Knowing God Study - Lesson 3 Ý
Copyright 2004 by William Meisheid

Chapter 2: The People Who Know Their God

Today’s theme:  Pharisees as porch sitters, not travelers

Scriptural background: Jeremiah 9:23-24a "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me…"

Quote for the week

"Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence." Hal Borland. Countryman: A Summary of Belief. Lippincott, 65.

"But, with care, knowing danger, I looked at him and saw marriage on his hand." Patricia L Brueckner.

"Writers and travelers are mesmerized alike by knowing of their destinations." Eudora Welty. One Writer’s Beginnings. Harvard, 84.

Concern: Being a Greek rather than a Hebrew knower of God

This is a difference between Greek and Hebrew concepts of knowledge. Greeks felt no responsibility to or for what they knew; Hebrews did.

Knowledge for the sake of knowledge—and much of the basis of our current thinking in science and technology—is Greek. With statements like, “Let it take its own course, It is not my concern, I am merely an observer,” the Greek view avoids responsibility. The epitome of this is paradigm is the news/journalistic cameraman or photographer who just records the horror in front of him.

For a Hebrew, to know something meant they had the moral and ethical necessity to act on that knowledge. This is the basic premise underlying God's revelation of Himself in scripture and how we must use that revelation (what responsibilities that knowledge imparts to us) as we study to show ourselves approved.

1  Have you been Greek or Hebrew in your approach to knowledge in the past? What can you do to become more Hebrew in your thinking?

Interacting with the text

Goal: You must know your starting point to be able to chart your course. To come to a usable knowledge of God and what He demands from our life, we first have to come to terms with whether we know Him at all and if we do, how well do we know him? In addition, we must accept responsibility for what knowledge we have and what knowledge we acquire.

1  This section begins with a charge against the church as a whole, and specifically against evangelicals. Summarize the accusation. Does it apply to your current church? How? Does it apply to you? If so how?

2  According to Packer, what is the difference between knowledge about God or what God expects and knowledge of God?

3  Think about the Pharisees of Jesus' time. What did they know about godliness? How does Packer's concern over this issue, and using the Pharisees as an example, relate to this study?

4  List the four characteristics Packer says is common to those who know God. Are any of these areas of weakness or strength for you? How?

5  Why would knowing God create great energy for God? How does the prophet Daniel illustrate this fact?

6  Where does Packer argue that the real energy to pray comes from? What is the test he says we can apply to our prayers to check out how well we know God?

7  What core truth does the Hebrew prophet Daniel illuminate for us? Why is this important?                               

8  Packer argues that your prayer life is a window into your relationship with God. What do you see through your prayer window? What can you learn from Daniel to help you?

9  What separated Daniel and his three friends from the rest of Israel in Babylon? How are they different from someone who is just acting foolhardy?

10  10  We live in a world that cries out for peace: political peace, social peace, and most of all, personal peace. What, according to Packer, is the source of genuine personal peace and what is its true measure?

11  11  Every journey has a starting point. Packer suggests two things that are necessary to begin this journey. What are they? If you let go of these two things your way ahead will darken. What can you do to keep these two things with you for the whole voyage?

What To Do Next

Continue Section One by reading Chapter Three: Knowing and Being Known. Meditate on what it means to know God and the importance of prayer in your journey.

Goal: Keeping the two things that are necessary ever before us.   

Remember, for something to become a habit you have to do it every day for twenty-one days. Every day for the next twenty-one days meditate on the answers to question 11.