Tender Mercies for Undeserving Sinner

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?

I remember my life before Christ; it was empty, hopeless, fearful, and constantly searching for something to bring peace to my soul. Then on that faithful day in October of 2003, Jesus came to where I was.

I wasn’t seeking Him; I was lost.

He found me and rescued me from my sin

He offered His righteousness in exchange for my sin.

He offered Peace in exchange for my penalty

He offered Life everlasting in exchange for everlasting torments

I have certainly been blessed though I am so undeserving of the many blessings.

He has been so merciful to this old undeserving sinner

Oh what a Savior is mine!

I pray that we can somehow get a glimpse of what God has done for us through this precious Psalm.

I want to consider the wonders David spoke of as we think on the thought: Tender Mercies for Undeserving Sinners

First thing I want us to see is....

I. God’s Perception of Us

(1-2), (15-16)

Have you considered lately that God knows everything about us?

He has searched our hearts; there is nothing hidden from God.

He knows our good days, as well as, the bad.

He understands the joy and the pain we experience.

He knows where we have been and where we are headed.

He knows when we have a heart to serve Him and when we are rebellious.

Hebrews 4:13 KJV 1900

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Im sure you agree that God knows all about us, and the tender mercy is, He knew all about us before Christ came to die for our sin.

We were all wretched and undone, sinful and lost.

We may have been pretty good people, who could dress up and go to church, but we were lost.

It thrills my heart to know that God knew I was a sinner who had nothing to offer Him in return, and yet, He offered me the riches and hope of heaven through Jesus Christ His Son!

Jesus looked down through the portals of time and saw a sinful man, lost and undone, in need of a Savior.

He came for me!

I have never gotten over that. God knew me and yet He loved me!

Who am I that a King would bleed and die for me?

Who am I to receive such grace and mercy?

Who are you that God would save your wretched soul from the pits of Hell?

You and I are so undeserving

1.Gods perception of us

Next we see...

II. God’s Patience towards Us

(3-4)

– Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. [4] For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

When God saved me I became a new creature in Christ.

That transformation was immediate; I would never be lost again, but I still have those sinful tendencies.

No matter how hard I try, I can not live a perfect life.

I am weak and it seems more times then not I yield to temptation.

But Notice V.3;

the word compassest

it means “to scatter or cast about as the wind does the dust.”

It has the idea of “the winnowing process where grain is thrown into the air so that the chaff is blown away leaving only the pure grain.”

Jesus knew what I was when He saved me and He knows what I will become.

He is patiently working in my life.

With hands of love He allows the winds of life to remove the chaff that hinders me so that I become more like Him.

The children sing that little song, “He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and mars. How loving and patient He must be; He’s still working on me.”

we are just clay in the hand of the potter.

Aren’t you glad that Jesus doesn’t throw the clay away?

He just carefully begins to remold us into what He wants us to be.

He looks beyond the sinful, marred outward appearance and looks at the heart.

He sees the potential in our lives through Him, and works to bring His likeness to the surface!

If we got what we deserved we would all be in hell this morning, but God doesn’t see our sinfulness and rebellious spirit.

He sees me and you that are saved as children of God, born again, washed in the blood, holy and pure because of His Sons sacrifice.

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad the Lord is patient with me.

He has never failed to receive me with open arms when I come short, no doubt greatly displeasing Him. All I have to do is seek forgiveness and cleansing, and He always restores me.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

III. God’s Protection of Us (5-6)

– Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

David stood in awe of God.

I too stand amazed at His protection.

As David said, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

If you are saved this morning, you are secure in Jesus.

This world is in a frenzy this morning, searching for something to satisfy that longing in their soul.

I have perfect peace in my Lord.

I want you to notice the word beset.

It means “to press upon or compress.”

It has reference to “laying siege to a city, entirely surrounding it, and hemming it in, so that there is no possibility of escape.”

God has us protected from behind and in the front. He is protecting us from the troubles and trials of yesterday as well as those we will face in the future.

We will face adversity, but not alone.

And if that isn’t enough the hands that hung the stars in space, the hands that created man from the dust of the earth, that were nailed to that Roman cross, are covering us.

