The doctrine of god’s omniscience – thou god seest…
The omniscience of God simply means that God knows all
things
(Heb 4:12-13).
In Psalm 139:1-6,
David framed this profound theological truth in terms of
practical daily living and in reference to himself.
·
God knows our movement (139:2a)
·
God knows our motives (139:2b; 44:21; 94:11)
·
God knows all our words and deeds (139: 3-4)
A. God’s Knowledge is Infinite.
God’s knowledge is not bound by
anything. God has perfect knowledge of all facts.
·
God knows all the past
(Acts 15:18).
·
God knows all the present.
God has perfect knowledge of nature (Gen 15:5; Ps 147:4, 5;
Isa 40:26; Jer 33:22). God also has perfect knowledge of man
– man’s ways (Ps 119:168, 139:3; Prov. 5:21); man’s words
(Ps 19:14, 139:4); man’s thoughts (Ps 139: 2; Luke 11:17; 1
Cor. 3:20); man’s desires (Acts 1:24; Rom 8: 27); man’s
needs (Matt 6 :8, 32).
·
God knows all the future.
The prophetic statements in the Bible fall into this
category where God knows with absolute certainty the events
that will take place in the future.
·
God knows all things
actual and possible. God knows all things that exist
and happen. God also knows about events that might happen
but have not.
B. God’s Knowledge is Intuitive and Independent
God knows all things directly and
independently.
God does not need to acquire knowledge (Isaiah 40:12-14).
C. God’s Knowledge is Absolute
God knows all things in one simple
eternal act.
D. God’s Knowledge is Immutable and Infallible
God’s knowledge is not on the
superficial. God’s knowledge never decreases or increases.
the application of god’s omniscience – thou god seest me…
“Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand
upon me” (Ps. 139:5). The word “beset” has the meaning of
“limiting.” God’s knowledge is to provide providential
protection for His people.
A. God Sees Us in Our Sufferings
Hagar was alone in the wilderness, a
single mother and with no one to protect and provide for
her. God came to her. God who saw her in her time of
affliction(Gen. 16:11).
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God sees us in our afflictions and sufferings, and He
provides the means of prayer (Rom. 8:26; Ps. 142:1-3).
B. God Sees Us in Our Sins
Hagar had sinned against Sarai. After
she had conceived, she was became proud, and she despised
Sarai. God knew what Hagar had done and said, and He knew
her sins. God told Hagar to return.
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God sees us in our sins, and He provides the means for
our deliverance through His Son (Rom. 5:8)
C. God sees us in His Son.
In Genesis 22, God put Abraham’s faith
to the test by asking him to sacrifice his son. At the last
moment, God provided a ram. “Abraham called the name of that
place Jehovah- Jireh: as it is said to this day, In the
mount of the LORD it shall be seen.” (Gen. 22:14). The word
“jireh” means “to see” (Gen. 1:4; 22:14) God knows all
things, but he is not just a bystander in the affairs of
men. He sees and He provides.
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God who has the power to see also has the power to
provide. |