God is Closer than You Think.

Psalm 139 NIV

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. 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. 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. 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. 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. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Introduction: What is the first thing you do when you are attacked? Do you blame, do you fight, do you divert, What do you do?

21-We can feel attacked.

Story of Being Attacked -

The Context of the - David Feeling Attacked for his Faith in God....We could imagine this being a number of times in his life...

Goliath ridiculing the armies of Israel.

Saul, as he began to not follow God’s instruction and tried to kill David, influenced by an unclean spirit.

Shimei a relative of Saul who cursed David.

His own son Absolum who staged a coup against David.

Or the Philistines, Amalekites, Moabites, Edomites, etc...

Maybe you are bullied. Maybe your integrity has been called into question, Maybe you are ridiculed, or someone is trying to tear you down. - We can feel anxiety, we can actually begin to believe the lies layed on us.

Story of Being Attacked & Hannah reminding me that God is here and that God loves me.

“I know that Hannah, My head knows that and that gets me through, and I just feel this way right now, my heart will follow my head.”

How Does this prayer help us in those times? And this may seem strange, but...

22-God knows us intimately.

Side Note Counter - Argument to Hymns as best....

This Psalm has twice as many personal pronouns than words for God.

The Psalms with a rudimentary count are about half and half.

I am by far not against hymns, but I do struggle with this argument as being valid.

Here like our contemporary music we see a very personal and intimate interaction with David and God. And what do you know, It is really about how close God truly is, or how intimate he is with us. Definition: closely acquainted; familiar, close. involving very close connection. (of knowledge) detailed or thorough.

23-Evan Almighty Clip

24There are two sections describing God’s Intimacy with us.

1 is about his intimate presence with us - He sees everything

2 is about his intimate knowledge of us - He knows everything

25-The Growth Cycle of an Embryo vs. 16 - This all speaks to our purpose. - If people don’t want you, God certainly does…We are wonderfully distinguished vs 14.

26-Michaelangelo’s Creation of Man - John Ortberg - Notice how God is stretching out, but the man is barely lifting a finger. - God is Closer than you think.

How does this help us when we are attacked???

27-God is available when we are attacked.

1. The knowledge and constant presence of God can help us with our anxious thoughts of the future or even our daily habits. When we acknowledge that God knows our every thought and every move, we can become much more thankful that he continually pursues us despite our wrongdoings and wrong thoughts. We should be thankful that when we aren’t honest with ourselves, God can be truthful with us concerning our lifestyle because he knows us. When we are confused, we can be thankful that God knows exactly what’s going on, even if we don’t.

2. In this psalm, David mixes wisdom and praise to describe certain attributes of God that convey how he relates to humankind on an intimate level. God’s knowledge is from far off (vv. 2, 7), yet his knowledge is also deeply personal (vv. 2–4). God has a deep and unending capacity to know us fully; therefore, we should be thankful that he never misunderstands us or leaves us alone. When we go through times of confusion, struggling to know how to deal with our emotions, or how to overcome our negative thoughts and habits, we can surrender and thank God for knowing when we don’t. God’s intimate knowledge of us can be a deep relief in the midst of anxiety, stress, and self-deprecating thoughts.

3. God’s closeness keeps us honest and humble. - The Psalms begins with the statement that God has searched us, and it ends with a request to search. This is important especially after the Psalmist asks that God deal with evildoers. Clean me as well Lord.

God’s closeness keeps us honest and humble. - The Psalms begins with the statement that God has searched us, and it ends with a request to search. This is important especially after the Psalmist asks that God deal with evildoers. Clean me as well Lord.

3. God’s closeness keeps us honest and humble. - The Psalms begins with the statement that God has searched us, and it ends with a request to search. This is important especially after the Psalmist asks that God deal with evildoers. Clean me as well Lord.

Conclusion: Next time you feel attacked. Try this. try depending on God’s intimate knowledge of you, and his close presence with you.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 1, 6, 26-28, 116 - 129 Belgic Confession: Q&A 12-13