What the Lord Knows

One of the delights of a new schoolyear is getting to share truths about God with a brand new bunch of children, some of whom might never have heard before that God is all-wise, all-loving, all- powerful, and eternal. And of course, as I teach them, I remind myself of those same truths.

There’s something about speaking those truths out loud to others that never fails to drive them deep into my heart all over again. But this year, I had already been reminded of the amazing truth of God’s omniscience as I worked to journal my way through the book of Psalms.

It started when the phrase “the Lord knoweth” stood out to me one day, and I got excited about studying out all the things God says He knows. Since that would be more of a long-term project, I decided to start with a shorter study of all the verses In the Bible that contain the phrase “the Lord knoweth.”

The results were so encouraging, I thought they might encourage you as well!

Psalm 1:6 “For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall

perish.”

If you have accepted Christ’s offer of forgiveness for sins, He gives you His own righteousness, having paid for your sin with His own blood. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says,

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

If you have exchanged your sin for Christ’s own righteousness, you can know that He knows your way. He knows your path, He knows the rough patch of road you are walking this very day, and He knows every detail of the perfect joy He has in store for you when this life is done. The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous.

Psalm 37:18 “The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.”

The word translated “upright” has the idea of being complete, whole, and entire. When we turn to Christ for salvation, He completes us, empowering us by His Spirit to live for Him the way we are designed to. Colossians 2:9-10 is a beautiful reminder of this truth:

“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power”

If you are complete in Christ through salvation, you can rejoice that God knows your days. He already knows about each day of your life, from birth to death and everything inbetween. It is a comfort to know that whatever kind of day I am having, God knows about it already. But notice also the end of this verse from Psalm 37. God knows our days, but He also has our eternal inheritance, our place in Heaven all planned out. Here is what Jesus said about this:

“In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-3

When your day gets tough, take it to the Lord, and refresh your weary heart with the joy awaiting you in the place Christ has already prepared for you in your Heavenly Father’s house.

Psalm 94:11 “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.” (Also quoted in 1 Corinthians 3:20)

Sometimes this verse is encouraging, and sometimes it’s convicting. God knows our thoughts—each and every one of them. And He know that they are “vanity”. This word literally means vapor, or breath. It has the idea of something transitory and unsatisfactory. Our thoughts are fleeting, and I can only imagine how unsatisfactory my thoughts might be before a perfectly holy, just, and righteous God! Psalm 119:113 contrasts these vain thoughts with the Word of God:

 “I hate vain thoughts: but Thy law do I love.

The antidote for worthless, empty, transitory thoughts is the filling of our minds with the Word of God. As Romans 12:2 says,

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

If you are struggling with your thoughts, remember that you can run to God with them, because He already knows them! There is nothing you can confess to God that He does not already know about, nothing that will surprise Him. The only hindrance to running to God for help with wayward thoughts is our own pride.

2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

This is another encouraging truth: God knows those who are His. This verse refers to Nahum 1:7, which says,

“The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.”

Isn’t it amazing to know that the Lord knows you? He knows His own. Jesus puts it this way in John 10:14:

“I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.”

And again in verse 27-28 of the same chapter, He says,

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”

Jesus Himself, your Good Shepherd, knows you. Just as a shepherd knows each sheep, their foibles and follies, their good points and bad, Jesus knows you. He knows what you struggle with, He knows when you try and when you fail. He knows what brings you joy and what gets you down. He knows every detail of your life—and He loves you.

2 Peter 2:9 “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”

This truth goes hand in hand with the last one. God knows you. And because He knows you in such great detail, He knows how to deliver you when you are tempted. All we have to do is let Him. James 4:7 gets to the heart of this:

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and He will flee from you.”

We cannot triumph over temptation without the power of God helping us. I think God designed it to work that way because He knows what a big part pride plays in our struggle against temptation. Like a toddler, we want to do it ourselves. The world around us encourages this mindset of self-reliance. The “trust yourself”, “believe in yourself”, “she believed she could and so she did” sort of slogans the world throws at us are designed to boost our pride, to give us a false sense of confidence in ourselves.  But God’s way is different.

“But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)

Our God knows how to deliver us out of temptation: but we need to be submitted to Him, willing to take His way out. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

So, dear Reader, which of these truths about God’s omniscience is the Holy Spirit pointing out to you today? How does He want you to respond?

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” 

Jeremiah 29:11