Senior Banquet

Psalm 139:1–23 CSB

1 Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. 5 You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. 6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. 7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 9 If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, 10 even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”— 12 even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you. 13 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began. 17 God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is! 18 If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you. 19 God, if only you would kill the wicked— you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me— 20 who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely. 21 Lord, don’t I hate those who hate you, and detest those who rebel against you? 22 I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

Psalm 139:1–16 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. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 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, 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. 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. 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.

Context

David finds peace in God’s intimate knowledge of him.

God Knows You v.1-4

He knows your thoughts, doubts fears, struggles

Struggles you will have, prayers before you pray them

God Surrounds You v.5-12

There is no where you can god to escape God’s knowledge of you

You may not be around family, friends, people who help you, but God...

God Made You v.13-16

Before anyone else knew you, he knew...

Your personality

your struggles

your hopes and fears

your many, many quirks

He designed you

He knows the days you will live out

God Satisfies You v.17-18

The thoughts of God, of knowing his knowledge of the universe and all its intricacies.

If you tried to count them, you would fall asleep.

Old Testament version of counting sheep

Example of sitting out back thinking about God

God Protects You v.19-22

we must realize we are at war

A battle for your souls is about to start like never before

There are evil people (who may not seem so), that want for you to join them in rebelling against this God

They may be charismatic

They may tell you it is ok to do things in college that you know the Bible says are wrong

everyone else does, right?

they have no interest in serving God, but show that they hate him

They despise God, and will try to lead you in ways that despise God

Do not Listen!

When people’s actions show you that they hate God, don't follow them

Listen to the God who knows you!!!!!!!!

God Leads You v.23-24

David ends like he began,

Ask God to search him and know his heart

David knows how easy it is to let you heart turn from God

to follow into some sin that everyone else does

sexual immorality lead to David becoming an adulterer, murder, and it took a while and much pain before he turned away.

He knew he needed to be searched by God, the god who knows him completely, who he can not escape from

He knew God could lead him in way that would last forever.

Charge

Know how much God knows you

Trust his knowledge and plans for you

be satisfied in knowing Him

Do not listen to those who act like they know you better than God does

Who tell you it is ok to sin and indulge yourself while you are in college

Pray, ask him to search your heart, and reveal to you if there are rebellious ways against him

Follow him in a way that will never be proven wrong