Study Notes - the Knowledge of God

A. INTRODUCTION

1. What is meant by "The Knowledge of God?" Not mere information about God, but a personal knowledge of God, Genesis 3:8; James 2:23; Deuteronomy 34:10

2. Who in the Bible desires such knowledge?

(1) Christ prayed "that they might know thee," John 17:3

(2) Moses prayed, "That I might know thee," Exodus 33:13

(3) God desires for man to know Him, Hosea 6:6

3.What is the practical value of this knowledge?

(1) It is life, John 17:3

(2) It transforms, 2 Peter 2:20; Jeremiah 22:16; Isaiah 33:14-16

(3) It changes values, Luke 16:15; Matthew 23:23; 6:33

(4) It brings blessing, Isaiah 64:4-5; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

(5) It changes methods, Isaiah 55:8-9; Joshua 6:1-20; 1 Samuel 16:6-13; 17:38-40; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

(6) It brings influence with God, Jeremiah 15:1; Genesis 18:22-32; Numbers 14:11-20

4. Point out God's attitude toward this knowledge:

(1) God grieves over man's lack of it, Jeremiah 9:3; Hosea 4:1; Hebrews 3:7-10

(2) We are to increase in it, Colossians 1:9-10

(3) We increase by growth, 2 Peter 3:18; Mark 4:26-28; John 21:18-19

(4) We are to continue growing, Hosea 6:1-3

5. Point out what our attitude toward the knowledge of God should be:

(1) It should be highly valued, Proverbs 2:1-5

(2) It should be earnestly desired, Proverbs 2:1-5

(3) It should be diligently sought, Proverbs 2:1-5; Hebrews 11:6; Luke 11:9-10

(4) We should rejoice in it, Jeremiah 9:23-24

6. By what means may the knowledge of God be acquired?

(1) By revelation, Matthew 11:25-26

(2) By the Word, 1 Peter 2:1-2

(3) By the Spirit, Ephesians 1:17-18; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; 1 John 2:27

(4) By teaching, 2 Chronicles 30:22; 1 Corinthians 12:28; John 5:39-

44; Matthew 13:13-15; John 8:43, 47

(5) By relationship, Psalm 25:14; Genesis 17:1; 2 Kings 23:3; Genesis 5:22, 24

B. THE SPIRITUAL NATURE OF GOD

1. Describe this spiritual nature:

(1) God is a Spirit, John 4:24

(2) God does not have a material body, Luke 24:39

(3) God is a living Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 1:9

(4) God is invisible, Colossians 1:15

(5) God has nevertheless a form, Numbers 12:8; Matthew 18:10: Exodus 33:21-23; Revelation 5:1-7

2. Point out essential attributes of God:

(1) God is self-existent, Exodus 3:14

(2) God is omnipresent, Jeremiah 23:24; Matthew 6:6

(3) God is omniscient, 1 John 3:20

(4) God is omnipotent, Jeremiah 32:27

(5) God is eternal, Isaiah 57:15

(6) God is immutable, Numbers 23:19

(7) God is holy, Isaiah 6:1-7

3. Wherein does the manifest presence of God differ from His omnipresence? In that the unseen and unperceived presence of God is manifested to be perceived by the senses of man, Genesis 18:20-21: Genesis 18:1-2, 33; 1 Samuel 3:10; John 14:21

4. Give examples of the possibility of spirit beings manifested to the senses of man:

(1) To the sense of sight, Exodus 3:2; Luke 3:21-22; Acts 2:3

(2) To the sense of touch, Genesis 19:1, 16; Daniel 10:10; Acts 12:23

(3) To the sense of sound, Genesis 3:8 (R.V.) ; 2 Kings 7:6; Acts 2:2

5. Note man's diverse behaviour toward the manifest presence of God:

(1) Some hide, Genesis 3:8 -- Others seek, 2 Chronicles 26:5

(2) Some walk out, Genesis 4:16 -- Others draw near, Genesis 18:22-23

(3) Some flee from it, Jonah 1:3 -- Others run to it, S. S. 1:4

(4) Some are troubled, Job 23:14-16 -- Others rejoice, 2 Samuel 6:14

(5) Some displace His presence, Hosea 2:5-13; 5:6 -- Others make a place for it, 1 Chronicles 15:1

6. Note how man's condition affects God's attitude in relation to His presence:

(1) Some are kept at a distance, Exodus 19:12, 21-24 -- Others are bidden to draw near, Exodus 24:12-18

(2) Some are cast out from it, Jeremiah 23:39 -- Others may remain in it, Psalm 140:13

