A Dream Come True

A DREAM COME TRUE

Psalm 139

January 19, 2003

Introduction:

Have you ever had a dream that seemed so vivid and realistic that when you woke up you still thought it was real for a few moments? I have had dreams like this that fall into one of two categories. I have had dreams that were so great, so wonderful, so amazing that when I woke up and realized that it was only a dream I was terribly disappointed. I have had a couple where I was so disappointed when I woke up that I was mildly depressed throughout the day as I continued to remember my dream and wish that it had been true. On the other hand I have had nightmares so terrible and frightening that I woke up scared and then felt a tremendous sigh of relief flow through me as I realized that it was only a dream.

In verse 18 the Psalmist experiences this effect from the positive perspective. “When I awake, I am still with you” (Psalm. 139:18). It is almost as if the Psalmist has had a dream -- a dream of God -- and upon awaking it seems too wonderful too be true, but it is. For the Psalmist it is a dream come true and it can be a dream come true for you too. In fact I can guarantee that this is a dream that will come true for each of you. For some it will be a dream so wonderful and amazing that you will have to pinch yourself to make sure that it really is real, but for others it will be a nightmare -- a nightmare come true. Let’s look into Psalm 139 together and learn about the God that David dreamed about.

THE GOD DAVID DREAMED ABOUT IS . . .

1. THE GOD WHO KNOWS ME. (vv. 1-6)

Many people have dreamed of knowing their heroes in person or of having their heroes know them. You have probably had the same dream. Maybe not an actual dream while you slept, but a daydream. We have all sorts of heroes -- sports stars, movie stars, singers, political leaders, and religious leaders. At times we dream about what it would be like for those we look up too and admire the most to actually know us. After all we are the one who elect them to office, cheer for their teams, rent their movies, and buy their books. Wouldn’t it be great if they actually took the time and trouble to get to know us. David dreams about a God who has done just that as he writes in the first verse, “Oh, Lord, . . . you know me.”

How has God come to know David? God has come to know him by searching him and surrounding him. First by searching him. God searched David in order to get to know him. You might say God researched David. You’ve all probably had a research project to do in school or for work or for home. You might not always have thought of them as research projects, but in reality they are. You do a research project when you purchase a car, but a house, or hire an employee. In a research project you study something or someone in order to learn all you can about them. That is exactly what God did with David. He is after all the One Paul described as the God “who searches our hearts” (Romans 8:27).

In order to get to know David God researched every area of his life. God researched his habits -- “You know when I sit and when I rise;” (v. 2a). God researched his thought life -- “you perceive my thoughts from afar” (v.2b). God researched both his public life -- “You discern my going out” (v.3a) -- and his private life -- “You discern ... my lying down” (v.3b). In fact God has so thoroughly and completely researched him that David can write, “you are familiar with all my ways” (v.3c). When you get to know someone really, really well you can almost predict what they are going to do or say in a particular situation. Couples who have been married for sometime have come to know each other so well that they can often finish each others sentences. But God has researched David so well that He knows David even better than that. It is one thing to be able to finish someone’s sentence once they have started it, but it is another thing to be able to complete their sentence before they have started it. But that is how well God knows David -- “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord” (v. 4). God has thoroughly searched or researched David in order to get to know him.