Understanding and Knowing the LORD

"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; ²⁴ 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."

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Throughout the Bible we observe people who knew and understood God because He revealed Himself to them.  Before the Law was written on tablets of stone Abraham asked the LORD knowingly, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"  Based on the righteous character of God Abraham knew God would not destroy the righteous with the wicked.  Instead of glorying in what is temporal and fading away--by what we know, can do, or have acquired--God says we ought to glory that we understand and know God who is the LORD of all.  Knowing God is the LORD means He is sovereign and supreme over all, and nothing and no one can prevent Him for doing His miraculous wonders.

The almighty God is supreme over all, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth.  To understand and know God we must first place our faith in Him, and by this revelation in God's word we are assured God presently is working at least in all these ways.  When we or others face trials and troubles it does not always seem like love, justice and righteousness may be present at all.  We can be overwhelmed by the hatred, pride, corruption and injustice we observe in the earth.  This is the triumph of faith, to understand and know God is exercising the good things He delights in beyond our sight.  With our eyes fixed on Jesus and our hearts grounded in the truth of God's immutable goodness, contentment and rest is ours whether we see the peaceful resolution we long for or not.  He is our Peace.

Many godly people like Abraham died in faith without seeing all the promises God made to them fulfilled.  Hebrews 11:13 says, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."  If we are troubled and anxious because of the suffering in the world around us without comfort because our expectations of swift deliverance and cessation of warfare are unmet, it may be we are not living in faith in God who is exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth.  Us seeing the resolution we desire is not nearly as important as all God is doing beyond our sight.  With eyes of faith we look upon Him with full assurance of His fulfilling His word.

When we see God at work in exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness towards us and others it is fitting we rejoice, glorying in the God we understand and know.  We love Him because He first loved us, and we know Him only because He has graciously revealed Himself to us.  Knowing God exercises lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness because He delights in them provides us a directive for how we ought to live.  How wonderful it is when a child takes after admirable qualities in their parents in practice, and blessed is the man who makes intentional effort to do what God delights in.