From the beginning to the end, throughout Scripture the importance of knowledge of the truth is stressed. In the 3rd year of king Jehoshaphat’s reign he sent his officials . . . . And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.1
Through knowledge of who God is, the Jews learned the fear of the Lord and the love of God. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children . . .”2 Jesus himself when challenged as to what is the greatest commandment quoted the same Shema3 and added “with all your mind”4 to emphasize the importance of engaging the mind.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.5
It behooves us to ask where do we get the truth? Concerned for his disciples, Jesus prayed to the Father pleading, Sanctify them in the truth, your word is truth.6
The fear of the LORD that was earlier mentioned is not the dreadful kind of fear but a reverential kind—stemming from a realization that God is sovereign, holy, transcendent, great, good, loving, just, unchanging. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.7
Ignorance is not a fault nor something to be ashamed about. It simply means that we don’t know yet. But staying ignorant is different; it then becomes a choice. The Bible has harsh words for such people—stupid, foolish, or crazy. It is a choice that binds and is without remedy.
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.8
Jesus established his church and left mentors (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers) to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God . . . so that we may no longer be like children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up . . .9
And Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater.10
Notes:
1. 2 Chronicles 17:7-10
2. Deuteronomy 6:4-7
3. The Shema was regularly read from Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21; and Numbers 15:37-41
4. Mark 12:28-30
5. John 4:23-24
6. John 17:17
7. Proverbs 9:10
8. Proverbs 1:23
9. Ephesians 4:11-16
10. 2 Chronicles 17:12
