ARE YOU CRUSHED OR ENCOURAGED?

READ PSALM 139

GOD’S SCRUTINY SHOULD PRODUCE JOYFUL SOBRIETY

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 despite God’s complete and intimate knowledge of everything about us, He does not reject us, but remains close to us. His loving care was planned before our birth, begins at our conception, and continues 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, and is sure. We cannot stop it, but 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, burdened under the weight of our sins, 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 embrace the scrutiny of God and to welcome His transforming power. David was not afraid of being an open book before the God whom he loves, and by whom he was tenderly loved.

David did not live with the illusion that his ways were perfect; he realized that sinning 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 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 lead us to ungodly reasoning. There were times when I have been more worried about human scrutiny than the far more penetrating investigation by God. Other times, I have been crushed in the realization that God is always a witness to my sin.

These words of David, inspired by God, need to bear great influence upon our daily lives. Yes, they 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 is happening to us that escapes God’s awareness. 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 grow in sanctification.

May the significance of these truths produce much joy and peace in our lives, balanced by a holy fear and appropriate sobriety!