O Lord, You Know
In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, it asks this question, "Does God know all things?" The answer states, "Yes, nothing can be hidden from God." The immensity of that truth overwhelms us at times. We understand this to mean that God knows the vastness of each galaxy and every star He placed in it and, in fact, knows each one by name (Ps. 147:4). He knows every tiny creature that creeps on the earth. There are millions of beetles alone and the Lord knows each one's location, what it ate for breakfast, and even its very life span, for He gives to every creature its food in due season and life and breath to all (Ps. 104:27; Acts 17:25). There are no scientific, historical, mathematical, economic, or personal facts or details He does not know. And when we talk about mankind, He knows us more intimately than we know ourselves. He knows us and is intimately acquainted with all our ways. He knows our thoughts, our lying down and going out, and our heart (Ps. 139). There is no thought, motive, sin, act, or word that is not known to Him, for "all things are naked and open to Him" (Heb. 4:13).
This comprehensive knowing will one day be terrifying for the unbeliever, because all things hidden in darkness will be brought to light and every motive of the heart will be made known (1 Cor. 4:5). But for the believer, and specifically for myself, the omniscience of God brings comfort especially in two spheres: my sinfulness and my sorrow.
Comfort in Sinfulness
The Lord Himself knew that I was dead in my sin, a child of darkness, and His enemy who hated the light and mocked His love and grace. Yet, in His great love and rich mercy He made me alive, transferred me into His kingdom and His marvelous light (Eph. 2:1-5; 1 Peter 2:10). He knew the depths of my depravity before His mercy changed me, and by His doing I am in Christ Jesus, forgiven all my sin and clothed in His righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). Even with a changed heart, my battle with sin continues on and the Lord knows every selfish deed, prideful act, careless word I speak. His knowledge is so infinite that before ever a word is on my tongue, "Behold, O LORD, You know it altogether" (Ps. 139:4). Indeed, even our secret sins are known to Him (Ps. 90:8). "Nothing escapes his notice, nothing can be hidden from Him, nothing is forgotten by Him" (Pink, Attributes of God). However, the fact that He knows my immense sinfulness that I still carry on in this body, I do not need to fear, because as all things are known to Him from all eternity, so also He promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Every sin is laid bare, and every sin is covered and dealt with at the cross of Christ, who nailed every one of my sins to His cross (Col. 2:14). I can rest knowing my sin, every single one, known by my Father, has been forgiven in His Son. A. W. Pink stated in The Attributes of God,
"The whole of my life stood open to His view from the beginning. He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless fixed His heart upon me."
Comfort in Sorrow
Secondly, God's omniscience is comforting in my sorrow. Not long ago, I had a second trimester miscarriage. During my recovery, I read the words from Psalm 40:9, "O LORD, You know." It was comforting to know that the Lord was with me every moment of that day. There was no emotion, thought, sorrow, or circumstance that day that He did not know. After loss, you know that words fail to express the trauma you have experienced, or the physical pain you endured, or the uncertainty and fear that were there in those moments, but how comforting in all those moments to be able to say, "O Lord, You know." It is rest for the soul to be able to look to God and realize He knows the thoughts that are heavy and weigh you down, and He knows the discouragement you hide from others, and He knows the desperate longing for something and the difficulty in waiting. He knows! When your mother's heart is broken by a wayward child: O Lord, You know. When fear of the future makes it hard to sleep at night: O Lord, You know. When rejection from a beloved friend stings and leaves you feeling abandoned and lonely: O Lord, You know. When the diagnosis looks grim: O Lord, You know.
And, thankfully, His knowledge is not limited to the details of our sorrow, but also the purpose of our sorrow and what He will accomplish through it. For His children, He works all things for the praise of His glory and the good of His children. My heart floods with joy and peace when I contemplate the infinite knowledge of the Lord. O Lord, You know!
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