Psalm 139

Good Morning,

Psalm 139 (NIV)
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The verses that I was led to this morning are the final two in this Psalm. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way understanding." (VV 23-24) Then, as often happens, I was led to read the entire Psalm and it seemed more than just appropriate...perhaps necessary?... to send it along for all to read and think about. They are such beautiful and meaningful thoughts and words that David wrote for all generations to read. They have, I believe, all of the meaning and emotion, even now some thousands of years later, that they had when these words were used as the music in worship then.

When I looked at the final two verses, only one other thought came to mind and I'll share that with you. What came to mind was a prayer to God that I would add after reading those verses, "And, Lord, please SHOW ME what you have found when testing me and let me see any of the offensive ways that I might have in me. Then Lord, please, help me to make the amends necessary and do, please, lead me in the way everlasting, Your way. For all my life."

I pray that these words from David will make an impression on you today. I pray that you can join me in this prayer today. Then, let us sing glory to God; let us sing hallelujah; let us truly praise Him this day...and all our days to come.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David