WE BELIEVE Session 9 Plumb line-KNOWLEDGE .
The primary Hebrew term for knowledge, yada, means “to know by experience,
Last week, we reached a truly captivating moment! Jeroboam found himself in a tight spot, fearing the loss of his kingdom. He worried that if the people continued worshiping at the temple in Jerusalem, they might realign with Rehoboam, the king of Judah. Driven by a strong desire to protect his reign, Jeroboam crafted a plan that regrettably led him to reject God’s guidance in favor of alternative worship practices, including idols. His choices, while motivated by a fear of insecurity, remind us of the importance of faithfulness to divine commands. It’s fascinating to explore how human fears can shape our paths!
1 Kings 12:26-27 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: if these people go to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their Lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah (NKJV)
Last week, we also explored the issue of conforming with the image of the Son as well as the role of knowledge in that conformity. What is knowledge? The primary Hebrew term for knowledge, yada, means “to know by experience,” including such things as afflictions (1 Kings 8: 38), loss (Isa. 47: 8), disease/grief (Isa. 53: 3), and judgment (Ezek. 25: 14). Also, since both yada and ginosko also designate sexual intercourse on the part of the husband (Gen. 4: 1, 17, 25; Matt. 1: 25; Luke 1: 34) and the wife (Num. 31: 18, 25; Judg. 21; 12), it implies that “to know” does not simply mean to have theoretical knowledge of an object and its nature. Rather, it refers to a personal relationship between the knower and the object known, a relationship characterized by care, concern, and importance. (Dr. Davey Naugle)
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one
Job 36:5-12 NKJV “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. [6] He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed. [7] He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted. [8] And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction, [9] Then He tells them their work and their transgressions- That they have acted defiantly. [10] He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity. [11] If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. [12] But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
What do we see from this passage?
- God’s nature showcases His immense strength in understanding. Understanding is not just an ability; it is the essential process of discerning, comprehending, and applying knowledge and wisdom in complete alignment with God’s will. It demands a commitment to align oneself with the ultimate truth and purpose of God.
- God’s nature as the God of Justice- not preserving the wicked and giving justice to the oppressed.
- God’s nature as a loving and caring Father- He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous.
- Affliction has purpose – God reveals the why of affliction – areas of misalignment.
- The purpose of knowledge is to instruct us in the way of the LORD.
- Dying without knowledge is because of disobedience!
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Hosea 4:6 NKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. (A priest is a mediator – as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy [and royal] priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ – Representing God! Ambassadors – you do not want to be recalled. Your lifestyle should represent the interest of the ONE that has appointed you!
- Do you have the knowledge that you are a son of God?
- Ephesians 4:13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
- Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him,
- Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
