Scripture stresses the importance and also the possibility of a true experience of the living God. This is contrasted with the more academic knowledge about him. Experiential knowledge of God comes through personal encounter, through the witness of the Holy Spirit, through reflection on his past goodness and through the shared experiences of others.
Personal experience of God
Contrasted with academic knowledge
Job 42:5 See also Jeremiah 31:34; John 4:42, John 5:39–40; James 2:19
My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.
Experience of God's blessing
Psalm 34:8 See also 1 Peter 2:3; Hebrews 6:4–5
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Experiencing God through Scripture
Matthew 22:29; John 5:39–40; Acts 17:11–12; 2 Timothy 3:15–17
Knowing God through the Spirit
Romans 8:15–16 See also John 14:16–17, John 14:26, John 16:14–15; 1 Corinthians 2:9–10; Isaiah 64:4
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption to sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Examples of personal encounter with God
Deuteronomy 11:2–7 See also Deuteronomy 5:3–4; Genesis 32:30 Jacob; Exodus 3:3–4 Moses; Isaiah 6:1 Isaiah; Acts 9:3–6 Saul of Tarsus; 2 Corinthians 12:2–4 Paul; Revelation 1:17 John
Know this day that it is not your children who have known and seen the discipline of the LORD your God: His greatness, His mighty hand, and His outstretched arm; the signs and works He did in Egypt to Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his land; what He did to the Egyptian army and horses and chariots when He made the waters of the Red Sea engulf them as they pursued you, and how He destroyed them completely, even to this day; what He did for you in the wilderness until you reached this place; and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them. For it is your own eyes that have seen every great work that the LORD has done.
Sharing experience of God
Experience of God through his people
Zechariah 8:23 See also Isaiah 45:14; 1 Corinthians 14:24–25
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
Leaders with experience of God
Joshua 24:31 See also Numbers 12:8; Judges 6:22; Acts 1:21–22; 1 Corinthians 15:3–7; 2 Peter 1:16–18
Israel had served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced all the works that the LORD had done for Israel.
Speaking to future generations
Deuteronomy 4:9–10 See also Exodus 10:2; Deuteronomy 6:20–21; Job 8:8–9; Psalm 71:18
Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren. The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.”
Speaking from personal experience: OT
Deuteronomy 7:18–19 See also 1 Samuel 17:34–37 David's experience teaches him to trust God.Isaiah 43:14–17, Isaiah 51:9–11 Jeremiah 16:14–15
But do not be afraid of them. Be sure to remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt: the great trials that you saw, the signs and wonders, and the mighty hand and outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.
Speaking from personal experience: NT
John 3:11 See also John 20:18; Acts 4:13; 1 John 1:1–3John 9:25 See also Mark 5:19–20 parallel Luke 8:39; John 4:28–29
Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony.
He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!”
Confidence based on past experience
Matthew 16:9–10 parallel Mark 8:18–20 The disciples' experience of Jesus Christ's provision should have taught them not to worry about food; 2 Timothy 4:17–18
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.