Search Me

“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.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

These two verses are particularly interesting when you stop to consider that it is David himself that is asking God to exam his heart (spirit) and to know his thoughts. Man, usually tries to keep the door to these two places shut and under lock and key, but here David is inviting God in. Why?

First and foremost, this request shows an established and loving relationship. When we feel secure in our love with another, we open up and reveal our inner self to them. This is what David is doing.

David also knows that no matter how much he repents, no matter how much he puts himself under the microscope of repentance, there will still be something missed. David said that he wants to be led in “the way everlasting”. David wants to be with God for all of eternity, and in righteousness. The only way to do this is to open up and let God in.

But what David did runs counter to the natural reaction of fallen man. Our natural reaction is to hide sin from God. Immediately after Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they heard the sound of God walking in the garden. Their first reaction was to hide, “among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). We still do the same thing today. We try to hide and/or deny our sins.

David knew better. David knew that ultimately salvation is a team effort. Man must not only avoid sin, but also search out and confess his sins to God.

Never forget, the goal for God is to save us, not destroy us, so hiding our sins is counterproductive. It was God who said, “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezekiel 18:31-32)

The very thing fallen man tries to deny and hide is the very thing God wants us to confess and hand over to Him. David knew this and actively sought God for His help. So should we.

Bill Hitchcock