Day 4: God Speaks First, Knowing the Living God
The Doctrine of God: Days 2-28
Scripture
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’” Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 ESV
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’” Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 ESV
Confessional Summary
The Bible begins with God speaking. We know Him because He makes Himself known. The Belgic Confession says God is revealed in two ways, in the creation and more clearly in His holy and divine Word (Belgic Confession, Articles 2–7).
Westminster teaches that Scripture was given because it pleased God to reveal Himself and to preserve the truth for the good of His church (Westminster Confession of Faith 1.1).
The Westminster Shorter Catechism also reminds us that God is not a vague force, but “a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable,” perfect in all His attributes (Westminster Shorter Catechism 4).
The Second Helvetic Confession presses this home. God addresses His people through His Word, so we are not left with guesses, but with a voice (Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter 1).
The Reformers were settled on this point. We do not rise to God by speculation, mystical experience, or human tradition. God speaks first, and true knowledge of Him begins with humble hearing and obedient faith.
The Bible begins with God speaking. We know Him because He makes Himself known. The Belgic Confession says God is revealed in two ways, in the creation and more clearly in His holy and divine Word (Belgic Confession, Articles 2–7).
Westminster teaches that Scripture was given because it pleased God to reveal Himself and to preserve the truth for the good of His church (Westminster Confession of Faith 1.1).
The Westminster Shorter Catechism also reminds us that God is not a vague force, but “a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable,” perfect in all His attributes (Westminster Shorter Catechism 4).
The Second Helvetic Confession presses this home. God addresses His people through His Word, so we are not left with guesses, but with a voice (Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter 1).
The Reformers were settled on this point. We do not rise to God by speculation, mystical experience, or human tradition. God speaks first, and true knowledge of Him begins with humble hearing and obedient faith.
Reflection
Most of us begin with ourselves. We start with the immediate and the personal. Scripture begins with God’s voice. That is mercy. It means you do not have to climb your way up to God or invent your own version of Him. The living God reveals Himself, and He does it with clarity and authority.
Jeremiah exposes what we do all day long. We boast. We build identity on something other than God. Wisdom, strength, money, competence, reputation, even moral seriousness. God is not denying these things have value. He is denying that they can hold the weight of your soul. These things can vanish. They can be taken. They can fail you. So God redirects boasting to the only foundation that does not collapse: knowing Him. Not knowing about Him as a topic, but knowing Him as the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness, and who delights in those things. To know God is to be confronted by what He loves and to be transformed by it.
Jesus takes it further. Eternal life is not first a place you go later. It begins now as fellowship with the Father through the Son He sent. If what you call “knowing God” never moves beyond ideas, then it is not the knowing Jesus is describing. The knowledge Jesus gives produces worship, repentance, trust, and obedience. God speaks first, and a life of response follows.
Most of us begin with ourselves. We start with the immediate and the personal. Scripture begins with God’s voice. That is mercy. It means you do not have to climb your way up to God or invent your own version of Him. The living God reveals Himself, and He does it with clarity and authority.
Jeremiah exposes what we do all day long. We boast. We build identity on something other than God. Wisdom, strength, money, competence, reputation, even moral seriousness. God is not denying these things have value. He is denying that they can hold the weight of your soul. These things can vanish. They can be taken. They can fail you. So God redirects boasting to the only foundation that does not collapse: knowing Him. Not knowing about Him as a topic, but knowing Him as the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness, and who delights in those things. To know God is to be confronted by what He loves and to be transformed by it.
Jesus takes it further. Eternal life is not first a place you go later. It begins now as fellowship with the Father through the Son He sent. If what you call “knowing God” never moves beyond ideas, then it is not the knowing Jesus is describing. The knowledge Jesus gives produces worship, repentance, trust, and obedience. God speaks first, and a life of response follows.
Application
When you open Scripture, treat it as God addressing you, not you evaluating Him. Ask one hard question. What have I been boasting in this week for my sense of worth or safety? Name it honestly. Then answer it with Jeremiah’s redirect. In prayer, confess the rival confidence you have been leaning on and ask the Lord to replace it with a steadier joy in who He is, especially His steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. Finish by choosing one concrete act of obedience that fits what you just learned about God.
Prayer
Lord, I confess that I often start with myself and then try to fit You into my life. Speak first, and teach me to listen. Give me true knowledge of You through Christ, and let that knowledge move me into worship, repentance, trust, and obedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
When you open Scripture, treat it as God addressing you, not you evaluating Him. Ask one hard question. What have I been boasting in this week for my sense of worth or safety? Name it honestly. Then answer it with Jeremiah’s redirect. In prayer, confess the rival confidence you have been leaning on and ask the Lord to replace it with a steadier joy in who He is, especially His steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. Finish by choosing one concrete act of obedience that fits what you just learned about God.
Prayer
Lord, I confess that I often start with myself and then try to fit You into my life. Speak first, and teach me to listen. Give me true knowledge of You through Christ, and let that knowledge move me into worship, repentance, trust, and obedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen.