Have you ever met, what you might call, a very private person? You know their name and you feel like you have “known” them for some time, but in reality, you know very little of their history, feelings, and desires. Maybe you have tried to discover who this person really is, but felt like each time you get even a bit close, you come up against an invisible brick wall which this private person erects to keep you out for whatever reason. Well, take heart because there is One who knows everything about this private person, and in fact knows everything about you and me as well. That One is the Divine Being that David addresses in Psalm 139, whom he calls his Lord and God. The One whose name is Yahweh, the Creator, the great I AM, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In this remarkable psalm, David reminds us of three wonderful attributes of God’s being. They are his Omniscience (knowing all things) – vv. 1-6. Then there is his Omnipresence (being present everywhere at the same time) – vv. 7-12. And finally, his Omnipotence (being all-powerful) – vv. 13-18.
Let’s begin with God’s Omniscience as we read vv. 1-6 below, noting the key words in bold font:
1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
I wonder how you feel about this truth that God knows us so intimately? And “intimately” is the right word. Consider the examples that David gives: you know me… when I sit and when I rise… my thoughts from afar… my going out and my lying down… all my ways… Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely…
Every movement, every thought, every journey, every time we go to sleep, every word we think before we speak it out, in fact ALL our ways are known by God! Nothing is hidden! We can keep no secrets from God!
The author of Hebrews puts it this way:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
If this truth concerns you about God, then I guess there are a few options for you.
Firstly, you can ignore it. So what, you say, I will still do what I want to do, live the way I want to live. Face the consequences when they come (and they will come – see the last words underlines above).
Secondly, you can live in an unhealthy fear of such a God and the possible repercussions of what he discovers in your life with its possible future judgement.
Thirdly, you can embrace such an amazing intimate relationship with the One who knows all about you because he created you (see vv. 13-18), loves you and only wants what is best for you in this life that he has so graciously gifted to you. And the life he offers is eternal through the gift of his Son, Jesus.
And this third option is possible because of the miracle of the incarnation of Jesus at Christmas. Listen to the words of the Apostle John as he testifies to the wonder of knowing Jesus in our midst:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning [Jesus] the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:1-5)
Have you embraced the wonder that the God of Light knows all about you, wants to have fellowship with you and cares for you? He is not some “big brother” checking on your bad behaviour in order to punish you, but rather a loving heavenly Father looking out for your best interests and wanting you to fully experience the life and blessings that Jesus talked about when he said:
I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (John 10:10 Amplified Bible)
So, there is no such thing as a “private person” to God!
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. 