Tell God everything... and then invite correction

Psalm 139 is a wonderful and famous psalm. It's about the all-knowing and omnipresent God who fearfully and wonderfully created us and is always with us.

But what about these last six, tough and cruel verses? What is the connection between the magnificient first part (1-18) and the "Hate&Revenge" part in the end?

I think these verses are the application  of what David contemplated on before.

God knows us completely, even our thoughts (V.2). So why hide our feelings before Him? Even if they're bad.

God is almighty and everywhere. David could not get rid of his enemies, but God certainly could. David knows that God is familar with the injustices and atrocities going on in this world, so it's good to leave it to Him.

God is a wonderful creator, forming and molding each person in a unique way (V.13-14). That makes hating this very creator (V.21) absurd. We too should respect God highly and condemn any mockery and rebellion against him.

In Verse 23 David seems to change the topic again and asks God to search his heart, something he knew God was doing anyway (V.1). 

By the way, should we ask God to do something he does anyway, like protecting us or being with us? Sure! Asking God expresses our dependence on him. Instead of taking everything for granted, we should seek him each day to provide for our needs.

Now, after having expressed his hatred and his (negative) feelings, David asks God to search his heart, to test his motives, his way and his thinking. I think that's not a coincidence. Telling God everything what's on our mind is one thing, but to invite God to change these very thoughts, to pursue correction and to question yourself is a totally different thing. David had feelings of hatred, and I doubt that these were right. So he rightly asks God for a check-up.

All too often I hear people saying: "Just tell God everything". That's fine. But if it stops there, it's just like telling a friend all your problems, bitterness, arguments etc. and keep being the same. We should lay out our situation to God, but then ask God if there's anything I should change, a feeling he should take away or confess something I did wrong.

One more thing: Knowing that God knows everything and checks each one is good (Verse 1), but inviting him personally in my life to test myself (V.23-24) is much more beneficial.

Created 11 months ago