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Pastor Brant Seacrist

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

"UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING THE LORD
"

TEXT: JEREMIAH 9:  23-24
READING: PSALM 34:  1-22

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SUBJ: The exhilaration at understanding and knowing the Lord and at some of the things we are given to know in Him.

AIM: That we might count it of essential importance that we understand and know the Lord.

INTR: That we should be allowed to understand and know the Lord to any degree is amazing in that we know the superlatives associated with Him and that His ways are past finding out. Yet, he causes His people to know Him in a manner that is close and personal. This is the knowledge that may be enjoyed by the most educated theologian and the common man alike.
1. Consider that the approach of many is presumptuous and casual. But remember that of many it will be said "I never knew you!" (Paul to the Corinthians, "your glorying is not good")
2. Consider the effect on many at meeting famous people and that the same people will spurn any thought of coming to know God.
3. With David we acknowledge that such knowledge is too wonderful for me. While we do not understand nor comprehend the vastness of Who He is and what He does, we may understand and know Him.

THESIS: Understanding and knowing God does not come by flesh and blood (Matthew 16:17) and the reaction to knowing Him is not received as fleshly experience. Understanding and knowing The Lord are reasons for glorying.

I. The reasons of glorying in the natural man exposed (v. 23)
1. The shortfall of human wisdom is that it never attains to the knowledge of God.
1) Glorying therein puts him in opposition to God.
2) It cannot attain to the things God requires - such does not come as a matter of training. "Teaching them to observe all things" does not build on human ideas.
3) The knowledge of God comes by revelation, not education.
2. The ultimate might in man is no match for God - Many Goliath's come and fall.
3. The riches of man can purchase many things, but the wealth of this world cannot buy redemption - Many looks to their own resources, but they cannot pay the ransom for their own souls nor does forgiveness have a price tag.

II. Understanding and knowing (v. 24a)
1. Consider: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. And then think on what faith brings to us in knowing that He is.
2. Many descriptive words come to mind.
1) Eternally existing and completely solitary. Holy and loving within Himself.
2) Possessor of all power and might and dominion.
3) The changer of the hearts of men.
4) The revealer of Himself in Christ
3. The implication here is that this understanding and knowledge is personal - it is not to know about Him rather it is to know Him and this we come to in Christ alone.

III. What it is to be known and understood of Him (v. 24b)
1. That He is the Lord (Jehovah) who exercises lovingkindness.
1) Seen in eternal electing love.
2) Created new in regeneration and brought effectually to Himself.
3) He justifies and forgives on the basis of the work of Christ.
4) He adopts such into His family and sends forth the Spirit of Adoption which constitutes us as His child.
5) He brings us lovingly to know and delight in eternal life and makes all these things a matter of experience and expression towards Him.
2. That He is the Lord who exercises judgment
1) But is judgment a cause for glorying?
2) Considered in the light of His Holiness and we know that He must judge sin
3) Gill says of Christ that: "sin was laid on Him, found and condemned in Him." (Consider Benjamin and the cup planted in his sack as an illustration.)
4) And that I have been judged in Christ - If we do not see this, we do not understand Him at all let alone His redemption.
3. That He is the Lord who exercises righteousness in the earth
1) Christ came into the world with a perfect life before God and man.
2) In regeneration and conversion, He brings the imparted righteousness of Christ to bear in men.
i. The record in Heaven shows the imputed righteousness of Christ and I am justified.
ii. The life of the believer on earth shows the imparted righteousness of Christ and I am sanctified.
4. It is in these things the Lord delights.
1) Certainly not in the pride of men
2) Not in the wisdom and works of men
3) But it is to this man He looks: Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
4) Deuteronomy 10:15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. It is because He delighted in His Son that we may understand and know the Lord.