' Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' Psalm 46:10
In 1956 Cynthia Walker and Eddie Arnold wrote this song You Don't Know Me set to a rather haunting and lamenting a melody. It is a song about unfulfilled relationship, a man was too shy to approach the woman he loved, too afraid to start a relationship. He stood in the shadows and watched as the woman walked away with another man.
You give your hand to me,
And then you say hello
And I can hardly speak,
My heart is beating so
You think you know me well
But you don't know me,
No you don't know me.
You give your hand to me
And then you say goodbye
I watch you walk away
Beside the lucky guy
Oh you will never know
The one who loves you so
Well you won't know me
What a missed opportunity! A relationship did not develop because one party was too afraid to commit.
There is another man who could say to us, "You don't know me." Jesus warned that some may face that prospect. This revelation in Matthew 7:21-23 will be very devastating for some.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers.'
We think we know God but many nominal Christians miss the opportunity of really knowing because we cannot commit to a meaningful relationship. A meaningful relationship with God through the person of Jesus requires our undivided attention, our absolute obedience and our sincere hearts.
King David had a special relationship with God, a longing to know God deeply. He expressed this beautifully in Psalm 139 with an opening sentence, Psalm 139:1
"You have searched me, Lord, and you know me."
David realised that there was no escaping the presence of God Psalm 139:7
"Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?"
David recognised that God knew him thoroughly, Psalm 139:14-15
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of God."
David reconciled to the full exposure of his life before God, Psalms 139:23-24
"Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
When Jesus was on earth He told His followers, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." John 10:14. Knowing God and being known by God is an existential imperative. It is the highest goal for every Christian.
Lionel
