September 6, 2019
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
by Pierce J. (Jack) Edwards
Retired Clergy of First Broad Street UMC (Kingsport, TN)
Appalachian District
The God-Examined Life
Socrates used to say that the unexamined life is not worth the living, and he gave his whole career to the examination of men’s and women’s minds. Psalm 139 takes us beyond mere human examination into the sphere of the God-examined life. It is one of the most spiritually profound psalms in the Psalter.
The Psalmist turns the searchlight of God upon our lives and in its light we note five things: (a) God sees us. (b) God knows us. (c) God is our wise teacher. (d) God’s presence surrounds us. (e) God’s hand is upon us. The knowledge God has of us is so wonderful we cannot attain it.
The knowledge of God is nothing less than a knowledge that discerns and discriminates in favor of those who are loyal to the Lord. The discerning and favorable acts of God are gracious. It is grace that justifies, and it is by grace that humans are blessed. We are blessed when we fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.
The Psalmist believes we were created for a purpose even before we were born. Sometimes it is hard to discern that purpose but the Psalmist reminds us that God keeps examining our lives to help us discern His purpose.
Someone reading this devotion today may feel estranged from God for whatever reason. You may feel you are out of God’s will and that you are not fulfilling your purpose in life that God called you to fulfill. Allow God, who fearfully and wonderfully made you, to examine your heart. Seriously and earnestly seek His direction and then be obedient to what you are called to do to fulfill that purpose. How blessed you will be and how peaceful will be your inner-most being.
Prayer: “Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; see for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—then guide me on the road to eternal life.”(Psalm 139:23-24 The Message)