Search Me, O God
What shall be our response to the LORD God who knows everything
about us all the time? How should we respond
to His abiding presence that never leaves us? Because
He is all-powerful, how then should we live our lives? Knowing that God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent should make us
want to please Him in everything we do.
The Psalmist David did not want to be influenced by evil
persons. He did not love the sinner’s
life-style. “O that You would slay the
wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You
wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O
Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost
hatred; They have become my enemies” (Psalm 139:19-22).
Those are strong words.
Do I want to be done with sin? What
sins would I ask God to kill in my life? What
spiritual enemies in my life need to go? Do
you have some intimate friends you need to give up for your spiritual good? Are you willing to give up those relationships
that make you and open target for temptation to do evil? That was David’s attitude in
verses 19-22.
Moreover, David went a step further and prayed that God would
enable him to continue to grow in righteousness. “Search
me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any
hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24).
David used the word “search” meaning to explore,
dig, probe, examine, and investigate.
Jeremiah was told, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I
test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of
his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:10).
He searches and
He knows the secrets of our hearts (Ps. 44:21). “The
heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand
it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
David pleads for God to search him out and lead him in
“the everlasting way” (v.24).
We have so many blind spots that we need the diligent probing
of the Holy Spirit in our minds and hearts. We
need Him to search “and know my heart,” “know my anxious thoughts,”
and reveal what is the cause of pain to God. See if there is any hurtful way in me.”
How do I cause the Holy Spirit to grieve? "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your
mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the
moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and
anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one
another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven
you" (Ephesians 4:29-32).
The context tells us how we cause pain to our Lord. Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and
malice must be put away and replaced with kindness toward one another, tender-hearted,
forgiving each other just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Eph. 4:31-32).
The greatest encouragement for the believer
in Christ Jesus is to enter into the presence of an all-seeing,
all-knowing God who knows us intimately. Because we have been justified
by grace though faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and the Holy
Spirit indwells us, we can stand in His light and be examined by His
holy presence. We can allow Him to examine our thoughts, attitudes and
heart's desires and then "bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 5).
David models this desire for us. There is
willingness to put away anything which is grievous to God and to His
Spirit and to be led in the way everlasting. When we find sin in our
hearts there is a spiritual bar of soap that cleanses of every sin (1
John 1:8-9).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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