Embracing God's Intimacy: Knowing, Creating, and Guiding Us
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we delved into Psalm 139, a profound piece of scripture that addresses many of the questions and misconceptions people have about God. We began by reflecting on the song "Every Breath You Take" by The Police, which, despite its catchy tune, has a somewhat sinister undertone. This led us to consider how many people view God as a distant, surveillance-like figure, always watching and ready to judge. However, Psalm 139 offers a different perspective, portraying God as intimately involved in our lives, knowing us deeply and loving us profoundly.
David, the author of this Psalm, emphasizes the personal nature of God's knowledge and presence. He doesn't just say that God knows everything or is everywhere; he makes it personal by saying God knows him and is with him. This personal relationship is the essence of faith in Christ. David's reflections in the Psalm are divided into several key points: God knows us, God is with us, God created us, we owe God our allegiance, and God tests us.
David marvels at God's omniscience, acknowledging that God knows every action, thought, and word before it is even spoken. This knowledge is not something to fear but to find comfort in, as it shows God's intimate care and involvement in our lives. David also speaks of God's omnipresence, stating that no matter where he goes, God is there. This presence is not oppressive but comforting, assuring us that we are never alone.
The Psalm also highlights God's omnipotence in creation. David praises God for intricately designing him, emphasizing that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. This understanding leads David to a place of worship and gratitude, recognizing that our existence is not accidental but purposeful.
In response to God's intimate knowledge, presence, and creative power, David expresses his allegiance to God. He prays for God to deal with the wicked and declares his hatred for those who oppose God. This is not a call to personal vengeance but a recognition of God's justice and a commitment to align with God's will.
Finally, David invites God to search his heart and reveal any wickedness within him, desiring to be led in the way everlasting. This openness to God's scrutiny is a model for us, encouraging us to live transparently before God, trusting in His grace and guidance.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Intimate Knowledge of Us: David emphasizes that God knows every detail of our lives, from our actions to our thoughts and words. This omniscience is not meant to be feared but embraced, as it shows God's deep care and involvement in our lives. Understanding that God knows us intimately can bring comfort and assurance, knowing that we are never alone and that our lives are significant to Him. [14:04]
2. God's Omnipresence: David finds comfort in the fact that God is everywhere he is, whether in the highest heights or the lowest depths. This omnipresence means that we are never out of God's reach, no matter where we go or what we experience. It assures us that God is always with us, guiding and supporting us through every circumstance. [21:39]
3. God's Creative Power: David marvels at how God intricately designed him, recognizing that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. This understanding leads to a sense of purpose and gratitude, knowing that our existence is intentional and crafted by a loving Creator. It challenges us to see ourselves and others as valuable and unique creations of God. [24:57]
4. Our Allegiance to God: In response to God's intimate knowledge, presence, and creative power, David expresses his allegiance to God. He commits to aligning with God's will, hating what God hates, and loving what God loves. This allegiance is a call to live in a way that honors God, recognizing His authority and justice in our lives. [32:02]
5. Invitation for God's Scrutiny: David invites God to search his heart and reveal any wickedness within him, desiring to be led in the way everlasting. This openness to God's scrutiny is a model for us, encouraging us to live transparently before God, trusting in His grace and guidance. It is a call to continual self-examination and growth in our relationship with God. [45:14]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:03] - Introduction: Every Breath You Take
[03:40] - Misconceptions About God
[05:11] - Questions from Culture
[06:39] - Psalm 139 Overview
[08:05] - Insights from Theologians
[09:35] - Structure of the Sermon
[11:00] - Personal Nature of Faith
[12:31] - Prayer and Introduction to Psalm 139
[14:04] - God Knows Me
[21:39] - God is With Me
[24:57] - God Created Me
[32:02] - I Owe God My Allegiance
[35:03] - David's Zeal for God
[45:14] - Invitation for God's Scrutiny
[49:54] - Clothed in Christ's Righteousness
[55:49] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 139:1-24 - The primary text for the sermon.
2. 1 John 1:5 - "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all."
