Neh. 1:1-11 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. 3 They said to me, Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you, day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 8 Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name. 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man. Greatly distressed, Nehemiah personally sought God s face and favor! Nehemiah saw God as a personal God! There are many religions in the world, and some even believe in the same God of the Bible we do, and believe God is a being, even a benevolent being, but still just believe Him to be a force of nature, a higher power, only ancient Jews of the Old Testament and Christians believe God is a Know I You? - 2
personal God who can be known, and a personal relationship can be had with Him. Yet, there are many of us who are Christians say and even believe that we are to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, but do you have a personal relationship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ? Before you can answer that question, whether or not God is personal to you, you must first understand the term itself. David said, the Lord is my shepard (Ps. 23), not our shepard, your shepard, but my shepard! We say something is personal when it involves relationship particularly a binding, transactional, an acknowledged relationship. Furthermore, personal relationship involves the actual presence and interaction with another, then it is deemed personal. A personal relationship is not possible with an inanimate object, an intangible force, powers or an abstract idea. For it to be personal, it must be particular and knowable. Not knowing, but knowable. To know something, even about someone doesn t make it personal. It can only be described as personal if it involves our private life, our most intimate thoughts, or our emotions something that touches us at a deep level. That s personal. Suppose you ask a friend for money an amount to tide me over until I get paid. Your friend gives it to you, with the agreement that you will pay it back once you get paid. The law considers this to be termed a personal loan. What makes it personal? The loan exists between two persons: you and your friend. You know him, and he knows you. A relationship exists between the two of you. The loan provides context for some ongoing interaction between you. Your arrangement can be called personal. Many people go to the bank to get a loan, because the bank has the resources and money to provide loans to people to purchase houses, cars, boats and pay off debt. They give you a loan because they have the ability to provide you with the money. You meet with a loan officer, provide the Know I You? - 3
bank you re your personal details, you enter into terms with the bank, who has all your personal information, is this considered a personal loan? No, it s considered a commercial loan. Why, when the bank has all your personal information? Commercial is suitable or fit for a wide, popular market, it s catered towards business rather than private use: it s very characteristic is for commerce, to gain something back from others. It s sole chief interest and emphasis is prepared, done for profit or success. Though, the bank has your personal information, there is no personal characteristics of the loan. You have no personal relationship with the bank, because there is no private, individual characterized interactive existing relationship, but a corporate function for their gain. Another example. Suppose you have a great respect for and knowledge of an historical figure say, Martin Luther King, Jr. You ve read the biography, studied Dr. King s writings, heard people that were close to him speak on him, read books about him, and perhaps even spoken with persons who knew him. You can quote him and tell others about his life and work. Is your relationship with Martin Luther King personal? Not quite. Why not? Because you never interacted with Dr. King, therefore, it s impossible for you to really know him, no matter what knowledge you have about him. You may feel or think you have a connection with him, but it cannot be termed personal. Informed, yes. Inspirational, perhaps. But personal, no. How many of us go to Church, listen to the preaching, read our Bibles from time to time? Talk with others about the Lord, but don t have a personal relationship with Him, because we have not made our relationship with Him personal. Only making the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, higher powers, God, Lord of Lords, King of kings, an abstract idea, an intangible force, a concept to be worshiped, but not personal to my private life, my most intimate thoughts, emotions and feelings. As Christians, we all need to be cautioned about what our Lord and Savior spoke of in Matt. 7:21-23 & Luke 13:25-27. Know I You? - 4
Matt. 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles? 23 Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! Luke 13:25-27 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, Sir, open the door for us. But he will answer, I don t know you or where you come from. 26 Then you will say, We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets. 27 But he will reply, I don t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers! The phrases I never knew you and I don t know you, in these two passages is actual translated: Οὐδέποτε Oudepote (oo-dep'-ot-eh) never, γινώσκω ginóskó (ghinoce'-ko) knew I, ὑμᾶς hymas you = never knew I you! Οὐδέποτε Oudepote (never); or nothing (about); γινώσκω ginóskó (knew I); to know through personal experience, firsthand acquaintances; and ὑμᾶς hymas; you (personally you). So, what Jesus is saying is, that person is not to known by Him personally. He might know of them, they may know of Him, but there is experiential, firsthand acquaintances knowing. Know personal intimate knowing one another. An example of what Jesus means when He says, γινώσκω ginóskó (know or knew I) can be seen in the same way, what Mary meant of not "experientially knowing a man" in Lk 1:34: Know I You? - 5