Praise God we are secure in Him this morning.

I don’t know what we’ll face tomorrow, but I know it isn’t big enough to remove us from the hand of God.

Isaiah 43:1 KJV 1900

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, And he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

We can claim that promise as well. It is utterly impossible to get away from the mighty hand of God.

Even knowing who we are He still does what He does.

Praise Him this morning for His tender mercy of protection

Praise him for His tender mercy of patience

Next we see

IV. God’s Presence around Us

(7-10) – Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell (the grave, in death), behold, thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

David was a man of war; he had faced much uncertainty in his life.

He was constantly on the move, defending himself from the enemy.

He had known great victories and suffered great losses.

In everything he faced, God was always there.

We too, if you are born again, cannot escape the presence of our Lord.

Every child of God has the Holy Spirit within their heart.

I may get to place in my life that I feel God has left me, but He is always there.

I don’t know what you are facing this morning.

You may be walking through a dark valley.

You may feel that you are all alone, but God is there.

He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Now if you have never been saved, you are alone that is why you feel the way you do.

If you are here this morning and are wondering around this old world alone, it is because you have not admitted to yourself that you are lost and in need of a savior.

Jesus wants to be your guide and comforter. He wants to save you from your sin but you wont admit that you need him. So you just keep walking around feeling the way you do because you are to proud.

Kind of like men when we travel, not so much now because of gps, but before gps men would not stop and ask for directions because they were to proud. We would much rather act like we know where we are going then admit we need help getting where we are going.

Why dont you admit this morning that you are lost and ask God to save you?

I didnt deserve his help, but I sure am glad he answered my cry and saved me.

Peter had to admit that he was drowning before Christ reached down and pulled Him out.

And when he saves you he wont leave you.

His presence is ever near.

I don’t deserve to have the presence of God in my life, but praise His Holy name He is there.

Psalm 46:1 KJV 1900

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

We can count on God in times of sorrow while in the valley, in times of joy on the mountain, and all the uneventful times in between.

He is there when I lay down at night and He is there when I wake in the morning!

Like Job who faced things I pray none of us have to, who was so discouraged and felt alone, who I am sure felt like the world was crashing down around him and it seemed as if God was nowhere to be found, we that are saved can proclaim like Job, Job 23:8-10

Job 23:8–10 KJV 1900

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; And backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

God is always with His Children. It may not feel like it all the time but He is.

He knows who you are and what you are, an underserving sinner

So praise Him for His patience, His protection, and His presence.

Finally we see...

V. God’s Perfection of Us

Psalm 139:23–24 KJV 1900

Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Like the Psalmist, we to need to realize our imperfection and be asking God to search us and try us.

God wants to perfect us, he wants to make us like His Son

God wants us to be perfect. Matt.5:48

Matthew 5:48 KJV 1900

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

You say, “thats nice preacher but I cant be perfect.” I know neither can I But God has provided the way for us to be perfect

Hebrews 10:14 KJV 1900

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Christ was the solution for our imperfection.

Colossians 1:22 KJV 1900

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

God’s perfection in you begins at salvation.

Understanding that you are not perfect and there is nothing you can do to earn perfection is the first step to being made perfect in Christ.

Christ is perfect

Hebrews 5:9 KJV 1900

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

If you are in Christ, you to are perfect in the eyes of God

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Are you perfect?

Do you have Christ as your perfection?

The Psalmist in these last two verses is asking God to cleanse him of anything that would tarnish the perfection that is in him.

I think we get the best cry for purification in Ps. 51 especially in verse 7

Psalm 51:7 KJV 1900

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Have you cried out to God for cleansing?

Maybe you should. You might not get another opportunity

Conclusion:

I am reminded of who He is and what He has done for me. There is joy in my soul this morning.

I want to praise the Lord for all He has done for me! I don’t know much, but I know that I belong to Him!

Psalm 139:14 – I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Are you struggling in the journey this morning?

Does it feel as if you are alone, forced to endure the difficulties of life without any guidance or help?

If you are a child of God, He is there.

If you have never been saved, you do not enjoy the presence of the Lord and His abundant blessing.

I have good news though. You can begin a journey with the Lord today if you will come to Him by faith.