Awesome Attributes Of God

Think of a person you like – whether he/she is alive or not.

Why do you like him or her? What are the characteristics that usually made you like or admire a person?

And why do you prefer that kind of qualities/characteristics?

Now, let’s direct our attention on at least three attributes of God. And because of those attributes, our feeling of security and even hatred to commit sin would be strongly implanted in our heart.

My topic this time is about the… AWESOME ATTRIBUTES OF GOD, as we study Psalm 139:13-16.

So, what are His attributes that, actually, each of us had already experienced its effect? And, now that we acknowledge that He is now our Father, His attributes that He is displaying to us will surely give us the feeling of security and firm commitment to follow Him. What are those attributes we could learn from our text?

Psalm 139 is ascribed to David. However, the date when it is written cannot be established. But the situation is clear enough.

David faced violent attacks from his enemies. And he met the onslaught of his foes by praying for their destruction. Also, by reminding himself of the Greatness of God, whom he could entrust his security and would not want to offend.

“His message bridges the years to tell us that our resource is restful confidence in God, prayer, and energetic commitment.”

What are, then, God’s attributes that we could have “restful confidence” and have an active commitment to avoid sin?

First, God is All-Knowing (verses 1-6).

We read verses 1-6, “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

David acknowledged that God knows him in his own person, in his outward actions (v. 2a) and inward thoughts (v. 2b). He knows him at all times, whether as he walks the daily path or rests, lying down, at night (v. 3a). He knows him in his habitual ways and his words (vv. 3b, 4). This intimate, detailed knowledge is seen as part of God’s protective, tender care (v. 5), which runs beyond the psalmist’s capacity to understand, yet reassures him that he is cared for by a wisdom that is far in excess of his own (v.6).

To realize that God knows everything is a terrifying thing for the disobedient, but ought to be a great comfort for His children.

Not only God knows everyone and what is happening to him all the time and knows everything, but we read in 2 Peter 2:9, “…the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.”

Every sin in thought or action by the unrighteous is noted by the All-Knowing God. He may escape at present the punishment of legal authorities, but the punishment of the Divine Authority, who knows his every infraction, will surely come sooner or later.

But for those who have been clothed with the righteousness of Christ, they ought to be encouraged by the fact that the God, who knows them completely – inside and out, will not allow them to suffer pain they could not bear.

As we read in Psalm 103:13-14, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

As David spoke of Him, “You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” God’s protective care surrounds also His children and His favor is upon them. He knows to protect or deliver them from every trial, even from the great trial that will happen in the future.

How about us -- saints – do we really believe that God knows all things? Do we believe that He knows us not only completely, but intimately?

Young ones, do you say that your parents could not understand you? Your Heavenly Father knows you more than you know your own selves. He knows your desires, your struggles and He knows what is best for you.

The same is true with the once young. God knows what we are going through. He knows our problems, our difficulties. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our pain and its causes.

Do others misunderstand us? God will not. He knows our every failure. And He understands why we fail. He knows our recurring sins or weaknesses we cannot yet overcome. And He knows how He can convert our weakness into strength, how He can lead us to overcome our sins.