UNDERSTANDING GOD (1)

“God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who UNDERSTAND, who SEEK GOD”– Psalm 53:2 

Key among the qualities Believers should most cherish to cultivate is the Virtue of UNDERSTANDING GOD: “God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who UNDERSTAND, who SEEK GOD” (Psa.53:2). It takes understanding to seek and passionately pursue God. This verse presents the divine perspective on humanity. God looks down on humankind from His exalted position in heaven, for human beings who understand spiritual truth enough to seek for Him. As with other references to God, the explanation is given in human terms. God is omniscient; hence, not literally seeking information – He already knows. The idea is of Him paying special attention.

Nothing escapes the All-seeing Eye of the Most High God: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb.4:13). When Hagar fled from sarai, she received a visit and a revelation from the angel of the Lord. She was in a remote place on that occasion, but she was not out of the Lord’s Divine Radar: “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees, for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” (Gen.16:13). When God searches hearts and minds, including yours and mine, what does He see there? Pride of Ignorance and Foolishness or Humility to Understand Him?

The first three verses of this psalm describe the folly of those who deny God’s existence: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” (v.1). It then explained God’s view of humanity, as quoted in the New Testament: “...There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who UNDERSTANDS; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one ... For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:10-12, 23). Into this pit of pervasive depravity, God thrust His Son with His quickening Life: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses an sins” (Eph.2:1).

Oh! That’s we’ll know and understand God as the Seeking God! We needed His Holy Mercy to seek after us; on our own, we wouldn’t have sought after Him. Everything that is good in us is authored by God’s Grace to us, through us, and in us. Any desire to seek after God is the result of Him running after us, even though we were running from Him! By the same Grace, we are drawn into closer relationship with, and deeper understanding of Him, to produce in and and through us, good works to the Glory of His Name. The Ultimate Result – JOY: “When God brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad” (v.6b).