 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 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. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Meditation Grace awakens us to an awareness of God’s intimate and infinite love, opening our hearts to know and show God’s love. Francis Thompson (1859-1907) penned the poem The Hound of Heaven after being ambushed by God’s love during a season of homelessness and opium addiction, demonstrating how an understanding of the height and depth of God’s love increases the impact God’s love has when it finds a home in our hearts. God’s love is infinite and intimate, catalyzing an invitation for us to become more like the God who loves us. God is sovereign (1-6) and ever-present (7-12), and from love He promises to never leave us or forsake us. God’s love is intimate, possessing creative knowledge of our most finite parts (13-18). God fully knows us and God wholly loves us. God is holy as well as loving, and He sees our hate manifested in unrighteous anger, vengeance, and desire to control (19-22). God’s high holiness exposes our deep need for intimate application of forgiveness, increasing our love and affection for Him. We love only because He first loves us! God’s infinite and intimate love invites us to love like Him. With security in God’s steadfast love we ask God to search us, exposing our sin so we can be forgiven to begin again (23-24). God’s love launches us into the ancient way, a “path like the dawn that shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18), a life of love that looks like Him in every way. Richly Dwelling -What descriptions of God’s infinite and intimate love stand out to you the most? Why? -Where do you need to be searched and known, shown your sin so you can apply the work of Jesus on the cross, finding forgiveness, and beginning again? -God wants to lead you in the way everlasting, His ancient way that leads to light and life. Where do you need to move from His grace to walk in this new way? Be specific. Key Verses 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Comments are closed.
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