Today’s lesson comes from Psalm 139: 1-14; 23, 24. In the first part of the study we will focus on the omniscience of God. This means that God is all knowing. He is not only aware of all we do, but also knows all our inner thoughts and desires. This should be comforting to the Christian, but troubling to the sinner. The second section deals with God’s omnipresence. God is everywhere. The last section will deal with God’s discernment. He knows what you are really like. This psalm highlights some of God’s greatest attributes, yet it is one of David’s most personal psalms. The twenty four verses are easily divided into groups: vv. 1-6 You know who I am; vv. 7-12 You know where I am; vv. 13-18 You know what I am; vv. 19-24 You know I hate wickedness.
The first section is “God’s Omniscience.” vv. 1-6 Verse one begins as a prayer, “O LORD.” David states that God has searched him and knows him. God has seen the secret actions as well as those in public view. “Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising.” God is aware when you are at rest as well when he rises to do something. “Thou understandest my thoughts afar off.” While our thoughts are hidden from men, but they are fully exposed to God. God knows our thoughts and plans. In verse three, the word “compassest” means to winnow or sift. When grain is sifted, the good is separated from the bad. God “winnows” the events of our daily life. He is “acquainted” with all our ways. He keeps a perfect record of all our works. A commentator has saidGod’s knowledge of us should keep us in such awe that we sin not. God even knows our words before we speak them.
God hedges us in both “behind and before.”God is in front of us and behind us in space, as well as before us in time and with us as we walk each day. God has “laid thine hand upon me,” which means He is there to guide, protect, and provide for us. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.” God’s perfect understanding of us is beyond our ability to comprehend, yet wonderful to consider. His knowledge of our soul, our words, our thoughts, and our deeds exceeds the powers of our comprehension.
The second section is “God’s Omnipresence.” vv. 7-12 As humans, we think in terms of distance and time. We may think about the past or the future, but we only exist in the present and in only one place at a time. The psalmist in verses 7-11 speaks of the places you go go and not escape the presence of God. You could ascend to heaven or descend to hell (the Hebrew word is Sheol, and means the grave), but God would be there. These are comparisons of height and depth of existence. Then, the psalmist speaks of the breadth of existence. If you could fly as fast as streaming light, cross the Mediterranean Sea, and rest at the farthest point of the western horizon, God would still be present. You cannot escape the presence of God. “There is absolutely nowhere that I can go to escape Him. Wherever I went, it would be the same as it is here and now.” (Charles Spurgeon) It is a somber thought to think that since God is everywhere, when one sins, you do so before His face and He sees the act of treason.
While God created light, He doesn’t need it to see our actions and thoughts. “The darkness hideth not from thee...the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” These words are comforting to the believer. No matter how dark our circumstances may be, God still knows exactly where you are, and He comprehends what is happening. Remember, Jonah tried to run from God, but found it to be impossible.
The third section is “God’s Discernment.” vv. 13, 14, 23, 24 The word "reins" in verse 13 means the foundation of a person, the seat of affections. God knows who we are, for He "possessed my reins." He "covers us" which mean He weaved or knit us together. It does not mean to hide. The mystery of spirit, soul, and body is not a mystery to the One who made us in the womb. Since God made us, He knows us.
The psalmist immediate response was, "I will praise thee, for I am fearfully...made." Man was made in a way as to inspire awe and reverence toward God. When we consider the marvels of the human body, we cannot help but to give glory to God. We are "wonderfully made."
In verses 19 through 23, David declares that God will surely slay the wicked. The psalmist goes on to declare his own hatred for those that hate God: "I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." He fears that what he hates in others may be found in him. Thus, he prays: "Search me, O God." The search in verse one is a statement of fact, but here it is a request. He wants to know what is in him and who he is. He prays that God will not allow him to be deceived about who he is. He wants to see the truth about the condition of his soul.
David prays that God would search him, both his hearts and thoughts, to see if there was "any wicked way in me." The "wicked way" mean a diseased way which leads to death. We need to pray as David prayed and be as honest as he was. We want to go onto perfection and be sanctified wholly and cleansed from all sin. "The way everlasting" is the way of God, the way of righteousness. The psalmist wanted to be searched to make sure he would attain life everlasting. What about you?e m
The Golden Text is: "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart." (Psalm 26:2) The meaning of this verse is that the psalmist asked God to give him a strict and rigid examination. The words "examine," "prove," and "try" are used to describe the process. All true believers need to make this a regular part of their prayer lives. It is better to be examined now than judged later.
My summary points:
1. God is all knowing.
2. God is everywhere.
3. God knows us because He made us.
Next week: "Hear My Prayer." (Psalm 143: 1-12)
Read the Sunday School Beacon for inspiration and encouragement.
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