Bible Pathway - July 18
Read Psalms 139 – 143
Highlights:
Psalm 139 proclaims God's universal presence and infinite knowledge and how He knows our every thought, word, and deed. This could be anyone of us speaking to God.The closing prayer is one of the most needed prayers in the whole Bible. The last four psalms are David's heartfelt pleas for protection.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Ps. 139:23-24).
The Psalms are written as songs, praises and prayers to God. They are often very personal to the particular psalmist who wrote them. The thing to remember is that we are not so different from these writers. We are ordinary people just trying to live a life dedicated to the Lord. Some might say these psalmists were not ordinary people; especially since David, the king, wrote a good portion of these Psalms. He definitely was a king, but his relationship with God is just like ours, a child who craves the love and attention of a loving father. For there is no respect of persons with God (Rom. 2:11).
This is why so often the Psalms speak to our hearts so deeply. This is why there may be times when we read these Scriptures that we feel like the writer is writing our very thoughts. Maybe we even think we could have written them ourselves because they so reflect our heart. These would most likely be the feelings that today's particular verses evoke. These verses call out to the heart of our God. They represent a prayer that we can all pray.
The psalmist begins by asking the Lord to search him. He wants God to know his heart and thoughts. This may be a fearful prayer to pray. What if our heart and thoughts are away from the will of God? It is then all the more important for God to see these places so He can reveal them to us. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you (Phil. 3:15).
The psalmist knows that this is possible. He makes it part of his prayer to ask God to see if he is wrong in any way. It is only when our sin is revealed to us that we can overcome it. We must admit our wrongdoings as part of the repentance process.
The psalmist concludes by asking God to lead him in a way that leads to eternal life. It is obvious that living a life consecrated to God was the priority of his life. This prayer reveals the commitment that he had to living a God-directed life.
As was said before, we often times can relate to the feelings of the writer of the Psalm. This should most definitely be one of those times. We should have the same desires in our heart as the psalmist had in his. We should also desire to live a life that is directed by God.
Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come (John 16:13).
Thought for Today:
Remember, God knows every thought and every word that we express (Ps. 139:2, 4).
Christ Revealed:
As the One who deals bountifully with us (Ps. 142:7). I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10; Eph. 3:20).
Word Studies:
139:15 curiously wrought, skillfully fashioned; 140:5 gins, lures, snares; 141:7 Our bones are scattered, Overwhelming destruction is contemplated; 143:3 smitten, crushed, struck.
Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to teach you His ways (Ps. 27:11).
Optional Reading: 2 Timothy 3
Memory Verse for the Week: Galatians 6:8
