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There can be no cordial obedience to God by those who are ignorant of Him. Ignorance is not the mother of devotion, but the parent of superstition and idolatry. An unknown person cannot be truly and cordially loved.

I. PERSONS IN A NATURAL ANN UNREGENERATE STATE ARE DESTITUTE OF DIVINE KNOWLEDGE. (Acts 17:30.)

1. Sin has deprived us of communion with God, corrupted our nature, and darkened our understandings (Ephesians 4:18).

2. This ignorance is increased by a course of sinning.

3. There is many an affected ignorance which is very criminal. Men are unwilling to understand what they might. They love darkness rather than light.

4. Some are given up to judicial blindness and hardness of heart (Romans 1:28). Whilst men are in this state of darkness, they are ignorant —

(1)  Of God, His nature, and perfections.

(2)  Of Christ, His person and offices, and the way of salvation by Him.

(3)  Of the Spirit of God.

(4)  Of themselves, and of their state and condition by nature.

(5)  Of sin, and the sad effects of it.

(6)  Of the sacred Scriptures, and the truths contained in them.

II. IN EVERY REGENERATE PERSON THERE IS A KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF DIVINE THINGS. Observe —

1. The object of it — God.

(1) There is a knowledge by the light of nature, through the works of creation, which show His eternal power and Godhead: and through the works of providence, by which He has not left Himself without a witness of His being and beneficence.

(2) There is a knowledge of God by the moral law. It came by Moses, and it shows what is His good and perfect will. It is a transcript of His nature, His justice and holiness.

(3) There is a knowledge of God which comes by the Gospel, the doctrine of grace and truth, that is, by Christ, who declares God's person, nature, grace, mind, and will to men. This knowledge of God may be considered as respecting the three Divine Persons in the Godhead. The knowledge of God is of Him as Father. The knowledge of Christ is affectionate, confidential, experimental, and appropriating. The knowledge of the Spirit is of Him as a Spirit of conviction and illumination; as the Comforter; as the Spirit of adoption; as a Spirit of grace and of supplication.

III. THE NATURE AND PROPERTIES OF THIS KNOWLEDGE.

1. It is practical. The mere theory of any science is of little avail.

2. It is of a soul-humbling nature. Other knowledge puffs up.

3. It is pleasant, savoury, and satisfying.

4. It is super-excellent.

5. It is but imperfect in this life, yet it is progressive.

(T. Hannam.)

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KJV: I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.

WEB: I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness; and you shall know Yahweh.