My God KNOWS - Psalms 1 thru 5

How was your journey through Psalms 1-5 this past week? Did you feel a little lost trying to figure out what this is supposed to look like? Starting something new always feels a little awkward but keep going! God wants you to know Him more fully!

As we started this study in Psalms, I questioned – Would you do it? Would you think it was too simple? Maybe it was a silly idea… But my heart and mind are fixed on knowing God even more now...

Halfway through writing this, I had to run an errand. As I drove, I turned on a podcast from Revive Our Hearts. It reminded me that knowing God must come first – before we talk about who we are or what God is calling us to do. 2 Peter 3:18 commands us, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and to the day of eternity.” (emphasis mine). We are to KNOW HIM more – not as we suppose Him to be, but as He has revealed Himself in His Word.

In this podcast, a young mom who is weeks from dying of cancer – and knows it – urges what is most on her heart – KNOW GOD. She said, “There is a natural tendency within us to try and make God who we think He is or who we think He ought to be. If all is well in our world, our view of God is unchallenged. He is good. He is loving. He is fair. But when things start to go awry, that is when our true view of God is revealed.”

She quoted Steve Lawson (in his book Made in His Image), “Whenever we lose a right view of God, everything else gets out of perspective. Essentially, our view of God will inform our view of everything else. It will be the lens through which we perceive reality, and it will shape our thoughts, worldview, attitudes, and perceptions.”

She cited Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” – “which is to say,” she added, “we are changed by what we know.”

(You can find the podcast here: https://www.reviveourhearts.com/podcast/revive-our-hearts/time-is-terribly-short/)

So, here we are trekking through the Psalms on a quest to discover and recall who God is in truth – to KNOW Him as He has revealed Himself to be.

After the second day, I tossed my notebook – too cumbersome – and changed to notecards. I am writing out the verses on cards indexed by the “God-truth” found in them. Mind you, they are certainly not comprehensive! So, be encouraged – use whatever works best for you so you can remember the things God is teaching you about Himself!

I also start each day with a review. This helps me meditate all day long on who my God is. It has given me comfort, hope, strength, and purpose; and has resulted in me speaking these truths about Him to others. And I’ve seen hearts conform to the image of Christ because of the truth revealed in the Word.

What did I learn? First of all, that I too often take the Word for granted. Psalm 1 is quite familiar, and I was annoyed at how quickly I sped through it thinking I knew what was in there. It’s the first whole chapter of Scripture that I committed to memory AND it’s a beloved Psalm!! Zip! Done! I was through Psalm 1 – But wait! There’s supposed to be more! What did I learn of God in that psalm? Well…

My takeaway was stated in verse 6 –

“for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

My card reads very simply – MY GOD KNOWS. But my understanding of this God-truth was informed through the entire psalm…

• God calls all people to delight in His law (Scripture), meditating on it day and night. That must mean God KNOWS His law is good, and He delights in it, also.
• He said the righteous (those who delight in God’s law) are like trees… planted, watered, and producing fruit… sustained, not by their own hand, but by that which God provides. God KNOWS what is best.
• He is the God of judgment. He KNOWS how to separate sinners from the righteous.
• He KNOWS the way of the righteous that leads to life and fruitfulness; He KNOWS the way of the wicked that leads to destruction and death.

It is a truth that has captivated my mind all week. What does God know? He knows the way of the righteous – He knows where His children came from, where they are right now, and where eternity will lead them. He knows those who are planted in Christ. Because I am in Christ, He knows me, and He knows my way. He knows when I choose to delight myself in Him and His law. He knows when I am tempted to extend a tentative root and take counsel in the world, away from His river of life. He knows that tendency will lead to death, and He warns me for my good. Away from His sustenance, I will wither and blow away like chaff. “O Lord, hear my cry! Keep my roots deep in Your law that I may be sustained by the living water found only in Your living Word, Jesus!”

The thought that MY GOD KNOWS nourishes my heart and magnifies my joy in knowing Him.

That was ONE God-truth I meditated on this week. I won’t share the other 20 here (aren’t you glad?), but you’re welcome to ask 😊 Be forewarned though – I’ll expect you to share what you found, too!

Be sure to check out the sermon from this past Sunday, The Law, Sin & Me from Romans 7:7-13 (https://www.parksidebible.com/teachings/video). Here again, I was reminded that my God KNOWS – He knows my frame, He knows my bent toward sin and away from Him. So, He provided the only way I could be free from the destruction I rightly deserve and be restored to right relationship with Him – He punished His Son, Jesus, in my place. My God KNOWS – Psalm 2 tells me my God is JESUS and those who take refuge in Him are blessed. Psalm 3 tells me SALVATION belongs to my God! He is the JOY-GIVER of chapter 4 and the God of RIGHTEOUSNESS in chapter 5. Oh, praise His name!! I’m so grateful that my God KNOWS.

What are you grateful for? How did our God proclaim His name to you this week? Please share in the comments below!

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Continue on this week through Psalms 6,7, 8, 9 & 10.

May our God continue to show you His ways and reveal His goodness as you listen to Him proclaim His awesome name – “The LORD!” – through His holy Word. May your prayer always be, “LORD, please show me Your glory.”

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Corinthians 16:23-24)