To Know and Be Known

I've been slowly making my way through (and by slowly I mean I'm only on chapter 3) of the book Knowing God  by J.I. Packer.  It's pages are filled with wisdom that I have to chew slowly and take notes over. In three chapters, the Holy Spirit has brought to my mind much conviction and in those moments I must cease reading and commence in repenting.

As I was reading two nights ago, I realized through some of the text that my desire to know about God has often trumped my desire to know God.  Good theology is a good, God honoring thing...but having much knowledge of God and knowing His heart and character are separate things.  In the darkest days of my life, God has drawn me to His heart and I have known Him.  God has given me a burning desire to know Him in all seasons, all times.

I have a personal fascination with the lives of the prophets.  I love studying their lives, the messages they convey, and their hearts poured out in the words of scripture.  I have lately been reading in Jeremiah.  Tonight, God brought me to be in awe of Him through His words in chapter 9.

What is astonishing is His expression of wrath toward them because, "'they do not know me,' says the Lord." (verse 3), and again in verse 6, "'Through deceit they refuse to know Me.' says the Lord." 


We sing lots of songs about the heart and character of God.  We sing about His love for us, His romance toward us, His continuing nature to draw us to Him.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." Proverbs 1:7a

But what about knowing Him? Do we really and truly know God? Is that the desire of our hearts in all our scripture reading, small group meeting, overseas traveling, and worship music singing?

In the beginning of the chapter, God continues to outline His anger toward the people of Israel.  He says He is angry with them because they are liars (verse 3) and a host of other things. In verse 12, God searches for a wise man who will speak His words. In verses 13 and 14, He speaks out against the Israelites again. Why?

They have forsaken His law, they have not obeyed His voice, and they have walked according to the dictates of their own hearts and after the gods their fathers have taught them to worship.

May God bring us repentant hearts.  There are many false gods our fathers have taught us to worship.  We have followed the dictates of our own hearts.  We have disobeyed.

Worst of all, we have refused to know Him. May He turn our hearts back to Him.

"'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.'"