“Search me, O 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

One of the things I enjoy reading weekly is the audit reports.  And one of my favourite meetings is the monthly audit meeting.

It can be delightful – when the auditor writes how well the leaders prepared, how cooperative they were, and how well things are looked after. Occasionally we discover the opposite, but most of the time the work of the auditors informs and helps the leaders.

Psalm 139 is one of the most loved Psalms –it is a beautiful poem which many have used when kneeling before God.  But it is more than just grand poetry, more than simple eloquence or concise and crisp language.

In many regards, these closing two verses are a plea for a spiritual audit – to seek the one who knows us best for His review, his searching that we might be honest in the way in which we evaluate who we are.

The context of these verses places this truth central to my understanding of who God is:

• I am never out of His sight
• I am never out of His hearing
• I am never out of His attention.

In other words, I am never out of His care!

God is ever-present.  He knows not only where we are, but what we are doing, in fact He knows what we are thinking before we think it.

Hear this truth…

Psalm 139:2,4   “you perceive my thoughts from afar…. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.”

We sing the song and I do so love it when the whole congregation sings it… He’s got the whole world in His hands…He’s got you and me brother, you and me sister, the little, tiny baby, He’s got the whole world…

BUT, what is more important and where I am landing today: He has YOU in His hand.

I don’t know what you’re up against, what you need strength for, what you need wisdom in, what you need a solution for… BUT He’s got YOU in His hand.

One of my favourite verses in the Bible is

“As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now.  You are my helper and my saviour….”  – Psalm 40:17 NLT

And so who knows you better? 

Not your boss,

nor your children if you have them – though they do know you,

not your colleagues,

not even the HR department.

God knows us – knows our need…

In fact, one might argue that it is not necessary to ask God to “Search me” for He already has.  TRUE?

Final scripture: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14