Knowing Him affects everything

2 Samuel 24: 10-14, NKJV
10 And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O LORD, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
11 Now when David arose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,
12 “Go and tell David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.”’”
13 So Gad came to David and told him; and he said to him, “Shall seven years of famine come to you in your land? Or shall you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ plague in your land? Now consider and see what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.”
14 And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

This incredible account from the life of David reminds me of two major things:

~ what made him, a fallible man, so highly favored by God

~ how critical it is to our own lives that we make knowing God intimately the preeminent aim of our 'religion'

David had already done wrong, but it was his knowledge of the ways of God that greatly mitigated the consequences of his sin. God could actually trust David to give him choices, even regarding his own punishment. That says a lot. The 'wrong' choice could have brought far greater suffering, but because of the time he had taken to cultivate his relationship with Him over the years, David knew some things about the God he served. I wonder how many of us would have weighed our options using the same criteria that David used - not to mention, when having to make the decision in a mere moment.

What we know about God - really know - is going to affect every single thing that flows out of our life. How we enjoy His blessings, endure His chastening, bear up under trials and grief, whether we press on in faith...all are determined by how much we know Him as He really is. And this knowing Him determines how much we can please God.

I want to please God, therefore, I must know Him.