREATNESS
(Ps 139) The Lord “knows” us perfectly. God is present everywhere, yet still involved personally in each individual’s life, down to the most infinitesimal level. He created life and presides over every aspect of each life. God knows every action, attitude, thought, and word (Ps 139:1-6). “Such knowledge is too wonderful” to comprehend (v. 6a), yet it is a comforting reality that God is infinite yet intimate.

God knows (Heb. yadah) the very depths of a person’s being (v. 1), which is both comforting and convicting, in addition to humbling. Not only was the psalmist overwhelmed with the fact that God is all-knowing (omniscient), but also that He is all-present (omnipresent) (vv. 7-12). The all-knowing, all-present God preciously creates each person’s “inward parts.” He has the personal care and concern to form each child and know each person prior to birth, as a child (another person) conceived and developing in its “mother’s womb” (v. 13). Truly, every human being is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (v. 14). Even when little more than a physical being (“my frame”) in the womb and unborn (“made in secret”), God has intent for the undeveloped embryo (“unformed substance”) (vv. 15-16a). God’s omniscience is not limited to the past but extends to the future. He knows all a person’s “days” as if written in a book (v. 16b-d).

At the precious nature of God’s “thoughts”—the magnificence of His purposes—one can only respond with amazement and wonder (vv. 17-18). The psalmist is overwhelmed with God’s purposes, yet recognizes the destructive nature of those who scheme and rebel against God’s sovereignty (vv. 19-20). He longs for justice and righteousness in the earth (vv. 19-22). Humility is proper in response to God’s greatness (vv. 23-24).

KNOWING GOD’S DELIVERANCE
(Ps 140) During the Civil War, President Lincoln was purportedly asked whether he believed God was on the side of the Confederacy. Lincoln replied, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side. My greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” When the psalmist was falsely accused (Ps 140:1-5), he prayed for the Lord’s rescue because God is the righteous Judge (vv. 6-8, 12-13). David knew he was on God’s side, and could pray for the Lord to defeat the plans of his enemies and bring them to judgment (vv. 9-11).

David was confident that God would preserve him (vv. 6-8, 12-13). Scripture declares, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12). Always call upon God for deliverance when experiencing spiritual attack. God alone can comfort, deliver, and strengthen the one who trusts in Him. He will never forsake those who belong to Him (1 Kgs 8:57; Heb 13:5).

Midnight Call - 06/2024