I. God's Intimate Knowledge of Me (1 covenant child) (Ps 139:1-6)
It’s intimate, relational, personal, and active knowledge about ‘me’ singular.
He knows everything about me – way better than I know me (Paul – 1 Cor 4.3-4).
Considering that God knows you like this, is it comforting or terrifying?
See Ps 7.9; 44.21; Jer 17.10. Only in Christ is it comforting – John 10.27-30.
II. God’s Unshakable Presence with Me (Ps 139:7-12)
Verse 7 – David asks, NOT where is God, but where can I go where God is not?
God’s presence is inescapable – no matter in which direction you go (Ps 24.1).
The inescapability, immensity, and intimacy of God’s presence ever with me.
Verses 11-12 – How about when it’s pitch black and a little spooky?
What should we do when we wonder where is God?
How is God’s presence supremely with us in the New Covenant Age? Mt 28.20; Jn 16.5-15.
III. God's Sovereign Power to Make Me & Me Meaningful (Psalm 139:13-18)
Verse 13 – “The Lord formed the individual as a spiritual and physical being.”
Verse 14 – In pondering it produces such praise & awe at God.
David exclaims that experientially in looking at myself, I know of Your great artistry.
Verse 16 – Before You formed me, You saw my end from the beginning. You planned the number of my days (Jer 1.5; Acts 13.36).
Verse 18 – Is it talking about waking up from sleep or from the sleep of death? Ps 17.15.
If our birth, life, and length of days are planned and written in the book of life, then what about the more important area of our spiritual birth & life? God planned it too.
See Rev 13.8; 17.8; Eph 1.11.
IV. The Outworking – Plea for God to Judge the Wicked & Guide Me (Ps 139:19-24)
Remember this isn’t abstract theology, but theology applied to real life, a hard-knocks life.
See this theme of dealing with the wicked in Psalm 140.
This section of the psalm is called a prayer of imprecation – calling down God’s judgment on the wicked. After pondering God’s beauty and the beauty of life, how does it lead to this plea?
He gives reasons as to why, which describes these wicked people. What are they? Ps 5.4-6.
Verses 23-24 – Since he knows that God knows him better than he knows himself, he asks God not just to deal with the wicked, but deal with me. Reveal where I truly am and lead me on your path, where I want to be with you.
Christ has a holy hatred for sin & wickedness because of His love for God’s righteousness (Heb 1.8-9; Ps 45.6-7; Jn 2.14-17; Mt 21.12-13). We united to Christ should as well.
But start with yourself, asking God to help you.
We don't want to go the way of the wicked, but the way of God, which is eternal. John 14.6.
In Christ we’re on the right road, but have yet to arrive. So keep pleading with God as here.
Only as I know God, and God enables me to know myself, will I rightly respond to God & others in life.
Theology Rightly Applied: Ponder, Praise, Plead
“Theology Rightly Applied: Ponder, Praise, Plead” – Psalm 139
Intro:
I. God's Intimate Knowledge of Me (1 covenant child) (Ps 139:1-6)
It’s intimate, relational, personal, and active knowledge about ‘me’ singular.
He knows everything about me – way better than I know me (Paul – 1 Cor 4.3-4).
Considering that God knows you like this, is it comforting or terrifying?
See Ps 7.9; 44.21; Jer 17.10. Only in Christ is it comforting – John 10.27-30.
II. God’s Unshakable Presence with Me (Ps 139:7-12)
Verse 7 – David asks, NOT where is God, but where can I go where God is not?
God’s presence is inescapable – no matter in which direction you go (Ps 24.1).
The inescapability, immensity, and intimacy of God’s presence ever with me.
Verses 11-12 – How about when it’s pitch black and a little spooky?
What should we do when we wonder where is God?
How is God’s presence supremely with us in the New Covenant Age? Mt 28.20; Jn 16.5-15.
III. God's Sovereign Power to Make Me & Me Meaningful (Psalm 139:13-18)
Verse 13 – “The Lord formed the individual as a spiritual and physical being.”
Verse 14 – In pondering it produces such praise & awe at God.
David exclaims that experientially in looking at myself, I know of Your great artistry.
Verse 16 – Before You formed me, You saw my end from the beginning. You planned the number of my days (Jer 1.5; Acts 13.36).
Verse 18 – Is it talking about waking up from sleep or from the sleep of death? Ps 17.15.
If our birth, life, and length of days are planned and written in the book of life, then what about the more important area of our spiritual birth & life? God planned it too.
See Rev 13.8; 17.8; Eph 1.11.
IV. The Outworking – Plea for God to Judge the Wicked & Guide Me (Ps 139:19-24)
Remember this isn’t abstract theology, but theology applied to real life, a hard-knocks life.
See this theme of dealing with the wicked in Psalm 140.
This section of the psalm is called a prayer of imprecation – calling down God’s judgment on the wicked. After pondering God’s beauty and the beauty of life, how does it lead to this plea?
He gives reasons as to why, which describes these wicked people. What are they? Ps 5.4-6.
Verses 23-24 – Since he knows that God knows him better than he knows himself, he asks God not just to deal with the wicked, but deal with me. Reveal where I truly am and lead me on your path, where I want to be with you.
Christ has a holy hatred for sin & wickedness because of His love for God’s righteousness (Heb 1.8-9; Ps 45.6-7; Jn 2.14-17; Mt 21.12-13). We united to Christ should as well.
But start with yourself, asking God to help you.
We don't want to go the way of the wicked, but the way of God, which is eternal. John 14.6.
In Christ we’re on the right road, but have yet to arrive. So keep pleading with God as here.
Only as I know God, and God enables me to know myself, will I rightly respond to God & others in life.