(3) To some He comes, Exodus 19:9 --From others He goes, Ezekiel 9:3, 10:18, 11:23

7. To what is the presence of God likened?

(1) A hiding place, Psalm 31:19-20

(2) A delight, Psalm 16:11

(3) A refreshing, Acts 3:19

(4) Bread, Luke 6:3-4

(5) Rest, Exodus 33:14

(6) A home, Psalm 15

C. GOD'S FACULTIES OF COMMUNICATION

1. Which faculty is seen in Psalm 94:9a? -- Hearing

(1) God hears what we say, Numbers 12:1-3

(2) God hears prayer, Lamentations 3:53-57

2. Which faculty is seen in Psalm 94:9b? -- Sight

(1) God sees man's ways, Proverbs 5:21, 15:3

(2) God sees man's heart, 2 Chronicles 16:9

3. Which faculty is seen in Genesis 8:21? -- Smell

(1) God discerns true worship, Revelation 5:8

(2) God discerns pseudo-worship, Isaiah 1:11-17

4.Which faculty is seen in Jeremiah 1:9? -- Touch

(1) The angel touched Elijah, 1 Kings 19:5-7

(2) The angel touched Jacob, Genesis 32:25, 32

5. Which faculty is seen in Hebrews 1:1-2? -- Speech

(1) God speaks through His Word, Hebrews 1:1

(2) God speaks by His Spirit, Acts 8:29

D. THE EMOTIONAL NATURE OF GOD

1. Which emotion is seen in Psalm 7:11? -- Anger

(1) God was angry with Miriam, Numbers 12:9-10

(2) God was angry with Moses, Deuteronomy 3:23-28

2. Which emotion is seen in Psalm 149:4? -- Pleasure

(1) God is pleased when we fear Him, Psalm 147:10-11

(2) God is pleased when we please Him, Proverbs 16:7

3. Which emotion is seen in Genesis 6:6b? -- Grief

(1) God grieves over the wickedness of man's heart, Genesis 6:6-7

(2) God grieves over man's ignorance of His ways, Hebrews 3:10

4. Which emotion is seen in Nehemiah 8:10? -- Joy

(1) God rejoices over a repentant sinner, Luke 15:10

(2) God rejoices when His people walk in His ways, Zeph.

3:17

5. Which emotion is seen in Psalm 5:5? -- Hate

(1) God hates pride, lying and unrighteousness, Proverbs 6:16-19, 8:13

(2) God hates the worship of the unjust and unrighteous, Amos 5:21-23

6. Which emotion is seen in 1 John 4:8-10? -- Love

(1) God's love is seen in the giving of His son, 1 John 4:9-10

(2) God's love is seen in His kindness to man, 2 Samuel 9:9-13

7.Which emotion is seen in Exodus 34:14? -- Jealousy

(1) God is jealous over misplaced worship, Deuteronomy 6:13-15

(2) God is jealous when we give His glory to another, Isaiah 42:8

8. Which emotion is seen in Deuteronomy 32:35? -- Revenge

(1) God takes vengeance on His enemies, Nahum 1:2

(2) God will revenge wrongs committed against His children, Romans 12:19

9. Which emotion is seen in James 5:11? -- Pity

(1) God pities those who fear Him, Psalm 103:13

(2) God has pity for man and beast, Jonah 4:11

E. THE SOCIAL NATURE OF GOD

1. Point out various aspects of the social relationship between God and man:

(1) God walks among His people, Leviticus 26:11-12

(2) God walks with His people, 2 Samuel 7:7

(3) God dwells with His people, Isaiah 57:15

(4) God dwells in His people, 2 Corinthians 6:16

(5) God meets man, Numbers 23:3-4

(6) God communes with man, Genesis 18:1, 33

2. List some privileges enjoyed by man in his relationship with God:

(1) God permits a love relationship, 2 Samuel 12:24; 1 Kings 3:3

(2) God offers presents, 1 Kings 3:5-9

(3) God permits intimacy, Exodus 33:11

(4) God reveals His ways, Psalm 103:7

(5) God shares secrets, Genesis 18:17, 19

(6) God reveals Himself, Numbers 12:8

(7) God speaks directly, Numbers 12:8

(8) God appreciates affection, Psalm 91:14-16

3. Show that God desires such a relationship:

(1) He remembers past relationships, Jeremiah 2:2

(2) He is provoked by indifference, Zephaniah 1:4, 6

(3) He yearns for man, Hosea 14:1-9

(4) He wants to be wanted, Hosea 5:15

(5) He calls to man, Genesis 3:8-9

"THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEE"