God Understands: Fully Known and Deeply Loved

Friends and family. I invite you to join me as we look into one of my favorite passages, Psalm 139. This psalm, beautifully explores themes that reveal the depth of God's knowledge of us, His constant presence with us, and His intricate involvement in our creation. As we journey through these verses, may our hearts be opened to the profound truth that we are fully known and fully loved by our Creator.

I. Comprehensive Knowledge

Psalm 139:1–6 “ You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

God’s knowledge of us is all-encompassing. He knows our actions, our thoughts, our paths, and our words even before we speak them. This knowledge is not merely factual; it is intimate and personal, as a loving Father knows His children. God’s awareness of us goes beyond what we do; He understands why we do it, seeing into the depths of our hearts.

Reflect on the comfort and accountability that comes from knowing God is fully aware of all aspects of our lives. There is nothing we can hide from Him. Yet, this complete knowledge is enveloped in His love. Let us live transparently before God, finding solace in being fully known and fully loved. When we embrace this truth, it changes how we live, knowing we are always in the gaze of a loving Father.

II. Continual Presence

Psalm 139:7–12 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

God’s presence is inescapable and constant. No matter where we go, His Spirit is there. This continual presence offers guidance, comfort, and reassurance that we are never alone. In our highest highs and lowest lows, God is with us, guiding and sustaining us.

Reflect on how God’s omnipresence provides us with unwavering support and guidance. Encourage the congregation to cultivate an awareness of God’s presence in their daily lives, especially in times of difficulty and uncertainty. In moments of despair, let us remember that we are never outside the reach of God’s love and care.

III. Creative Power

Psalm 139:13–16 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

God’s involvement in our creation is detailed and intentional. He formed our innermost parts and knit us together with purpose and precision. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, each person a unique masterpiece of God’s creative power. Our lives are not accidents but are intricately planned and woven by the Creator.

I encourage you to value your own lives and the lives of others as God’s precious creations. Reflect on the purpose and potential God has woven into each of us, and seek to live out that divine purpose. Let us appreciate the unique gifts and attributes that God has given us, and use them for His glory.

IV. Constant Care

Psalm 139:17–18 “17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.”

God’s thoughts toward us are vast and precious. His care for us is unending and immeasurable. Even when we reach the end of our understanding, God is still with us, continually caring for and thinking about us. His love and concern for us are beyond our comprehension, and yet they are always present.

Reflect on the assurance and peace that comes from knowing God’s constant care and concern for us. Encourage the congregation to trust in God’s loving thoughts and plans for their lives, even when they cannot see the full picture. Let us rest in the knowledge that we are always on God’s mind, and His plans for us are good.

God’s comprehensive knowledge of us, His continual presence with us, His creative power in making us, and His constant care for us. These truths reveal the personal and relational nature of God’s love and involvement in our lives. As we embrace this intimate knowledge, may we live confidently and securely, knowing we are fully known and fully loved by our Creator. Amen.

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 139:1-6,13-18)

Leader: O Lord, You have searched us and known us.

People: You know when we sit down and when we rise up; You discern our thoughts from far away.

Leader: You search out our path and our lying down, and are acquainted with all our ways.

People: Even before a word is on our tongues, O Lord, You know it completely.

Leader: You hem us in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon us.

People: Such knowledge is too wonderful for us; it is so high that we cannot attain it.

Leader: For it was You who formed our inward parts; You knit us together in our mothers’ wombs.

People: We praise You, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; that we know very well.

Leader: Our frames were not hidden from You when we were being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

People: Your eyes beheld our unformed substance. In Your book were written all the days that were formed for us, when none of them as yet existed.

Leader: How weighty to us are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

People: We try to count them—they are more than the sand; we come to the end—we are still with You.

Leader: Let us worship our Creator, who knows us intimately and loves us deeply.

People: With thankful hearts, we gather to praise and adore the One who formed us and sustains us. Amen.

Opening Prayer (based on 2 Corinthians 4:5-12)

Let us pray,

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, acknowledging Your greatness and our need for Your grace. As we reflect on Your Word from 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, we are reminded that we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as servants for His sake.

Lord, we thank You for the light of the gospel that shines in our hearts, revealing the knowledge of Your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. We recognize that we are like jars of clay, fragile and ordinary, yet carrying the extraordinary treasure of Your grace and power. It is not by our strength, but by Your surpassing power that we are sustained and enabled to serve.

In our moments of affliction, remind us that we are not crushed. When we are perplexed, give us the assurance that we are not driven to despair. In our times of persecution, help us to remember that we are never forsaken. When we feel struck down, lift us up with the knowledge that we are not destroyed. Help us to see that the hardships we face are a sharing in the suffering of Jesus, so that His life may also be revealed in us.

Lord, as we carry around in our bodies the death of Jesus, may His life be evident in our mortal bodies. Empower us to live out our faith with courage and conviction, trusting that Your life-giving power is at work within us, even in our weaknesses.

We pray for strength to endure the trials we face, for wisdom to navigate the challenges before us, and for the grace to reflect Your love and light to those around us. May our lives be a testament to Your transformative power, drawing others to the hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ.

We offer ourselves to You, Lord, as vessels for Your glory. Fill us with Your Spirit, guide us by Your truth, and use us for Your purposes. May Your light shine brightly through us, illuminating the darkness and bringing hope to a world in need.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.