3. Philippians 3:9 - "And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
### Observation Questions
1. What are the key attributes of God that David highlights in Psalm 139? (Omniscience, Omnipresence, Omnipotence)
2. How does David describe God's knowledge of him in Psalm 139:1-4? What specific actions and thoughts does God know? [14:04]
3. According to the sermon, how does David feel about God's omnipresence? Is it comforting or oppressive to him? [21:39]
4. What is David's response to God's intimate knowledge and presence in his life, as described in Psalm 139:19-22? [32:02]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding that God knows every detail of our lives (Psalm 139:1-4) change the way we view our daily actions and thoughts? [14:04]
2. In what ways can God's omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-12) provide comfort during difficult times? How might it challenge us during times of sin or disobedience? [21:39]
3. How does David's recognition of being "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-16) influence his sense of purpose and gratitude? How should it influence ours? [24:57]
4. What does it mean to invite God to search our hearts and reveal any wickedness within us (Psalm 139:23-24)? How can this practice lead to spiritual growth? [45:14]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's intimate knowledge of your life. How did it affect your actions or decisions? How can you embrace this knowledge more fully in your daily life? [14:04]
2. When you face challenging or lonely times, how can the assurance of God's omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-12) provide you with comfort and strength? Share a specific instance where this has been true for you. [21:39]
3. David praises God for being "fearfully and wonderfully made." How can you cultivate a sense of gratitude for the way God has uniquely created you? Identify one specific aspect of yourself that you can thank God for this week. [24:57]
4. In what ways can you express your allegiance to God in your daily life? Consider your actions, words, and thoughts. How can you align them more closely with God's will? [32:02]
5. David invites God to search his heart and reveal any wickedness. What practical steps can you take to regularly invite God's scrutiny into your life? How can this practice help you grow spiritually? [45:14]
6. Think of a specific area in your life where you struggle with sin or disobedience. How can you apply the principles from Psalm 139 to seek God's guidance and strength in overcoming this struggle? [49:54]
7. How can you support and encourage others in your small group to embrace God's intimate knowledge, presence, and creative power in their lives? Share one way you can be a source of support this week. [55:49]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Intimate Knowledge of Us
God knows every detail of our lives, from our actions to our thoughts and words. This omniscience is not meant to be feared but embraced, as it shows God's deep care and involvement in our lives. Understanding that God knows us intimately can bring comfort and assurance, knowing that we are never alone and that our lives are significant to Him. David's reflections in Psalm 139 highlight this profound truth, emphasizing that God's knowledge of us is personal and loving. This intimate knowledge should lead us to a place of trust and reliance on God, knowing that He is fully aware of our circumstances and needs. [14:04]
Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV): "O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether."
Reflection: Think about a time when you felt misunderstood or overlooked. How does knowing that God understands you completely change your perspective on that experience?
Day 2: God's Omnipresence
David finds comfort in the fact that God is everywhere he is, whether in the highest heights or the lowest depths. This omnipresence means that we are never out of God's reach, no matter where we go or what we experience. It assures us that God is always with us, guiding and supporting us through every circumstance. This truth can be a source of immense comfort, especially in times of loneliness or difficulty, reminding us that we are never truly alone. God's presence is a constant in our lives, providing us with the strength and courage to face whatever comes our way. [21:39]
Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV): "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."
Reflection: Reflect on a moment when you felt God's presence in a difficult situation. How did His presence provide you with comfort and guidance?
Day 3: God's Creative Power
David marvels at how God intricately designed him, recognizing that each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made. This understanding leads to a sense of purpose and gratitude, knowing that our existence is intentional and crafted by a loving Creator. It challenges us to see ourselves and others as valuable and unique creations of God. This perspective can transform the way we view ourselves and others, fostering a sense of worth and appreciation for the diversity and beauty of God's creation. Embracing this truth can lead us to live with greater purpose and intentionality, knowing that we are part of God's magnificent design. [24:57]
Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV): "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."
Reflection: Consider how you view yourself and others. How can you begin to see yourself and those around you as fearfully and wonderfully made by God?
Day 4: Our Allegiance to God
In response to God's intimate knowledge, presence, and creative power, David expresses his allegiance to God. He commits to aligning with God's will, hating what God hates, and loving what God loves. This allegiance is a call to live in a way that honors God, recognizing His authority and justice in our lives. It involves a commitment to uphold God's values and principles, even when it is challenging or counter-cultural. This dedication to God requires us to examine our lives and make choices that reflect our loyalty to Him, seeking to honor Him in all that we do. [32:02]
Psalm 139:19-22 (ESV): "Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily actions and decisions. Are there areas in your life where you need to realign your actions with God's will and values?
