Boast in this: That You Understand and Know God

God, through the prophet Jeremiah, says,

Thus says 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, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

What does it mean to understand and know the Lord?

Well the idea is a progress that begins with salvation and continues through eternity.

Yes, in one since salvation is immediate "for everyone who calls on the will be saved" (Romans 10:13). And John tells us, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life" (1John 5:13).

But there is a sense in which salvation is a progression. Paul writes in to the Corinthian believers, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are BEING saved it is the power of God" (1Corinthians 1:18). And Paul prays for the Ephesian believers saying, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might" (Ephesians 1:17-19).

So there is a progression in salvation, a growing that takes place. Therefore, when God says in Jeremiah that our boast is in knowing and understanding God, not to be only a saving knowledge of Him, but an ever deepening understanding of Him.

The more deeply we know God the more rightly we see our selves and the more we know ourselves rightly the more we understand our absolute need for God and the more we see our need for God the more glorious He becomes to us. This is what Paul is praying for in the hearts and minds of the Ephesians--and for us.

So this journey of knowing and understanding God is humbling because we will realize our own depravity, that there is nothing in us that would cause God to save us.

Our emotions will run wild as we see the depths of our own sin and the even deeper truth of God's grace, that God has called His people by their name--individually and personally "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep" (John 10:14-15).

Think about this the knowledge of God. His knowledge is perfect. He knows you completely. There is nothing hidden from God. There is no secret sin that He does not know about you. There is no accusation given against you that He does not already know. He knew you fully and completely before He created you. And He knew you fully and completely when He chose to save you before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4). And still He has called you--individually and personally--unto Himself, bearing your sin on the cross.

Knowing and understanding God is a personal journey and it is an emotional journey. But it is also a very practical journey because growing in a knowledge of God produces obedience to Christ and obedience produces a deeper knowledge of God. You cannot grow in a true knowledge of God and not be continually transformed by His grace.

God invites us to know Him. He has given us His Word, so that we can understand Him. Let's embark on this thrilling journey of knowing God.

Oh Father, grant us eyes to see the wonderful things in Your law and in seeing them may we behold the beauty of who You so that our souls will be satisfied in Christ. Amen!