“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23,24)
The Old Testament prophets had one legitimate boast: they knew and understood the heart of God. This is the gulf that separates those who truly belong to God and those who profess to know Him. Have we entered into a heart fraternity with God? Do we feel what He feels? Are we moved by what moves His heart?
Jesus told the religionists of His day: “Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you …” (John 8:55). How close was the Son to the Father? He dwelt “in the bosom of the Father” (John 1:18). He declared: “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Where others were at best God’s acquaintances, Jesus was His bosom friend and confidante.
This is the mark of the true man or woman of God: they are attuned to the joys and sorrows of their heavenly Friend. They “get” God. They know when He is happy; they know when He is hurting. They hear Him say of His unfaithful spouse: “… I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols” (Ezek. 6:9). They have entered into His longsuffering; but they also know when His judgment is about to be unleashed. “Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting” (Jer. 15:6).
What a privilege it is to be allowed into the inner chambers of the heart of God. Whatever else a person may have in life, there is nothing comparable to such an experience. All that we could gain in this world is nothing next to the glorious Creator and Ruler of the Universe giving us access to the secrets chambers of His heart.
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)