Discovering God's Intimacy Through Psalm 139

Summary

In today's sermon, we embarked on a spiritual safari, exploring the depths of Psalm 139 and the profound ways in which it reveals God's intimate knowledge of us, His presence in our lives, and His boundless love. We began by drawing parallels between the discovery of wildlife on a safari and the discovery of God through His Word. Just as one might spot a giraffe or zebra on the savannah, we too can encounter the living God in Scripture, actively revealing Himself to us.

I shared personal anecdotes from my own life, including my time as a college student when I memorized Psalm 139. This practice transformed my understanding of God's omniscience and omnipresence. I recounted the moment I realized that God knows me intimately, even to the point of knowing my thoughts and words before I speak them. This knowledge was not just theoretical; it became a lived experience that deeply impacted me.

I also spoke about the comfort I found in the psalm's assurance that God is with us wherever we go, whether on the far side of the sea or in the depths of the ocean. This truth brought immense comfort as I contemplated my future in the Navy, knowing that God's presence would be with me even there.

The sermon took a turn to the personal when I discussed how God's knowledge of us extends to our very creation. I shared the wonder I felt when I considered how God knit me together in my mother's womb, down to the smallest details of my anatomy. This realization made God's presence and care for me incredibly personal and tangible.

As we delved deeper into the psalm, I emphasized the importance of responding to God's revelation with praise and worship. I encouraged the congregation to not only learn about God but to make their relationship with Him personal and relational. I shared the joy of waking up with a prayer on my lips, a direct result of falling asleep while meditating on Scripture.

Finally, I challenged the congregation to memorize Psalm 139 themselves, to internalize its truths, and to experience the same joy and rest in God that I have known. I concluded with a prayer, asking God to help us process our days, to reveal any offensive ways in us, and to lead us in the way everlasting.

Key Takeaways:

- The discovery of God in Scripture is akin to a safari, where we actively search for and encounter the living God. Just as we would study wildlife with fascination and awe, we should approach God's Word with the same eagerness to learn and be transformed by the truths we find. This process is not merely academic; it is a relational journey that draws us closer to the heart of God. [02:05]

- Memorizing Scripture, such as Psalm 139, allows us to internalize God's truths and carry them with us in our hearts. This practice is not just for intellectual benefit but for spiritual nourishment, enabling us to recall God's promises and presence in every situation, whether we are holding a baby, walking to class, or facing life's challenges. [33:19]

- God's intimate knowledge of us is not meant to be a sterile fact but a source of deep comfort and security. When we truly grasp that God knows us fully, it can address our insecurities and fears, providing a foundation of acceptance and love that surpasses any human relationship. [07:59]

- The realization that God is with us at all times, hemming us in behind and before, should lead us to a place of worship and praise. This Biblical model of God's love is a simple yet profound truth that we can visualize and hold onto, especially in moments when we need to be reminded of His constant care and affection. [11:07]

- Engaging with God through His Word should always be a personal encounter. When we learn something new about God, we should talk to Him about it, making our study of Scripture a two-way conversation that deepens our relationship with Him. This practice turns our discovery of God into an ongoing dialogue filled with joy and reverence. [17:03]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 139:1-24 (Primary text for the sermon)

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 139:1-4 reveal about God's knowledge of us? How does this knowledge impact the way we view our daily actions? [04:57]
2. In Psalm 139:5-6, the psalmist describes God as "hemming" him in behind and before. What imagery does this evoke, and how does it relate to the pastor's story about holding his nephew? [09:47]
3. How does the psalmist express the omnipresence of God in Psalm 139:7-12? What specific examples does he use to illustrate that there is no place where God is not present? [17:40]
4. According to Psalm 139:13-16, how does the psalmist describe God's involvement in our creation? What does this tell us about the value and uniqueness of each individual? [20:25]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the pastor's personal experience of memorizing Psalm 139 as a college student illustrate the transformative power of internalizing Scripture? [03:28]
2. The pastor mentioned feeling immense comfort knowing that God is with him even in the depths of the ocean. How can this understanding of God's omnipresence provide comfort in our own lives, especially during challenging times? [19:03]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of responding to God's revelation with praise and worship. How does Psalm 139:14-18 encourage us to respond to God's intimate knowledge and care for us? [25:13]
4. The pastor shared a story about running with gazelles to illustrate enjoying God's presence. How can we apply this metaphor to our spiritual lives and our relationship with God? [23:01]

