Embracing God's Omniscience: Comfort and Transformation

 

Summary

Psalm 139 offers a profound reflection on the omniscience of God, a theme that invites us to marvel at the depth and breadth of God's knowledge. This psalm is not merely a philosophical exploration but a deeply personal meditation on what it means for God to know us completely. The psalmist begins by acknowledging that God knows every detail of our lives, from our daily routines to the innermost thoughts of our hearts. This knowledge is not just vast but intimate, encompassing every aspect of our being, even before we were formed in the womb. Such knowledge is both comforting and overwhelming, a reminder of God's constant presence and care.

The omniscience of God is not limited by time or space. God's knowledge is independent of the physical world, transcending the limitations of human understanding. The psalmist illustrates this by reflecting on the creation of life in the darkness of the womb, a process hidden from human eyes but fully known to God. This profound knowledge assures us that we are never alone, even in our most hidden and vulnerable moments.

Moreover, God's knowledge is not passive but active, shaping the very fabric of our existence. The psalmist recognizes that God's knowledge is not a mere accumulation of facts but a dynamic force that brings creation into being. This understanding challenges us to trust in God's sovereign will, even when we cannot comprehend His ways.

The psalm concludes with a call to integrity and a longing for spiritual growth. The psalmist invites God to search his heart, to reveal any hidden sin, and to lead him in the way everlasting. This openness to God's scrutiny is a testament to the psalmist's trust in God's goodness and wisdom. It is a reminder that true knowledge of God involves being fully known by Him, a relationship that transforms and sanctifies.

Key Takeaways:

- God's omniscience is both vast and intimate, encompassing every detail of our lives, even those we cannot comprehend ourselves. This knowledge is a source of comfort and security, reminding us that we are never alone. [12:39]

- The immensity of God's knowledge transcends human understanding, as it is not dependent on sensory experience or the physical world. God's knowledge is independent of creation, highlighting His sovereignty and power. [19:56]

- God's knowledge is not merely an accumulation of information but an active force that shapes reality. This understanding challenges us to trust in God's sovereign will, even when we cannot see the full picture. [31:38]

- The psalmist's invitation for God to search his heart reflects a deep trust in God's goodness and a desire for spiritual integrity. Being fully known by God is a transformative experience that leads to growth and sanctification. [44:23]

- The omniscience of God is a source of doxology, inspiring awe and worship. Recognizing God's perfect knowledge leads us to praise Him for His wisdom and care, even in the midst of life's uncertainties. [47:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:37] - Introduction to Psalm 139
- [01:15] - God's Knowledge in Darkness and Light
- [03:15] - The Challenge of Understanding God's Attributes
- [05:40] - Defining Omniscience
- [07:46] - Philosophical Reflections on God's Knowledge
- [09:11] - The Psalmist's Astonishment
- [11:11] - Universality of God's Knowledge
- [13:16] - God's Intimate Knowledge of Our Lives
- [15:54] - Comfort in God's Omniscience
- [19:17] - Immensity of God's Knowledge
- [22:56] - God's Knowledge Beyond Human Experience
- [27:51] - Incomparability of God's Knowledge
- [33:04] - Philosophical Debates on Free Will
- [38:57] - Applicability of God's Knowledge
- [44:23] - Call to Integrity and Doxology

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Psalm 139

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 139:1-24

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Psalm 139, what are some specific ways the psalmist describes God's knowledge of him? ([00:37])

2. How does the psalmist express his feelings about God's omniscience in verses 1-6? What words or phrases does he use to convey his astonishment? ([10:36])

3. In what ways does the psalmist illustrate the concept that God's knowledge is not dependent on light or sensory experience? ([19:56])

4. What does the psalmist mean when he says, "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me"? How does this reflect his understanding of God's omniscience? ([13:16])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the psalmist's understanding of God's omniscience provide him with comfort, and in what ways might it be overwhelming? ([15:54])

2. What does the psalmist's request for God to "search me, O God, and know my heart" reveal about his relationship with God and his desire for spiritual integrity? ([44:23])

3. How does the psalmist's reflection on being "fearfully and wonderfully made" in the womb contribute to his understanding of God's intimate knowledge of him? ([24:50])

4. In what ways does the psalmist's meditation on God's omniscience lead him to a response of doxology and worship? ([47:18])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt alone or misunderstood. How does the knowledge that God knows you completely, even in those moments, change your perspective? ([16:26])

2. The psalmist invites God to search his heart and reveal any hidden sin. What steps can you take to be more open to God's scrutiny in your own life? ([44:23])

3. Consider the idea that God's knowledge is not dependent on sensory experience. How can this understanding help you trust God in situations where you cannot see the full picture? ([19:56])

4. The psalmist finds comfort in God's omniscience, even when he doesn't have all the answers. How can you cultivate a similar trust in God's knowledge during times of uncertainty? ([17:12])

5. How does recognizing God's perfect knowledge inspire you to worship and praise Him, even amidst life's uncertainties? What specific actions can you take to incorporate this into your daily life? ([47:18])

