Psalms 139:23-24

Psalms 139:23

I. These words express an appeal to the omniscience of God in proof of the sincerity of the Psalmist's love to Him. There is a frank affection and candour about the words to which the heart of our own personal experience readily corresponds. They breathe the quiet repose of one speaking in confidence to another whom he trusts, and whom he is authorised to trust.

II. The words express a single-hearted and undivided desire that nothing whatever may interpose between the soul and God, or interrupt the enjoyment of His presence. This second feeling is a necessary part of the first. Whatever there was in his heart, or in his thoughts, or in his manner and his conduct, displeasing to God, and which prevented his walking in the way of everlasting life that the Psalmist was prepared to give up, holding nothing back. His prayer implies a desire for holiness at any cost of discipline and chastisement, a wish to learn the lesson even though it should be beneath the rod, to get nearer to God even though the path should tear him away from all he loved below.

E. Garbett, Experiences of the Inner Life,p. 106.

The blessedness of God's thorough knowledge of us this is the subject of our meditation.

I. Think, first, of the blessedness of God's knowledge of our loyalty.

II. Think of the blessedness of God's knowledge of our struggles.

III. Think of the blessedness of God's thorough knowledge of our sins.

IV. Consider the power which every good resolve derives from the fact that we can make it known to God.

V. Notice the blessedness of the fact that He who knows us thoroughly is our Helper and Leader.

A. Mackennal, Christ's Healing Touch,p. 45.

References: Psalms 139:23; Psalms 139:24. J. Keble, Sermons from Lent to Passiontide,p. 253; J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,10th series, p. 222; Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 205.Psalms 139:24. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xv., No. 903; T. Wallace, Christian World Pulpit,vol. viii., p. 260. Psalms 139 P. Thomson, Expositor, 2nd.series, vol. i., p. 177; G. Matheson, Ibid.,vol. iv., p. 356. Psalms 140:12. J. M. Neale, Sermons on Passages of the Psalms,p. 310. Psalms 141:2. E. M. Goulburn, Thoughts on Personal Religion,p. 50. Psalms 141:5. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xviii., No. 1049.