God is All-Knowing
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Key Verse: “There is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Selected Scripture: |
DAVID, IDENTIFIED AS THE author of this psalm, expresses its overall theme concerning God’s intimate knowledge of every facet of his being. “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.”—Ps. 139:1
“Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”—vss. 2,3
In our Key Verse, David asserts that God knew his thoughts even before he spoke, as well as his disposition of mind. This attribute of the Creator’s omniscience should lead all who reverence the Almighty to contemplate the purest thoughts possible, that they might be most pleasing to the Heavenly Father.
As with other Old Testament admonitions, an awareness by Christians of the manner in which God searches our minds and hearts should make us appreciate the need for entertaining the highest standards of righteousness to remain in the Heavenly Father’s favor.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul provides us a standard for our thoughts. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”—Phil. 4:8
The psalmist declares the futility in trying to escape from God’s presence though even some of his servants have attempted to do so. One such failed attempt relates to Jonah’s disobedience in not heeding the Heavenly Father’s commandment to go and speak against the wickedness of the inhabitants of Nineveh. Instead, Jonah traveled in an opposite direction to Tarshish and was chastised through a series of difficult experiences, including being swallowed by a great fish when the sailors aboard the ship on which he traveled cast the Lord’s prophet overboard into the sea. When subsequently given a second chance to follow God’s command, Jonah then went to Nineveh to fulfill his assigned mission.
“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.”—I Cor. 3:18,19
This passage underscores the limitless knowledge possessed by God and the ineptitude of the human family by comparison. Additionally, we read, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (II Chron. 16:9) Those followers of Christ who have been spiritually enlightened have been blessed abundantly by realizing his presence and wisdom in guiding their lives.
How wonderful it will be in God’s future kingdom when everyone will acknowledge this simple truth. “They shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”—Heb. 8:11,12