6. The psalmist acknowledges that God's knowledge shapes reality. How does this challenge you to trust in God's sovereign will, especially when His ways are beyond your understanding? ([31:38])

7. In what ways can you remind yourself of God's intimate knowledge of you, especially when facing challenges or feeling inadequate? ([25:53])

Devotional

Day 1: God's Omniscience as Intimate Knowledge
God's omniscience is not just a vast collection of facts but an intimate understanding of every detail of our lives. This knowledge extends beyond what we can comprehend, reaching into the depths of our hearts and minds. It is a source of comfort and security, reminding us that we are never alone. God's knowledge of us is complete, encompassing our daily routines, our innermost thoughts, and even our formation in the womb. This profound understanding assures us of God's constant presence and care, providing a foundation for trust and faith in His guidance. [12:39]

"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." (2 Chronicles 16:9 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you invite God into the hidden areas of your life today, trusting in His intimate knowledge and care?


Day 2: The Transcendence of God's Knowledge
God's knowledge is not confined by the limitations of time, space, or human understanding. It transcends the physical world, highlighting His sovereignty and power. This immensity of knowledge is independent of creation, illustrating that God is not bound by the sensory experiences that limit human perception. Recognizing this aspect of God's omniscience challenges us to acknowledge His supreme authority and to trust in His plans, even when they are beyond our comprehension. [19:56]

"Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." (Psalm 147:5 ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice surrendering your need for control to God, trusting in His transcendent knowledge and sovereignty?


Day 3: God's Knowledge as an Active Force
God's omniscience is not a passive accumulation of information but an active force that shapes reality. This understanding of God's knowledge challenges us to trust in His sovereign will, even when we cannot see the full picture. God's knowledge is dynamic, bringing creation into being and guiding the course of history. This active involvement in the world assures us that God is not distant or detached but intimately involved in the unfolding of our lives. [31:38]

"Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'" (Isaiah 46:10 ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to see God's hand at work? How can you actively trust in His sovereign will today?


Day 4: Openness to God's Scrutiny
The psalmist's invitation for God to search his heart reflects a deep trust in God's goodness and a desire for spiritual integrity. Being fully known by God is a transformative experience that leads to growth and sanctification. This openness to God's scrutiny is a testament to the psalmist's faith in God's wisdom and love. It challenges us to invite God into our lives, allowing His knowledge to reveal and heal our hidden sins and lead us in the way everlasting. [44:23]

"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!" (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas of your life you are hesitant to open to God's scrutiny? How can you invite Him to search your heart today?


Day 5: Omniscience as a Source of Worship
The omniscience of God inspires awe and worship, leading us to praise Him for His wisdom and care. Recognizing God's perfect knowledge encourages us to respond with doxology, acknowledging His greatness even in the midst of life's uncertainties. This understanding of God's omniscience invites us to marvel at His wisdom and to trust in His guidance, knowing that He sees and knows all things perfectly. [47:18]

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" (Romans 11:33 ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine, acknowledging God's omniscience and expressing gratitude for His wisdom and care?

Quotes

"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." [00:00:21]

"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,' even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you." [00:01:05]

"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." [00:01:34]

"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 were none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand." [00:02:03]

"And so, like Augustine, we feel at least on this occasion that we speak not so much because we know so very great things but lest we be found saying nothing about the greatest of all themes, the very being of God Himself." [00:04:21]

"And our desire, I'm sure as we have come in these days, is that God Himself through the fragility of our exposition of His Word would make Himself known, that we might be able to share Job's experience, that we have spoken of Him and we have heard of Him." [00:04:45]

"But when by the power of His Spirit through the ministry of His Word, He makes Himself known to us, then our hands go over our mouths and our hearts bow before Him and we feel constrained to prostrate ourselves in the dust before the sheer majesty and splendor of the glory of our infinitely great God." [00:05:01]

"And this he says is either for him as a believer one of the most glorious things in the world or as he thinks about it momentarily as though he were not a believer, perhaps one of the most oppressive things in the world, 'You hem me in behind and before and lay your hand upon on me.'" [00:15:26]

"The knowledge of God is so absolutely inescapable, he is saying, that to an unbeliever it would be frightening and terrifying. He understands how absolutely unbearable it must be for an unbeliever to recognize God knows who he is, understands the motives of his heart, is never surprised by anything he thinks or says or does." [00:16:01]

"God knows him altogether. That very reality that is so terrifying to the unbeliever is the ultimate comfort to the believer, to be able to say when we can say nothing else, when we do not know how to pray as we ought, when we do not have the answers to the questions." [00:16:23]

"And, dear brothers and sisters, it is one of the glories of our Reformed faith that it gives us the liberty to say, 'I do not know the answer to your question,' because our great comfort in life and in death, in joy and in sorrow, in things we see and in things that confuse our minds is that we are able to look up into the glory throne of God and say, 'But, Thou Lord, knowest all together.'" [00:16:41]

"And it is in this marvelous way that he speaks about the wisdom of God, the knowledge of God in these sweet words, 'Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,' verse 6, 'It is high; I cannot attain it.'" [00:17:27]

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Transcript
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