Week Eight - Day Four: Review

Two weeks ago, we began our office by recognizing that God knows everything.

All-knowing

Two weeks ago, we began our office by recognizing that God knows everything.

Daniel 2:22: “He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.”

Hebrews 4:13: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.”

Ezekiel 11:5: “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and He told me to say: ‘This is what the Lord says: that is what you are saying, O house of Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.’”

This idea produces great comfort in us. As my mother used to say to me, “He knows where I live.” Mom meant much more than God knew her mailing address. When we are weary or weak, He knows! When we feel lost and discouraged, He knows! And this knowledge motivates His compassion. He is not like some angry, demanding boss waiting for us to mess up so He can pounce on us. No …

Psalm 103:13-14

(13) As a father has compassion on his children,
      so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

(14) for he knows how we are formed,
      he remembers that we are dust.

All-powerful

The All-Knowing One is also All-Powerful. He is able to do all that He wills to do. The Bible has many, many ways of speaking about God’s power. One of my favorite is when they speak of God’s strong arm. I can’t help but envision the psalmist or the one of the prophets rolling up their sleeves, showing their guns and saying, “Don’t mess with God ‘cause His arms are waaaaay stronger than mine!”

Deuteronomy 7:18-20

(18) But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. (19) You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear. (20) Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.

Psalm 89:11-13

(11) The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;
      you founded the world and all that is in it.

(12) You created the north and the south;
      Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.

(13) Your arm is endowed with power;
      your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

Isaiah 50:2-3

Was my arm too short to deliver you?
      Do I lack the strength to rescue you?
      By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea,
      I turn rivers into a desert;
      their fish rot for lack of water
      and die of thirst.

(3) I clothe the heavens with darkness
      and make sackcloth its covering.”

Good

After talking about the omniscience of God and the omnipotence of God, we need to hear about the goodness of God. “You are good, and what you do is good.”

If an all-knowing, all-powerful being were not bent toward goodness we would be in big trouble. But God is good. And we do not have to do anything to summon His goodness! God is good toward us because He is good, not because we have acted well enough or holy enough to inspire His goodness toward us. As A. W. Tozer said, “The cause of His goodness is Himself; the recipients of His goodness are all His beneficiaries without merit and without recompense.”

Psalm 103:9-11

(9) He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

(10) he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

(11) For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

Before You Start Your Day

1. Which verse or phrase from the Scripture we read today grabbed your attention. Give it a few minutes right now. Turn it over in your mind and let it sink into your heart.
2. Each characteristic of God discussed today – omniscience, omnipotence and goodness – inspires love and submission in us, but in very different ways. Spend a few minutes thinking about how each of these aspects of His character inspires you to submit to Him and to love Him, then pass those thoughts up toward God in prayer.