#### Application Questions
1. The pastor challenged the congregation to memorize Psalm 139. What steps can you take to start memorizing this psalm, and how do you think it will impact your daily life? [33:19]
2. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence in a significant way. How did that experience shape your understanding of His omnipresence? How can you seek to be more aware of His presence in your daily routine? [19:03]
3. The pastor described feeling known by God as a source of deep comfort and security. How can you remind yourself of this truth when you face insecurities or fears? [05:43]
4. The sermon encouraged making our study of Scripture a personal and relational encounter with God. What practical steps can you take to turn your Bible reading into a two-way conversation with God? [15:07]
5. The pastor used the imagery of being "hemmed in" by God to describe His protective and loving presence. How can you visualize and hold onto this truth during times of stress or uncertainty? [09:47]
6. The pastor shared the joy of waking up with a prayer on his lips. How can you incorporate Scripture meditation into your nightly routine to foster a deeper connection with God? [31:52]
7. The sermon highlighted the importance of discovering God in His Word. What specific actions can you take to approach your Bible study with the same eagerness and curiosity as going on a safari? [02:05]

Devotional

Day 1: Encountering God in His Word
The Bible is a living text where we meet God and learn of His character. As one embarks on a spiritual journey through Scripture, it is like a safari, filled with awe and discovery. The act of reading the Bible is not a passive experience but an active pursuit, where one seeks to uncover the divine truths that lie within its pages. This pursuit is not just about gaining knowledge; it's about encountering the living God, allowing His Word to transform us from the inside out. It's about seeing the intricacies of His nature, understanding His love for us, and recognizing His presence in our lives. Just as a safari-goer would observe the details of each animal with fascination, so should we approach the Word of God with a desire to learn and be changed by the truths we find. This process is deeply relational, drawing us closer to God's heart with every passage we explore [02:05].

Psalm 77:12 (ESV)
"I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."

Reflection: How can you approach your Bible reading with the anticipation and excitement of a safari, actively seeking to encounter God in a new way today?

Day 2: The Power of Memorizing Scripture
Memorizing Scripture is a spiritual discipline that embeds God's truth in our hearts, equipping us to recall His promises and presence in every circumstance. By internalizing verses like Psalm 139, we carry with us a reminder of God's intimate knowledge and love, which can comfort and guide us through life's various seasons. This practice goes beyond intellectual exercise; it becomes a source of spiritual nourishment. It allows us to meditate on God's Word in moments of quiet and in times of chaos, providing stability and strength. When faced with challenges or celebrating joys, the memorized Word of God is a wellspring of wisdom and peace that we can draw from at any moment [33:19].

Deuteronomy 11:18 (ESV)
"You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."

Reflection: What is one verse or passage you can begin memorizing this week to keep God's truth close to your heart?

Day 3: God's Intimate Knowledge of Us
The realization that God knows us intimately is a profound comfort. It means that we are fully seen and loved by the Creator of the universe. This knowledge is not meant to intimidate but to assure us that we are never alone or misunderstood. God's understanding of us surpasses our own; He knows our thoughts, our words before we speak them, and every detail of our being. This divine intimacy addresses our deepest insecurities and fears, offering a foundation of acceptance and love that no human relationship can match. Embracing this truth can transform how we view ourselves and our relationship with God, leading us to find security in His perfect knowledge of us [07:59].

Psalm 44:21 (ESV)
"Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart."

Reflection: How does the truth that God knows you completely change the way you view yourself and your insecurities?

