1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. (Psalm 139:1-4 NIV)

The opening verses of Psalm 139 are some of the most disturbing and yet comforting verses in all of God’s Word, if I really take the time to consider them. Disturbing to me because David makes it very clear that there was absolutely nothing about him that God didn’t know about. God knew what was going on in David’s heart when he sent for Bathsheba. Bathsheba had no idea, but God knew. Uriah, her husband, had no clue what the King was up to when he pulled Uriah off the battlefield for a little “R & R” with his wife. Uriah had no idea, but God knew. After David arranged for Uriah’s death and the announcement was made that he had died, David took Uriah’s widow into the palace to care for her and her unborn child. Word spread throughout Israel as to what the King had done and all of the people thought David was a pillar of compassion and tenderness. The people just didn’t know, but God knew.

God knew all of this and more about David. He knows every detail of my life as well. When I really contemplate that truth is is disturbing to me. He knows the things I’ve said and done that I would prefer Him to know, but He also knows those things about me that I would prefer that nobody know.

The irony of it all is that it is the disturbing nature of these verses that gives me such comfort. If God knows the gory details of my heart and twisted mind, if He knows my seemingly good intentions that are really nothing more than manipulation, if He knows all of this and more and yet He still loves me…what love He must possess. No wonder Paul prayed for the people of Ephesus to know this mind-boggling love. Paul wrote, 17…And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV)

It is His love that inspires me to live for His glory. It is His love that compels me to serve Him with all of my heart. It is His love that empowers me to live with authenticity. It is His love that gives me the desire to turn away from sin and strive for holiness.

My prayer today, Lord, is that You will keep me aware of Your infinite knowledge of me and continue Your work to mold me into Your glorious image so that others might come to know Your love.

Think About It…