Memory – Psalm 139.1-3 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
It is little wonder that the book of the Psalms is far and away the most popular book in the Bible. I find the universal themes of the psalms often give voice to my own heart’s thoughts and meditations. There is virtually no experience in life that is not touched on the leitmotifs found in this wonderful collection of poetry and hymns. Psalm 139 is an intensely personal reflection on the loving, all-knowing, ever-present, providential care of God. David acknowledges that though he is utterly transparent before God, yet, in his heart he delights in the Lord because he knows that he is merciful, despite being familiar with all David’s weakness and frailty. The bottom line for David is his absolute trust in God’s covenantal love for him. Remember David’s comment in Psalm 37.3-6: Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Those who fear God attempt to conceal sin in their hearts (Job 31.32). Such is not the case with the psalmist Davidwho emphatically delights in his affirmation of God’s infinite knowledge and invites the cleansing work of God’s Spirit(cf. the penitential Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, also 102, 130). David’s opening declaration is mirrored by his closing supplication; namely, because the Lord knows him, having searched him through and through, he yields to God’s sovereign rule in his heart. Moreover, David invites God to reveal the results of that search so that he might be holy and led in the way everlasting.
What is true of David the author of Psalm 139 who writes of relationship with God, is true of everyone. Nothing is hidden from God; God sees deeply into the heart of everyone. He knows what you are thinking before you utter a word. In Job we read: His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide (Job 34.21). God knows the hearts of the righteous and the hearts of sinners. The author of Hebrews writes: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account (4.13).
Knowing what is in my own heart and I suspect yours as well, this soul-searching scrutiny may be a frightening thought. Yet, as the Spirit of God is at work within us prodding us to delight in him, I think the only way to make progress in faith is to open oneself to the penetrating and cleansing inquiry of the Spirit. God desires that believers have a heart fully devoted to him. Thus, honesty and transparency about personal inability, weakness and sin is an invitation for the refining fire of the Spirit to transform one’s life. The Bible bears witness to many such people. Caleb, like David, was such a man. The Lord acknowledged Caleb’s unique spirit in Numbers 14.24, “my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly” (cp. Joshua 14.14). The biblical principle is clear: the Lord looks to bless those whose hearts are fully committed to him. David opens his Psalm with a declaration that God knows him, and he closes his Psalm with an invitation for God to further examine his heart: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Those who fear God attempt to conceal sin in their hearts (Job 31.32). Such is not the case with the psalmist Davidwho emphatically delights in his affirmation of God’s infinite knowledge and invites the cleansing work of God’s Spirit(cf. the penitential Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, also 102, 130). David’s opening declaration is mirrored by his closing supplication; namely, because the Lord knows him, having searched him through and through, he yields to God’s sovereign rule in his heart. Moreover, David invites God to reveal the results of that search so that he might be holy and led in the way everlasting.
What is true of David the author of Psalm 139 who writes of relationship with God, is true of everyone. Nothing is hidden from God; God sees deeply into the heart of everyone. He knows what you are thinking before you utter a word. In Job we read: His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide (Job 34.21). God knows the hearts of the righteous and the hearts of sinners. The author of Hebrews writes: Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account (4.13).
Knowing what is in my own heart and I suspect yours as well, this soul-searching scrutiny may be a frightening thought. Yet, as the Spirit of God is at work within us prodding us to delight in him, I think the only way to make progress in faith is to open oneself to the penetrating and cleansing inquiry of the Spirit. God desires that believers have a heart fully devoted to him. Thus, honesty and transparency about personal inability, weakness and sin is an invitation for the refining fire of the Spirit to transform one’s life. The Bible bears witness to many such people. Caleb, like David, was such a man. The Lord acknowledged Caleb’s unique spirit in Numbers 14.24, “my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly” (cp. Joshua 14.14). The biblical principle is clear: the Lord looks to bless those whose hearts are fully committed to him. David opens his Psalm with a declaration that God knows him, and he closes his Psalm with an invitation for God to further examine his heart: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
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