Day 4: Worship as a Response to God's Presence
Understanding that God is always with us, guiding and protecting us, should naturally lead us to a response of worship and praise. The Bible teaches us that God's love surrounds us at all times, and this knowledge should fill our hearts with gratitude. As we visualize God's constant care, it becomes a source of strength and comfort, especially during times when we feel alone or overwhelmed. Worship is our heartfelt reaction to the reality of God's presence; it is an acknowledgment of His sovereignty and a celebration of His unwavering affection for us [11:07].

2 Chronicles 16:9 (ESV)
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him."

Reflection: In what ways can you incorporate worship into your daily routine as a response to God's ever-present love?

Day 5: Personal Encounters with God Through His Word
Engaging with Scripture should be a personal encounter that fosters a two-way conversation with God. When we learn something new about Him, it's an opportunity to deepen our relationship through prayer and reflection. This practice turns our study into a dialogue, filled with joy and reverence. As we make our discoveries about God, we should talk to Him about them, expressing our thoughts and feelings, and listening for His guidance. This ongoing conversation helps us to grow in our faith and to experience the fullness of a relationship with our Creator [17:03].

Jeremiah 30:21b (ESV)
"...For who is he who will devote himself to be close to me? declares the LORD."

Reflection: What is one thing you've learned about God recently, and how can you discuss this with Him in prayer today?

Quotes

1) "I vividly remember memorizing this these before you have laid your hand upon me look at look at those two over there you H me in behind and before you have laid your hand upon me me such knowledge is too wonderful for me too lofty I can't attain it and so I was in the process of holding Wesley and attaining this knowledge that was too wonderful that he is Heming me and I was Wesley I was being held by God he was holding me behind and before and whether I was coing or crying because I didn't like it or laughing in the comfort I can express I have all of those things in my relationship with him when he's holding me I cannot like it I can love it I can appreciate the Comfort it doesn't matter he's Heming me in behind and before." [10:30]( | | )

2) "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made your works are wonderful and I know that full well see what he said there he he gave us a challenge this is a song as we're singing even with others as we're singing even if we're by ourselves he said in verse one that God knows us fully he's challenging us here to know full Know It full well know it full well that he knows us fully." [25:54]( | | )

3) "Friends, God desires us to enjoy being with him. He doesn't reveal himself just so we can talk to him with this no I'm it hasn't reached me deeply and I'm not deeply moved. He wants us to enjoy being with him, enjoy abiding in him. It's not some third-party discovery, it's him revealing himself, us looking at him, talking to him, and getting out of the Jeep and running." [24:30]( | | )

4) "If you know him it's easy to talk to him. See friends, we talk to God from what we know about him and what we know about him is supposed to come from our discovery of him. Our discovery of him that he's revealing himself to us so we should be responding back by talking to them." [17:03](Download clip | Download cropped clip | Download captioned clip)

5) "I was memorizing the actual muscle and I was memorizing the actual verses. I thought about how God knit me together in my mother's womb, he knit extensor digiti minimi using mitosis in my mother's belly. That's super nerdy friends, but I know I'm a nerd and what that did for me was let me make who he was extremely personal." [21:37]( | | )

6) "I was overwhelmed by God's knowledge, his knowledge of me, his planning out every single thing he was going to that was going to affect me. How precious to me are your thoughts oh God, how vast is the sum of them. When I walked under that tree having the word hidden in my mind, thinking these thoughts, I got a perception of who God really is." [30:27]( | | )

7) "There's been twice that while I was waking up the very first thought I had in my brain was a prayer to God. I can't express how restful and peaceful it is to wake up talking to God. This verse says still, that means that God was with him when he fell asleep and both of those times I woke up with a prayer to God in my head I had been memorizing scripture when I fell asleep." [31:52]( | | )

8) "I would love it if everybody here, little ones, big ones, everybody can do this. Pretend that you don't know that memorizing long portions of scripture is just not something we do. Memorize Psalm 139. I would not have interacted with God the way I did if I required a physical piece of paper or an earpod to think about these thoughts about him." [33:19]( | | )

Discovering God's Intimacy Through Psalm 139

Summary

Study Guide

Devotional

Quotes

Chatbot

Discovering God's Intimacy Through Psalm 139