UNDERSTANDING GOD (2)

“But let him who glories glory in this, that he UNDERSTANDS and KNOWS ME...” – Jeremiah 9:24a 

There is no greater premise for godly boasting than the unique privilege of UNDERSTANDING GOD: “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he UNDERSTANDS and KNOWS ME, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord” (Jer.9: 23-24). Understanding and knowing God should be the greatest goal and highest pursuit in life!

The context of Jeremiah’s prophecy was one of extreme wickedness: rebellion against God, falsehood, idolatory, sacrificing children to Moloch, and priests who did not know God. Hosea 4: 1-2 says of a similar context: “…There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed.” A failure to know and understand God will always result in sin against Him. That’s why He calls our hearts away from life’s empty aims: self-wisdom, human might, and vain riches. God told Judah to not boast and place confidence in those things that made them feel worth and value.

Some people think of God merely as someone who is supposed to help them to live the kind of life that they want to live, instead of Someone that they are supposed to submit and surrender to. Far too many people fall into this category. In ‘The Knowledge of the Holy,’ A. W. Tozer laments this low view of God and limited recognition of His Majesty: “The low view of God, entertained almost universally among Christians, is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us. Certainly, we know that the world does not know God. How tragic is it when the Church does not know God!” This lack of understanding of God lies at the root of much of the weakness being witnessed in the Church.

The message of “ME” has invaded the Church: Thinking that life revolves around ME and that God is supposed to serve ME. Whereas, Jesus says, to have a better life, ME has to take a back seat, and God the Driver’s Seat! Hosea 6:6 says, “For I  desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” We must be wary of seeking practical applications prematurely without actually understanding the One Whom we’re trying to love for. We need to know and understand God first and above all else.

It should be the passion of every Believer in Christ to grow in Understanding God. When we make this our main duty, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord. What higher, more exalted, and more compelling goal can there be than to understand and know God?