What did God know - and when did He know it? Proverbs 15:11

12/15/2009

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord, How much more the hearts of men! Proverbs 15:11

So, how much do you think God knows about you? How much do you think He knows about every person there is and ever has been? How we answer this question often will betray how we live as well. For the person who thinks of God in very low ways, God does not have a knowledge of everything going on in our world. This is especially true when it comes to themselves. God doesn't know everything about me - every thought and every motive. The result of such thinking is that such a person will sin more frequently and reason within themselves that God doesn't know what is going on in their lives.

There is a problem with this thinking though - it is inaccurate. This proverb may seem strange to us at first - but it's purpose is very clear once we grasp what it is saying. Remember the fear of the Lrod is the beginning of wisdom. Thus we need to have adequate reasons to respect, honor, and fear Him. One of those reasons is the fact that everything lies open before Him. Nothing - including the thoughts and intents of our hearts is hidden from His sight. This One Who is Judge - knows every conceivable fact about our lives that can be gathered.

Sheol is the place of the dead. That place lies open before the Lord. He knows everyone there - and everything about them. The place of the dead is not a mystery to God. He konws every intimate detail about those there - and about everything they did before they arrived. Even in death His knowledge is absolute. What seems to be the idea here is that no matter who you are - God knows all there is to know about you - even when you are dead. But what about those who reject Him - those who say either He does not exist, or if He does - that they offer Him no information about themselves? Well, that is an interesting question - and one which this passage answers.

Abaddon lies open before the Lord. What is Abaddon? This is the place of the wicked dead. It means "destruction" and is the Old Testament equivalent to hell. This lies wide open to God. He knows everyone there - and knows all there is to know about them. Even those who reject Him - are known intimately by Him. There is an interesting statement made by some - that God is not present in hell. That is not Scriptural. He is there - but only in absolute judgment and wrath. Those in hell know God - but they only know Him in His wrath and judgment - and will only experience this for all eternity. He knows all about their rebellion and arrogance - and every last bit of it is reaping eternal destruction and devastation.

Now, if Sheol and Abaddon lie open before God - where do you think this places the hearts of men still living today? Since God knows everything there is to know about everyone who has ever died - godly or ungodly - it is not a stretch to realize that every man's heart lies open before Him. What a comfort this is to those who seek Him - yet what a terror to those who think they can reject and shut him out of their lives. Yet that is the very purpose of this passage - this proverb. It is given to bring men to the terrifying realization that the One Who stands as their Judge - is One Who has absolute knowledge about them down the tiniest detail of their lives. To rebel against Him is the height of insanity. All their hearts are open before Him - and they will have to answer for every deed and word - every action and attitude - every mood and mood - every sin - all this will be at His instant disposal. This is meant to humble us - possibly even horrify us if we are living definantly toward Him. May He do His work through it to bring men to the end of themselves and to a point of repentance and faith in His only answer, Jesus Christ.

5 Comments

Andrew

6/20/2021 11:30:09 pm

Excellent insight. We all struggle. Yet I am terrified within myself and within the past 3 years until present time ive lost all I can ever imagine to. Before starting a family I been to prison.. And after prison I went to college. Dropped out with a semester to go on my bachelor's degree in accounting. And before I knew it turned back to drugs and alcohol to hide the pain and anxiety felt as a result of my ongoing failures in life. From there my insanity returned with a vengeance. And within a very short period after dropping out found myself wanting help in a mental ward. Returning to alcohol and drugs never works and is obviously the opposite of the right thing to do in order to heal. Yet to add even more insult to injury lost my employment after once again cleaning up my act after doing somewhat well a year or so after leaving the mental ward and fell short continuously until now for what seems like the millionth time. . .only to enter an unforseen pandemic. I currently am unemployed. I will always be an addict I feel yet have gotten help for the major depressive disorder and not touched alcohol for over a year at this point. . Yet feel as if ive lost all zest for life. I force myself to attend the gym and have inherited some strange fake it til I make it attitude. If nothing else just because i know i should care. And should want better. Not to mention I havent seen my almost 10 yr old son since dropping out of college on the brink of suffering my mental breakdown is the last time i saw him. I'm not saying it all isnt my fault. But at what time does this seemingly endless curse wear off. When will my soul return to any kind of condition where I want to live and love again. I feel for people that lost their business or even more precious a loved one to this terrible pandemic we've endured. Yet my personal hell I have yet to overcome while remaining in the flesh on this planet never seems to throw in the towel and began many years before any such pandemic struck. I need help and dont even know where to start or how to gain back all I've lost in order to at the very least function normally again and would be a huge blessing to get any form of the ambition and drive i once had back. Please just pray for me. God bless you and whoever took the time to read all this I thank you. I'm still trying. Reading proverbs in my parents basement right now
. they have always loved me and been a gigantic blessing. I just want to feel like it will actually get better somehow. I'm not sure I have it in me to get back up and dust myself off again if something else undesirable happens whether it be a consequence of my doing or not. That is what truly scares me the most. ....once again thanks. It felt good to feel like someone on the other side of this message may truly want to even consider caring or having ppl pray for me is wonderful all in the same. I hope things get better for everyone that has suffered or those continually suffering such as myself. I want to hope all will be well. Im just afraid to even move a muscle sometimes. I just want this dark cloud to quit following me everywhere I go once and for all. .

