Psalm 139:1,2
A truth which we often brush aside and forget is expressed powerfully in Psalm 139:1,2 where David writes, "O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising. Thou understandeth my thoughts afar off." Our lives, according to these words of God given through David, are an open book. We can look in only one direction at a time and must often close our eyes in sleep. But God never sleeps and is ever watchful over all His creation. He sees it all in every detail without one moment of ceasing from doing so.
God not only sees our outward deeds but reads the thoughts of our hearts, and He knows what is in our minds. He "knoweth our thoughts afar off." No one ever has or ever can hide one word, one thought or desire, or one action from the everywhere present God. We sing that this way in our versification of these words of David (PRC Psalter):
Lord, Thou hast searched me, and dost know
Where'er I rest, where'er I go;
Thou knowest all that I have planned,
And all my ways are in Thy hand.
Realize then what this means for us sinful creatures whose best works even are polluted with sin. Not only does God know everything that we think, will, and do, but He knows how filthy, how sinful all that we do is.
The name David uses here strengthens the awesomeness of this truth. The name Jehovah, which he uses, means I AM! This not only means that we depend upon Him, for we can only say, "I will be, if I am given life"; but it also means that I must constantly serve Him every moment of my life. And it also means that we cannot escape His judgment.
What an awesome truth! What an undeniable evidence it is then that we need His Son and His cross! For only as God sees us in Him, and what He did for us, is there any hope of salvation. His name, therefore, tells us not only that He can and does say, "I am God!" but He also can and does say, "I am your Savior." He sees all our sins, but He also sees us in His righteous and holy Son.
Read: Psalm 139
Psalter versification: #382:1
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #113
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
Nehemiah 9:22-38 ; Nehemiah 10
I Corinthians 9:19-27 ; I Corinthians 10:1-13
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverbs 2:1-13
****
Quote for Reflection:
"We would ply the Trowel with untiring hand for the building up of Jerusalem’s dilapidated walls, and wield the Sword with vigour and valour against the enemies of the Truth." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon, from the first issue of The Sword and Trowel magazine, 1865.
Additional Info
- Date: 15-August
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.