Not long ago during a thunderstorm, my husband showed me a weather map App that displayed the lightning strikes in our area. Amazing and somewhat frightening too.

And I thought, Wouldn’t it be something if you and I could see when spiritual lightning strikes a soul?

Like moments when a person actually feels the presence of God, or when they experience conviction for sin, or in a situation where God displays his power to rescue someone, or times God gives peace in the midst of a crisis when there is no peace. Wouldn’t you and I be dismayed?

It’s those astonishing instances when God breaks through the atmosphere of self-protection each of us instinctively creates that people become aware “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13). But like Adam and Eve, because of our sin, we’d rather hide. Or blame. Or make excuses.

The writer of Hebrews states, “No creature is hidden from His sight, but we are all naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” ^[1]

Do I truly believe I will give account to God for my actions, thoughts, and movements throughout my life? What does it take to bring about a change of heart? What atmospheric conditions make it possible for heavenly lightning to strike and touch my soul?

The 139th Psalm

When I studied this psalm, preparing to teach it, I titled the lesson: “Search me, O God. Tell me something I don’t want to hear.” These words express how I feel about being naked and laid bare. I may admit I need examination, but that doesn’t mean I want it.

The last two verses in this psalm summarize David’s heartfelt prayer.

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 

“Me” is repeated four times and “my” twice. David zeroes in on his own heart.

The psalmist humbles himself and submits to examination by God, reminding himself of his personal relationship to God, giving reasons why he trusts God. He’s like a patient who recognizes his need to see a doctor and exposes his weaknesses so a doctor can evaluate his symptoms.

In the devotional My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers, the devotion for January 9 is titled “Intercessory Introspection,” reminding Christians that you and I ought to pray for ourselves too. I had already decided to write about Psalm 139 this week before encountering Oswald’s instructive words, “Read the 139th Psalm.”

Introspection means to seek God and ask Him examine our hearts. Intercessory prayer does not simply focus on the concerns we have for others.

The words to an old hymn, “It’s me, O LORD, standing in the need of prayer,” underscore a message I have never forgotten. The speaker said, “I read Psalm 139 every Wednesday. … And there hasn’t been a Wednesday yet that God said, ‘Run along. You’re fine.'”

God has something to say to us when He knows we will listen.

Why is this psalm so important?

Seventy-three psalms are attributed to David, a shepherd boy who later reigned as king over Israel for 40 years. In Psalm 139, David submits himself to examination by God’s Holy Spirit, acknowledging to the LORD:

• You know what I do (actions)
• You know what I think (motives)
• You know where I go (movements) ^[2]

“You and I can conceal, we can cover the past, exaggerate, cover our hearts and secret longings [even] from those who sleep in our own bed.”

Alistair Begg

Psalm 139 shows that rather than run and hide from God, David asks God to search his heart. But don’t stop there, he says. Lead me on.

A Prayer to God Who Knows Everything about Me and Loves Me Anyway

Prayer is thinking with God and thinking the right thoughts about God.

Thinking right thoughts about God is often counterintuitive. Jesus taught in parables. A paradox, a most ingenious paradox confounds the arrogant and makes way for humility.

A scene from the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, 1989, gives a clue: “Only the penitent man shall pass.” Seeking the cup of Christ in order to save his father’s life, Indiana has witnessed others literally lose their heads––heads lopped off by a giant blade––despite how cautiously they walked forward. Indiana repeats to himself the phrase “Only the penitent man shall pass,” falling to his knees before a blade swings overhead.

Kneeling to pass pictures the absolute necessity for humility before proceeding. While kneeling to pray is not an actual requirement, a humble heart is. A humble heart learns to follow directions. The directions are in the Bible.

O LORD, you have searched me and you know 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. 
Psalm 139:1–4

First, in light of God’s transcendence, “from afar” and far beyond his comprehension, David sees himself as seen––scrutinized.

You hem me in, behind and before, 
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it. 
Psalm 139:5–6

David reminds himself how God has protected him in the past, hemmed him in, as he visualizes the tenderness of “your hand upon me.”^[2]

God Sees in the Dark

The Bible tells me God sees everything. All the time. Even in the dark.

Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 
even there your hand shall lead me, 
and your right hand shall hold me. 
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, 
and the light about me be as night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Psalm 139:7–12

…

While it is scary to expose my heart to anyone, I continually need to ask God to show me what I can’t see. Who knows when lightning will strike?

Before next time, I hope you will read Psalm 139.

You are loved!

[1] Hebrews 4:13

[2] from an outline by Warren Wiersbe

[3] Nehemiah 2:8, 18 “the gracious hand of the LORD was upon me”; Isaiah 49:16 “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands”; Psalm 23 “Your rod and your staff comfort me.” These verses parallel David’s thoughts here, citing how God provides protection through restriction.

Verses quoted from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011