David realized that he needed to be
led in the ways of God,
he was willing to let God show him
the way that would be please Him.
Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
We have worked our way
through this wonderful Psalm, learning that we are carefully searched and known
by the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and just God.
His knowledge of our ways
both surprises us and, in some ways, frightens us. Yet God’s complete and
intimate knowledge of everything about us does not cause Him to reject us, but
He remains close to us. His care has been planned before our birth, begins at
our conception, and goes on and on through every day of our lives. We cannot
prolong or shorten our days, as they have been ordained by God, Himself.
This kind of knowledge is
effortless for God because He is omniscient, and is sure because He is
omnipotent. We cannot stop it! Yet, we can have varied reactions to it. We can
ignore it, like many men do who go about their lives with careless disregard of
the presence of God. We can live in fear of it, continuing to live under the
weight of our sins, or trying to appease God. We can live day by day with the
illusion that we can hide in the dark from God’s notice. Or we can invite such
scrutiny and be blessed and transformed by its reality!
Psalm 139:23-24
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!
David chose to recognize
the scrutiny of God and to welcome His transforming power. He was not afraid of
being an open book before the God whom he loved, and by whom he was tenderly
loved.
David did not live with
the illusion that his ways were perfect; he realized that sin was part of his
life. He did not justify sin nor did he minimize it. His use of the term ‘grievous’
shows he knew that it was offensive to God, and that it caused sorrow and grief
to the holy God he loved.
David realized that he
needed to be led in the ways of God, and was willing to let God show him the
way that would be pleasing to Him.
As I read and meditated upon
this psalm, I realized that there have been times when I have ignored the
scrutiny of God or have lived as if I could hide from Him. The desire to sin
will always take us in paths of ungodly reasoning. There were also times when I
have been more worried about human scrutiny than God’s infinitely more penetrating
investigation. Other times, I have been crushed. in the realization that God had
been a witness to my sin.
These words of David, inspired
by God, need to bear much weight in our lives. Yes, our lives should be
different because we live in the eternal presence and awareness of God. Sin
should never be embraced or minimized. These truths should also give us much
hope, as we realize that nothing can happen to us without God’s complete
awareness and providence. Our lives have been planned by God since before our
conception! May we, as David, wholeheartedly invite personal investigation by
God, as we strive to live out our sanctification.
May the weight of these
truths produce much joy and peace in our lives, balanced by a holy fear and
appropriate sobriety!
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