Kerri Powell

8/18/2021 08:53:13 am

Hello, Andrew. I was interested in learning more about this parable, so I read this page. Then I read your story. I am so sorry for what you have suffered. I can't pretend like I understand your pain, but maybe it would help you to know that this is common to many believers. I have a son right now who is going through a time of mental disorders, and we are kept apart by law.

I also have felt like you have felt. It can be a long road to see some real change in your life. Here's some advice I was given decades ago: hold tight to the hand of the Holy Spirit. The Father not only knows what is in our hearts, but He wants to give us a new heart. "You died (with Christ) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3) Jesus literally wants you to rest in Him, take one day at a time and begin with where you are. In the basement of your parents house? Super, God is there with you, and you can begin again right now in that basement. Maybe it is something as simple as cleaning the bathroom. Rejoice! It is a gift from God to be able to perform simple tasks. Give thanks, and pray all the time. Are you listening to worship and praise songs? I have found this to be a tremendous help.

Here is my prayer for you: Our Heavenly Father, I thank you for Andrew. He is made in your image, and you redeemed him through the blood of Jesus Christ. Help him to be transformed as he renews his mind and learns about your patterns for his life. Thank you that he has reached out and asked for help. Please honor his requests, dear Lord. We love you, and we thank you for accomplishing such a great work on our behalf through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Maybe your situation has changed since you wrote. Even if it has, hang on to Christ-honoring habits like beginning each day in the bible, praising God for all the good, not just material goods, but all the spiritual blessings in Christ which are yours now. Keep turning to Him, keep believing what He says. You will see a difference, because our God is faithful. I love you, and I will continue to pray for you. Kerri

Niki

6/15/2022 10:55:31 am

Good morning Andrew!

When I became "born again" for the 4th time...I said to God, "I'm all in, I will give it my all and You are either real or not! At least I'll be standing for something. Now God, I believe in You, but you are going to have to help me out with the Jesus part. God is faithful, I didn't know the Bible, but I would ask God to show me in His Word by closing my eyes and opening to a page; He absolutely spoke to me as I grew in my faith and belief of His power

Margaret Kellman

1/19/2022 02:49:23 pm

Hello Andrew, God has allowed you to reach out to others, maybe you have help others more than you would know.
In your dark days God sees light, because he is there with you and there is no darkness in him. There was three hours darkness when Jesus was on the cross I believe the darkness represented the soon to be ended darkness of the world, he died and light is on you and all mankind who accepts him.
If it looks like you are alone and every other person is doing so well, not so, Andrew we all have our moments of drought, no water to take away the dryness.
My adult daughter seems to be unhappy with me, her slighting me cannot take away a mother,s love. You have your son, you have not loss every thing, you are not seeing him now but you will, keep him always in your mind, watch him growing up talk to him, pray for him you have so much to teach him,eventually you will and also other young people. God have something for you to do you are going through the fire now. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in prayer. God Bless you, I will keep you in prayer.

6/15/2022 11:05:32 am

Andrew,

I hit enter somehow...the next part was I couldn't get past how to forgive myself for the terrible burden of this sin I did. And when it was pointed out to me in scriptures, that if we were to die today and ask Jesus what about this sin or that sin, He would say, "I do not know what you are talking about"!!! This brought such great comfort and allowed me to forgive myself, because Jesus had not only forgiven me, but forgotten it. He says our sin is as far as the east is from the west, this is an infinite amount. Clean slate, Andrew!!!! Keep the list short, go to Him often. You are always in the palm of His glorious hand! Take care my brother, Love In Christ, Niki

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