Memory – Psalm 139.17-18 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.
What thoughts does God have? It almost seems presumptuous to ask the question. How can someone who is finite comprehend the One who is infinite? Of course, it is not possible for someone who lives within boundaries to fully understand One who is boundless. Perhaps Deuteronomy 29.29 will provide you some helpful insight: The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. There are two spheres in which we can know about God. Psalm 19 tells us what they are. First, there is the wonder of creation which theologians call general revelation. Second, there is what God reveals about himself through the prophets and apostles which theologians call special revelation.
The Bible is punctuated with statements about creation which leave the reader with a sense of wonder and awe. For example, The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab (mythical sea monster). By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand (Job 26.11-14). Or Colossians 1.10-12: You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end. Consider also, the words of Moses: … know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other (Deuteronomy 4.39). Meditating on these things and the good and necessary consequence that flows from them is not to deny natural causality but to recognize Divine causality.
Moreover, beyond all these wonders there is the extraordinary revelation that you have been created in the image of God. I'm always astounded by Psalm 8, When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? You have been created to have fellowship with God. The acerbic British social commentator Malcolm Muggeridge noted in his book Jesus Rediscovered, “To see God is the highest aspiration of man and has preoccupied the rarest human spirits at all times. Seeing God means understanding, seeing into the mystery of things. It is, or should be, the essential quest of universities.” We cannot know God exhaustively, but we can know what he has revealed to us. What is revealed in both general and special revelation has breadth and depth that as you think about it will stretch your mind and heart and shape your life.
Remember Psalm one where we started our memory work a few months ago: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night. So, regarding the thoughts of God here are a few questions that may be worth considering. What are some of God’s thoughts? What does he reveal about himself? What does he expect of me? What help does he promise me? The psalmist expresses a sense of wonder and awe; how does the majesty of God’s Triune person affect me? How does meditating on the thoughts of God help me develop an accurate biblical worldview? How does my understanding of God’s thoughts inform my prayer life? How does my relationship with God affect my dealing with others?
Meditative thoughts, whatever they may be, will in due course lead to action. The shape of your life begins with the thoughts of your heart. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4.23). Here is an exercise of the mind (and the heart): When you are trying to understand or master a problem it is often helpful to spend the last 30 minutes of the day thinking about it and when you wake up in the morning you may find that you have gained new insights during the night. This habit is equally helpful in gaining some mastery of thinking accurately about God. This is what the psalmist is alluding to when he says: I awake, and I am still with you. Each day is a new gift, and the Lord is still with you – He will never leave you or forsake you (Matthew 28.20b).
The Bible is punctuated with statements about creation which leave the reader with a sense of wonder and awe. For example, The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke. By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab (mythical sea monster). By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand (Job 26.11-14). Or Colossians 1.10-12: You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end. Consider also, the words of Moses: … know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other (Deuteronomy 4.39). Meditating on these things and the good and necessary consequence that flows from them is not to deny natural causality but to recognize Divine causality.
Moreover, beyond all these wonders there is the extraordinary revelation that you have been created in the image of God. I'm always astounded by Psalm 8, When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? You have been created to have fellowship with God. The acerbic British social commentator Malcolm Muggeridge noted in his book Jesus Rediscovered, “To see God is the highest aspiration of man and has preoccupied the rarest human spirits at all times. Seeing God means understanding, seeing into the mystery of things. It is, or should be, the essential quest of universities.” We cannot know God exhaustively, but we can know what he has revealed to us. What is revealed in both general and special revelation has breadth and depth that as you think about it will stretch your mind and heart and shape your life.
Remember Psalm one where we started our memory work a few months ago: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night. So, regarding the thoughts of God here are a few questions that may be worth considering. What are some of God’s thoughts? What does he reveal about himself? What does he expect of me? What help does he promise me? The psalmist expresses a sense of wonder and awe; how does the majesty of God’s Triune person affect me? How does meditating on the thoughts of God help me develop an accurate biblical worldview? How does my understanding of God’s thoughts inform my prayer life? How does my relationship with God affect my dealing with others?
Meditative thoughts, whatever they may be, will in due course lead to action. The shape of your life begins with the thoughts of your heart. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4.23). Here is an exercise of the mind (and the heart): When you are trying to understand or master a problem it is often helpful to spend the last 30 minutes of the day thinking about it and when you wake up in the morning you may find that you have gained new insights during the night. This habit is equally helpful in gaining some mastery of thinking accurately about God. This is what the psalmist is alluding to when he says: I awake, and I am still with you. Each day is a new gift, and the Lord is still with you – He will never leave you or forsake you (Matthew 28.20b).
RSS Feed