Day 5: Invitation for God's Scrutiny
David invites God to search his heart and reveal any wickedness within him, desiring to be led in the way everlasting. This openness to God's scrutiny is a model for us, encouraging us to live transparently before God, trusting in His grace and guidance. It is a call to continual self-examination and growth in our relationship with God. By inviting God to examine our hearts, we open ourselves to His transformative work, allowing Him to shape us into the people He created us to be. This process requires humility and a willingness to confront and address areas of sin and weakness in our lives. [45:14]
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV): "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"
Reflection: Take a moment to pray and ask God to reveal any areas in your heart that need His healing and transformation. How can you begin to address these areas with His help?
Quotes
1. "If you go and just talk to the person on the street, whether it's in school or at work or wherever it is, right, often you'll find that their view of God is that there's this big man in the sky, and he's watching over everything I do, and he knows when I'm sleeping, and he knows when I'm awake, and he knows when I've been bad or good, right? And you begin to think, trying to explain to someone, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, but he loves you." [02:03] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "David isn't saying that you know everything. God does know everything, but David isn't saying you know everything. He's saying you know me. David isn't saying you are everywhere. Oh, you're everywhere, God. Isn't that amazing? Praise you for being everywhere. No, no, no. He is making it very personal. He's saying you are everywhere I am. You are with me, right? He's not saying that you are, you're powerful. You created everything. He's saying, no, no, no, you created me." [11:00] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Faith in Christ is personal. Yeah, sure, there's community, and there's church, and we worship together, and we stand together, and we raise our hands together, and we praise God together, but faith at its core is personal. It's personal. It's personal. It's personal. It's personal. It's very beginning has to be personal. It has to be a personal faith. Your parents can't trust Christ for you. Your friends can't trust Christ for you. It's not some inheritance you get. Faith is a very personal thing." [11:00] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "David says, you know where I go. Every day, you know where I go. I remember in preschool, going to preschool Sunday school class in Kenilworth Gospel Church with my grandmother. We would sing, oh be careful little eyes what you see. Oh be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful little eyes what you see. Be careful little feet where you go. Be careful little feet where you go. For the Father up above is looking down in love. So be careful little feet where you go." [17:07] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "David says, you know what I need, and what I need each and every day is your presence. And I love the way that he says it. He goes, you go, every day you go behind me, and you come before me, and then he says, and you lay your hand upon me. And the word, the word is the palm cupped. The word, the word is every day your hand, your palm, your cupped palm is on me. I'm guessing shoulder. I'm guessing shoulder. Every day, your hand, David says, it's on me." [20:05] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "David says, I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully. I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully. I am no accident. You designed me. He says, your omnipotence, your, your, the fact that you are all powerful, not only shapes the world, but it shapes me. Verse 14, I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works. All of your works and mine soul knows it very well." [24:57] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "David says, you designed me with a purpose and you have determined my days. Even from that, the, the earliest stages, well, actually not even that. I mean, all of us in this room were, were known by God prior to us existing, right? But, but, but David says, you designed me with a purpose and you have determined my days. Even in the womb, my days are determined. Who I will be, what my future will be, what my future will be, what my future will be, what my future will be. My purpose is and my days are determined. You are in control from embryo to eternity." [28:33] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "David's stance on God's knowledge, presence, power is the opposite of what is described in psalm 2. And we won't go there, but in psalm 2, the psalmist says, that the people of the earth, the people of the earth say to themselves, let's break the bonds of this God. Let's break the control that this God has over us, right? That they rise up, kind of like Romans 1. They rise up and they say, or like the Tower of Babel. They rise up and they say, let's break the bonds that this God has over us. That's what they say in Psalm 2. But here, here, David loves God's involvement in his everyday life, in all of it, in his future, in his past." [30:23] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "David says, because of all those things, because you know me, because you are everywhere I am, because you created me, I owe you everything. I owe you everything. I owe you my life. I owe you my life. I owe you my life. I owe you my life. I owe you my life. I owe you my allegiance. I think that's what he's saying. In light of God's omnipresence, and omnipotence, and all of that, David's response is to give God his allegiance, to abhor what he abhors, and to hate what he hates." [33:26] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We are clothed in Christ. In Christ, if you are in Christ this morning, you are clothed with his righteousness, right? Second Corinthians 521 says, for our sake, he made him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in him, might become the righteousness of God. Philippians 3.9, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ. The righteousness from God that depends on faith." [49:54] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?