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know (γινώσκω ginóskó) not a man? Mary was speaking of not having any experiential knowing, personal sexually intimacy with a man. She had not intimately known a man. Jesus says, I DON T KNOW YOU Personally! Oh, you may go to Church, you may sing the songs, listen to the preaching, even do work for the Church. You read my Word and it s philosophical, moral and historical content, and have even gained some wisdom and knowledge of me. You may even participate in humanitarian efforts, talk with and to your friends and others about me. You may even, now and again, call evil, evil and rebuke it in my name. However, never knew I you ; because, I have no personal relationship with you, you don t bring your thoughts, your feelings, your fears, your joys, your worries, your expectations, your emotions, your rights, your wrongs, who you are, your private life and everything about you before to and before me. I don t know you! Jesus cautions us, telling us that our relationship with Him must be on a personal level! Being able to come before Him with any and everything, transparent and in love. I do not hide anything from God, who knows me better than I know myself, I believe Ps. 139:2-3: You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Knowing of, or even learning of, is not the same as a personal relationship. The Father and His Son Jesus seeks γινώσκω ginóskó (experiential knowing) relationships [Period]! At this point, you re probably wondering why did we start this study with Neh. 1:1-11? It s Nehemiah s personal private outpouring to the Lord, personal Lord. Nehemiah tells the Lord what he feels, think and passion. He s personal with the Lord about his emotions, feelings, thoughts, rights, wrongs and everything in between. Nehemiah says, 1:3-7: Know I You? - 6
The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. 4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. 5 Then I said: Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you, day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father s family, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. Nehemiah was personal with the Lord. Nehemiah asked God for personal favor: Neh. 1:11: Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man. We are to worship the creator God proactively in a personal relationship He is a God who even refers to himself in the context of his human relationships: I am the God of Abraham the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, ( ). The Lord identifies Himself as a personal God to His people. He doesn t want to simply rule over us or micromanage our behavior, He wants to have a personal relationship with us. It is spoke of over and over again in the Old Testament, that his desire was for them to be his people and for Him to be their God. The Lord is so committed to having a personal relationship with His creation, He, Himself became a man: John 1:14: the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. What better way to relate to men, letting them know of His desire for us to be His people and for Him to be our God than to become a man? In becoming a man, Jesus Christ makes God personal to man, and gives us the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him and God the Know I You? - 7
Father. John 1:12-13: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Jesus goes on to tells us, John 15:14-15: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. And, John 17:2-3 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Over the past two thousand years anyone who has had or have experienced a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, can and will testify that God is real and that knowing him is a personal adventure of a lifetime, as it is with any relationship, you journey together. God needs to be personal to ME! He is not an impersonal force or a power, not a concept or an idea, that is, God is not the mere projection of man s thoughts, He s no philosophical figment of my thoughts. He is personal He is the living Spirit-Being that I can interact with on a deep personal level in my life. Because He is God who is personal, He can be known and can reveal Himself; He is capable of personal communicating with, and understanding everything personal about me. Each believer as the privilege to address Him as abba Father which translates dada dada or daddy, daddy (Rom. 8:15). David says, the Lord is my shepherd. Think about the word my. The verse doesn t say that the Lord is a shepherd or our shepherd. It says He is my shepherd. To me, my means personal possession. Know I You? - 8
When little kids say My, it means that toy, that mommy, that daddy belongs to me. It, they are covered with my slobber, my dirty hands, it, he/she is treasured by me. It is my personal possession. David talks about God as if God belonged to him and he belonged to God. In other words, the relationship is intimate and permanent. Do you, like David, talk about God as if He belongs to you and you belong to Him? Is God personal to you? When I think of the Lord as my shepherd, I feel an intimate connection with the Lord. I see how He has guided me, lead me, directed me, shown me, kept me, forgiven me, scolded me, provided for me, help me through green pastures and dark valleys. And, to be honest, I really need the Lord as my shepherd, I am needy and dependent as a sheep before the Lord. Psalm 23 is not meant to be past-tense, wouldn t-it-be-nice kind of passage. It is personal. It is a right here, right now, up-close passage about you and your Shepherd, a personal relationship with Him. Ps. 16:5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup Ps. 18:2-3 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. Ps. 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? Ps. 28:6-7 Know I You? - 9
Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. 7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Rev. 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Know I You? - 10