READ | SERMON NOTES
SUMMARY l Psalm 139 is David’s most personal and comforting psalm. In it, David shares how he is fully known by God, relentlessly pursued by Him and how he has been purposefully made.
Fully Known (vs.1-6)
God is all knowing. He is our omniscient God from whom we cannot hide or run away. Some of us fear others knowing our true self. So we put on a front in the hope that others will not discover who we really are and reject us. But God knows us even better than we know ourselves. This fact should not cause us to fear but to be comforted. This is because God, who is kind, compassionate and faithful, can be trusted. He loves us in spite of all our blemishes. Timothy Keller aptly says that “to be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.” We can be vulnerable to such a God. We can lament and pour out our hearts to Him. The Hebrew word, yada, that is, to know, occurs seven times in Psalm 139. It means much more than to recognise someone. It conveys the sense of a deep and intimate relationship, with God.
As we celebrate Family Life Sunday, we are reminded of the need to be vulnerable within the family. As we build a secure identify in God, we are able to be honest with each other within our homes.
Relentless Pursuit (vs. 7-12)
God not only knows everything, He is everywhere. There is no where to hide from our omnipresent God. In vain do we run away from Him. Martin Buber, in the Tales of the Hasadim, describes the relation between God and man. Everywhere man turns, God is there: “Where I wander – You! Where I ponder – You! Only You, You again, always You! You! You! You!“ God is not just everywhere, He is relentlessly seeking His own. After the fall of man, God seeks out Adam and Eve; He calls Samuel three times; in Ezekiel 34:1, God says He Himself will search for His sheep; in Luke 15, the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son illustrate a God who pursues His people. We may try to turn away but God will not let us go. “The only way to escape from God is to run to God. Only then will divine pursuit stop and will you find mercy” (Augustine).
So let us turn to God for even in darkness, will He be ever present. In anxiety and suffering, we may wonder if He has let us go. In reality, God holds us fast through all these dark circumstances. Vs.18 describes not an awakening from sleep but from death. As we cross from this world to the next, God is there. There is no refuge from God, only refuge in God. Let us turn to Him with these responses:
“Speak, O Lord, I am listening”
“Lead me, God, I am willing”
“I don’t feel you but I will trust You”
Just as God pursues us, let us also pursue those in our family who have turned away from Him or who do not know Him yet. Don’t let go! Keep praying!
Purposefully Made (vs. 13-18)
Vs. 14 reveals that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made”. This does not refer to our physical features or outstanding gifts. The Hebrew word for “fearfully” is yare, which is reverence, respect, honour, and obedience to divine will. “Wonderfully” in Hebrew is pala, meaning striking, remarkable, and beyond human understanding. We are made to revere God and to fulfil His divine purposes. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10). Christ has given us purpose. As our days are ordained by Him, let us trust Him as we fulfil His purposes for us. Some struggle with this verse when they may have children with physical and mental issues. There are many things we do not understand. We grapple with failure. However, nothing is beyond God’s redemption.
God knows our hearts and yet He does not give up on us. Trust in His divine purposes for our lives. We are fully known and truly loved. What else do we need?
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
a. Read Psalm 139:1-18. What stands out for you? - Recall Sermon
a. How does being fully known by God help us to be vulnerable with Him? Do you struggle with being vulnerable with God? How does the character of God assure us?
b. How does David express the futility of fleeing from God? How is God pursuing us? How does that invite us to turn to Him?
c. How does the reality that we are purposefully created encourage us? Especially in times of hardship and challenge. How can we trust God for our present and future? - Relate Personally
a. What about the message that really spoke to you? - Commit to Action
a. In what ways is God calling you to act in response to the message?
