Weekly Sermon
In Psalm 139:23-24 the man of God David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
In these two verses, the man of God David expressed a three-fold request unto the Lord. First, he prayed that the Lord might search and try the character of his inner man. Second, he prayed that the Lord might reveal any wicked characteristics that might be in his inner man. Third, he prayed that the Lord might lead him in the way of “righteousness and true holiness.” Even so, with these requests David was coming before the Lord in order that they together might look back concerning what he had been and where he was at the present and might look forward concerning what he ought to be and how to progress forward. Furthermore, in these requests is implied David’s genuine burden, desire, and purpose to respond aright concerning each of the areas for which he prayed. So then, in like manner we also ought to examine ourselves concerning what and where we are and to consecrate ourselves unto what and how we ought to grow.
Now, David’s three-fold request unto the Lord in Psalm 139:23-24 serves as the conclusion for this Psalm. As such, these requests are founded upon the truths that were presented earlier in the Psalm. In Psalm 139:1-6 David recognized the truth that the Lord our God does completely know us, saying, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” Even so, he founded his request for the Lord to search and try the character of his inner man upon this truth.
In Psalm 139:7-12 David recognized the truth that the Lord our God is continually present with us, saying, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Even so, he founded his request for the Lord to reveal any wicked characteristics that might be in him upon this truth.
In Psalm 139:13-18 David recognized the truth that the Lord our God has wonderfully created us and does abundantly care for us, saying, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” Even so, he founded his request for the Lord to lead him in the way of righteousness upon this truth.
So then, what burden, desire, and purpose of heart do we need in order to pursue growth and transformation in our spiritual character?
In Psalm 139:23-24 the man of God David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
In these two verses, the man of God David expressed a three-fold request unto the Lord. First, he prayed that the Lord might search and try the character of his inner man. Second, he prayed that the Lord might reveal any wicked characteristics that might be in his inner man. Third, he prayed that the Lord might lead him in the way of “righteousness and true holiness.” Even so, with these requests David was coming before the Lord in order that they together might look back concerning what he had been and where he was at the present and might look forward concerning what he ought to be and how to progress forward. Furthermore, in these requests is implied David’s genuine burden, desire, and purpose to respond aright concerning each of the areas for which he prayed. So then, in like manner we also ought to examine ourselves concerning what and where we are and to consecrate ourselves unto what and how we ought to grow.
Now, David’s three-fold request unto the Lord in Psalm 139:23-24 serves as the conclusion for this Psalm. As such, these requests are founded upon the truths that were presented earlier in the Psalm. In Psalm 139:1-6 David recognized the truth that the Lord our God does completely know us, saying, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” Even so, he founded his request for the Lord to search and try the character of his inner man upon this truth.
In Psalm 139:7-12 David recognized the truth that the Lord our God is continually present with us, saying, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Even so, he founded his request for the Lord to reveal any wicked characteristics that might be in him upon this truth.
In Psalm 139:13-18 David recognized the truth that the Lord our God has wonderfully created us and does abundantly care for us, saying, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” Even so, he founded his request for the Lord to lead him in the way of righteousness upon this truth.
So then, what burden, desire, and purpose of heart do we need in order to pursue growth and transformation in our spiritual character?