David makes a bold and counter-cultural request of God in Psalm 139. Today we examine the ways in which a request like this can be critical to our growth.
You can play, download, or read the transcript of this Take Note Podcast below.
Search Me
Psalm 139:23-24
- Our focus will be on two short verses in Psalms today
- And a request of God from His servant and the king of Israel – David
- We’ll examine the motivations behind such a request
- Ask what it says about the God receiving the request
- And the servant making the request
- Consider what it may mean for our walk with God to do something similar
- And examine why it would not only be a good idea, but potentially critical for our growth
- The theme: “Search Me”
- From Psalm 139 today
- Let’s read the request and make a few initial observations…
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
- David is speaking to a God who has comprehensive knowledge
- He knows us in the deepest way it is possible to be known
- There is no motive that can be hidden
- No secret thoughts that can be hidden
- No actions performed in darkness that He does not see in vivid light
- For the one who has genuine concern about their spiritual well-being
- This is a comforting thought
- But it can also put us in a vulnerable position
- For we are sinful people, in bodies of sinful flesh
- And we live in the midst of a sinful world
- Sometimes not grasping the depth of our own disobedience
- The very statement itself admits and declares that David
- Wants (and needs) to alter his life based on the truth
- It assumes (or at least opens the possibility) that something is deficient
- Something is wrong
- Something is lacking
- And there is humility built into the request
- The assumption is that I cannot sufficiently examine myself
- I don’t have the requisite knowledge or wisdom or incisiveness
- What’s more, if anything is found deficient or wrong or lacking
- I don’t have the means within myself to change it
- It may be the case that I have already made the attempt, but failed
- Or that I have denied the problem and pressed forward
- Whatever the case, I am performing a counter-cultural act merely to make the request
- The world does not think this way
- It says “I am OK just the way I am!”
- Or declares that no one “has the right” to point out my deficiency (including God)
- We should know this: God takes us the way we are, He loves us the way we are, but He loves us enough to never leave us where we are.
- For the believer in Christ, there is never the sense that “I’m OK”
- There is always the sense that “I’m forgiven”
- “I have been granted grace”
- But there is also the sense that “I need more grace day by day”
- So…what about this request?
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
- Do we have the courage to make it?
- Are we ready to be led in the way everlasting?
- Along the path God has set out for us?
- People who have faith in Him
- Should be following after Him
- And our thoughts can be wrong
- Our ways can be wicked
- If they are, He can change them
- He can re-direct us
- He can put us back on the right way
- It seems to me, for the disciple, this is not just an option, but a must
- We must have His input, from His word
- Which must read us
- Declare things about who we are
- And about who He is
- Pressing into our hearts the differences
- Ad prompting us to bring them into alignment
- So, Lord, search us