“You
have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord,
know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon
me.” (Psalm 139:1-5, NIV)
There are words that are often used to describe
the attributes of God. These descriptive
words sometimes find their very meaning in their exclusive use as words for the
attributes of God. Words such as omnipresent,
omnipotent, omniscient and sovereignty are seldom used apart from being
connected to descriptions of God’s monumental and vast attributes. David doesn’t use uncommon words in
describing God. Instead, he uses common language and metaphors to describe the
knowledge, presence and supremacy of God that is too wonderful, too immense and
too powerful for his mind to really grasp.
David sees and senses the indescribable magnificence of God and as he is
daunted by the intimate knowledge God has of his very being and soul. Yet David’s words venture on in humble
praise, gratitude and petition. Praise
for all God is, gratitude for all He gives and petition to cleanse His heart as
he follows the Almighty God in ways everlasting.
God is not impressed by our use of big
words that still fall ineptly short of His nature and essence. Nor does He need our feeble attempts to describe
Him. Neither is God interested in our tokenism when we come to
Him. Instead, God welcomes our contrite
heart in our need of His grace and our humble gratitude for His endless
provision and protection. He delights in
our seeking of His presence, desiring again and again His steadfast and
enduring love. God is joyful in our prayerful
and genuine worship as we find joyful delight in knowing Him and having His
hand upon our lives. We can lose the indescribable God in trying too hard to
describe Him. Our relationship with God does
not depend upon our knowledge of Him nor the words we use about Him but on who
He is and what He gives and does for us in Jesus Christ and the presence of His
Holy Spirit. He has covered us with His love from before we
were born and it carries into eternity.
By His ever-present hand we are led in His everlasting ways in all our
days. It is all too wonderful for us and
that is why, all our days are His.
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test
me and know my anxious thoughts. See if
there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm
139:23-24, NIV)
Suggested Reading … Psalm 139
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