“If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” (Ps 44:20-21 AV)
God is not searching to find. We know this because of the last phrase. He knows what is in the heart. He doesn’t need to search that He might discover. So, what does that word mean? When we use the word search, that is exactly how we mean it. We search to discover. We don’t know the truth or whereabouts of a thing, so we search that we might find or learn. But if God knows all things, the motivation to understand or discover mute. There is no need. The searching here is not for God’s sake. It is for our sake. He is not searching that He might learn or discover. He is searching that we might learn or discover. The question remains, then, how does this work out? What example can we compare that will help us understand the searching and probing nature of the Spirit of God? How can we observe this and participate in the search?
Teaching is an art. The teacher knows the answer, but he or she cannot always give it. The skilled instructor will guide the student into working out the problem. The teacher will give the information and skills necessary, but the answer must come from the hard work of the pupil. Why? When we work something out, it tends to stick. My profession involves much teaching. I haven’t done a lot of it. Preaching is the lion’s share of what I do. This involves stating truths already known. There isn’t any give and take between the preacher and his congregation. However, when teaching, that changes. There is much give and take. Recently, the LORD has given me an opportunity to teach a family life class. We are going through a series on biblical couples. We started with Adam and Eve. We are working through many different people to see what we can learn. Rather than teaching in a declarative style, the LORD has led me to use a more inquisitive style. The lessons are written with questions rather than presenting information only. The students have to read, extrapolate, and apply what the word of God says. I know what the goal is. They do not. So, I have to lead them by well-written questions into the conclusion they have to discover for themselves. In reality, I am searching with them and not for them.
When the Bible speaks of God searching the heart, it is not implying there are thinks God does not know unless He looks for them. If so, He would not be all-knowing. When God searches, He is looking for that which He knows already exists. The process of revealing is the point. Not the conclusion of knowing. When God searches, He already knows we have fallen away. It is for our benefit and not for His edification that this search is conducted. The Spirit leads us along this journey that we might come to know what God already knows. He takes us along this path of discovery to conclude what He has known all along. We not as in love with the LORD as we should be. God is good all the time. He could easily and justifiably correct us for our lack of love for Him without ever revealing to us why he does thusly. But He does not. He cares enough for us that He takes us along this walk of correction and conviction. He shows us tenderly and lovingly where our hearts truly are. Praise the LORD for His parental love toward those who are called by His name.
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