You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.1 How could David make such a bold claim? Could you without wavering make the same claim? If so, on what basis? I’ve actually asked this question to a small group, “Who would want to declare, ‘You are my God’?” To my surprise, there was hesitation. For truly from a human perspective, we may have different notions of who God is? Just as Pharaoh said to Moses and Aaron, “Go, serve the LORD your God. . .”2 The same way that Nebuchadnezzar answered Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, . . .”3 Consider the various religions. Are there actually several gods? Is God divided?4 Is ignorance the culprit or is it a trust issue? What does it take to believe?
David says, “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”5 So there is a prerequisite of seeking! Of knowing! And of experiencing God personally! I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.6 God invites us to actually experience him; Taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!7 God desires for us not simply to know about him but to know him intimately.
As we seek God in earnest, we learn more of who he is—in spirit and truth.8 We learn that his love is steadfast and endures forever.9 Out of our distress we may call to him, and he answers.10 Thus, we learn experientially that it is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.11 In times of trouble and when the enemy surrounds us, we are able to call out to God and attain victory–in the name of the LORD I cut them off!12 The longer we walk with God, we realize he is faithful; with confidence we can affirm that he is our strength and our salvation. His right hand does valiantly!13
Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.14 . . . who indeed is interceding for us.15 As we continuously and progressively experience God’s goodness, our hearts are softened; and he reveals to us this mystery: This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.16 Trust him when he says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”17
Notes:
1. Psalm 118:28
2. Exodus 10:8
3. Daniel 2:47
4. 1 Corinthians 1:13
5. Psalm 9:10
6. Proverbs 8:17
7. Psalm 34:8
8. John 4:23-24
9. Psalm 118:2-4
10. Psalm 118:5
11. Psalm 118:8-9
12. Psalm 118:10-13
13. Psalm 118:14-16
14. Hebrews 1:3
15. Romans 8:34
16. John 17:3
17. John 14:6-7
