Psalm 139

The past two weeks we have looked at two pslams 36, and 37 and one of the things that these psalms point out is that although we THINK we know ourselves best, we actually don’t.

Psalm 36:1 NLT

1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all.

Proverbs 14:12 ESV

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Have you heard of or experienced Body Dysmorphia? There is a Mental illness but I think a lot of people, myself included have a little Body dysmorphia

Not Body dysmorphia, We have soul dysmorphia.

Proverbs 21:2 ESV

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.

God knows us better than we know ourselves.

The Everywhere Present, Everything Knowing God

Psalm 139:1–4 ESV

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

God knows our deepest secret thoughts and desires

He knows what we do and where we go (not just on Sundays but all the days)

He knows our true motivations

He knows our search history

“Before a word is on my tongue” He knows the things you wanted to say but didn’t

He knows if your words are true

He sees and understands your fears and sadness

He sees the good things you do and sacrifices you make that no one notices

Psalm 139:5 ESV

5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

There is a protective sense to this and a boxing in sense

Two different ways. How you all might use your hand on a spider, verse how Branston would use his hands

Psalm 139:6 ESV

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

there is a “So Cool!” sense to this and a “I can’t take this i need to get away from it” sense

I cant even

Because God is everywhere and knows everything - We can run but we can’t hide.

Psalm 139:7–9 ESV

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Modern american mindset: I have the right to chose my own way. I have the right to write my own story, determine my own path etc…

Story of Jonah

Where else can we go?

John 6:68 ESV

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,

If you are going the wrong direction, it does not help to drive more determinedly or to drive faster

Psalm 139:10–12 ESV

10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Darkness we seek to hide our sin

and darkness that comes upon us

Both types are not darkness to God. He can see. He is light

Psalm 36:9 ESV

9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because God is everywhere and knows everything - We cant hide. Scary and comforting

Because God is everywhere and knows everything - We are known deeply and perfectly from before conception to after death.

Psalm 139:13–15 ESV

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Yes, this passage along with many others indicate that life begins at conception

Psalm 139:13–16 ESV

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Not just knowing about me but knowing ME deeply

AND planning for me

Psalm 139:17–18 ESV

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

Even after death, when we awake. He is with us and we are with Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 ESV

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

So What?

Does the fact that God is everywhere and knows everything scare you?

If you are living apart from God, you have reason to be afraid

If you are claiming to be a child of God but are living in an ongoing sinful way without repentance or the fruit of repentance, you have reason to be afraid

Hebrews 4:13 ESV

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

This is what David prays:

Psalm 139:19–22 ESV

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

Oof. Thats heavy.

We should hate sin and the effects that it has on our world

We should speak against sin, injustice etc

We should speak against those who teach falsehood

We should remember that the battle is not ours:

Jesus did these things for us. He crushed the serpent. He has made his enemies his footstool. He has broken the bonds of slavery to sin and death

1 John 3:19–24 ESV

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

God is everywhere and knows everything and loves me deeply, so I will deal with my sin

Psalm 139:23–24 ESV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, …

God is everywhere and knows everything and loves me deeply, so I will obey

Psalm 139:24 ESV

…and lead me in the way everlasting!