INTRODUCTION
1. Open your bibles please to Psalm 139:1&ff.
2. For two sermons, from Psalm 139:7-10, we discussed the omnipresence of God. “Omni” means all. “Presence” means that God is close by. Both words mean that God is always close by.
(1) Verses 7-10 teach that no one is able to hide from God. It makes no difference how far up or down one might go. It’s makes no difference how far east or west one might go.
(2) God is always present, where ever we might go, before we get there.
(3) Knowledge of the omnipresence of God can serve as a warning!
(4) The omnipresence of God can also serve to comfort and encourage us, when we know that God is always close by and there to help us with our problems.
3. In this lesson we are going to discuss the omniscience of God. “Omni” means all. “Science” refers to knowledge. The “omniscience” of God means that God has all knowledge.
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, PSALM 139:1 TEACHES THAT GOD’S OMNISCIENCE – GOD’S ALL KNOWLEDGE OF US IS KNOWN BECAUSE GOD IS CONSTANTLY SEARCHING AND EXAMIMING US.
1. Let’s read Psalm 139:1, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me.”
2. I’ve got a couple of questions for each of you.
(1) Would you like for the MRI machines, the sonograms, the X-rays and other ways that doctors check us out for diseases and health problems to be able to produce as much knowledge and information as God knows about each one of us?
(2) Do you think that if doctors and hospitals could obtain that kind of knowledge we could avoid a lot of pain and prolonged sickness?
3. What kind of knowledge does God have about each one of us? Is it just knowledge about our physical body and our physical health?
4. Does God have knowledge about our soul and what will qualify us to go to heaven or what will condemn us to hell? God has both kinds of knowledge, doesn’t He?
5. The word “searched” has for it’s primary meaning to drill or to bore into the earth to find ore or water or oil or gas.
(1) We know the drilling for oil or gas provides detailed information throughout the entire depth of the hole, whether it might be one or two miles deep or deeper.
(2) God knows detailed information about each human being.
(3) God knows what ought to put fear in us.
(4) But keep in mind that the detailed knowledge that God has of man is first and foremost so that God can help us and encourage us.
6. What can you do to allow God to provide more help for your needs?
II. SECOND, PSALM 139:2a TEACHES THAT GOD’S OMNISCIENCE ALLOWS HIM TO KNOW WHERE WE MIGHT BE SITTING DOWN OR WHETHER WE MIGHT BE GETTING READY TO GET UP OUT OF OUR BED OR GET UP OUT OF OUR CHAIR.
1. Let’s read Psalm 139:2a, “You know my sitting down and my rising up”.
(1) “Knowing our sitting down” could imply to God’s knowledge of us as we sit down to relax or as we sit down to study or as we sit down to worship.
(2) “My rising up” could refer to our getting up in the morning or at a time that we are fixing to be busy in secular and/or spiritual work.
2. God knows every move of man. God is interested in what is best for man.
3. Do your ever sit down to drink alcohol or to plot out a sinful deed? Have often do you sit down and plot out those things that God is displeased with?
4. On the other hand, how often does God see you rise up to do things that are pleasing and good and helpful to others in His sight?
5. Do we understand that God is keeping knowledge of what we’re doing in our passive and active moments of each day?
III. THRID, PSALM 139:2b TEACHES THAT THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD ALLOWS GOD TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE THINKING.
1. Let’s read Psalm 139:2b, “You understand my thought afar off.”
(1) Have you had thoughts about anything in the last 24 hours that you wouldn’t want to stand up in front of the congregation and tell us about?
(2) Does God know what those thoughts were? Is God happy with those thoughts?
2. Turn to Hebrews 4:12&13. Hebrews 4:12&13 teaches that God’s inspired word is powerful enough to guide our thoughts so that we can be motivated to think the kind of thoughts that will please God.
Let’s read Hebrews 4:12, “12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
[in other words God’s powerful word, if we will pay attention to it, will give us an insight and an understanding of what thoughts will please God. We will recognize and distinguish and demonstrate what kind of thoughts are o.k. with God.]
verse 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
3. Do you understand that God keeps a record of your thoughts in the book of life, the same as God keeps a record of your deeds?
4. Don’t just be fearful of having bad thoughts, because God also keeps a record of the good and wonderful thoughts that we have.
5. Turn to Philippians 4:8&9. Every word in the New Testament is important to study and use in the controlling of our thoughts, but this passage gives us a quick summary of some very important things to think about. Let’s read Philippians 4:8&9, “8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
(1) Mayra says that she reads and re-reads this passage real often and she calls it one of her most favorite passages.
(2) We should all make an effort to memorize and live by this passage.
IV. FOURTH, PSALM 139:3 TEACHES THAT GOD’S OMNISCIENCE ALLOWS HIM TO KNOW WHERE WE GO EACH DAY AND EACH NIGHT.
1. Let’s read Psalm 139:3, “You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.”
(1) If I were to ask you to take a few pieces of paper and make a list of every place that you went to and every dream that you had in your sleep over the past year or we’ll say over the past month could you do it?
(2) Do you understand that the Psalmist is teaching that God has that list, not over just the past month, but over each and every day and night that we have been alive?
(3) If you are 10 years of age or 20 or 40 or 70 or 80 or 90 years of age “God is acquainted with all your ways”.
2. Are you ashamed of some of the paths that you have traveled?
3. Would you like to erase some of the things that you have done? Would you like to blot out the sins that you have committed on some of the paths that you have traveled?
4. Turn to Acts 2:38. The forgiveness or remission or dismissal of sins that is promised in this passage is for those who have never become a Christian. A non Christian is commanded to believe in God and Christ and the bible. They are commanded to repent (which is to turn from things that are sinful and turn in obedience to God). They are commanded to confess that they believe Jesus is the Son of God. They are commanded to obey the command of baptism. Let’s read Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
(1) Would you like to leave this building with everything that you have ever done in your life that has been wrong completely cleansed and forgiven?
(2) Peter has just told you what to do. The group that Peter told that to had had a part in crucifying Christ. Have you done anything that sinful? Even if you have, if you will obey what Peter commands you can leave here forgiven!
5. Turn to 1 John 1:9. This verse speaks to one who has already become a Christian, but has let sin get back into their life. Does God know that you have sin that needs to be repented of ?
(1) Since becoming a Christian have you traveled down a few paths that you shouldn’t?
(2) Would you like to have those sins erased? Would you like to have them blotted out and God no longer hold them against you?
(3) Let’s read 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(4) If you will come forward and ask the congregation to pray the pray that David prayed you’re past sins will be blotted out – totally erased. David prayed and the church can pray with you, “hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.” (Psalm 51:9).
6. Do you want to experience that this morning, then when the times comes in a few moments you will need to do your part and walk to the front.
V. FIFTH, PSALM 139:4 TEACHES THAT THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD KNOWS EVERY WORD WE SAY AND GOD ALSO KNOWS WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY WHATEVER WE SAY.
1. Do we always know just what a politician means after we hear the words that he says?
2. Do we sometimes read legal documents and then re-read and scratch our heads and try to figure out just exactly what the words mean?
3. Do you read questions and/or reading assignments in science or algebra or some difficult study course and then find it difficult to understand what you have read?
4. Let’s read Psalm 139:4, “4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know [or understand my true meaning] it altogether.”
5. Are you guilty of having said words that you wish God did not know about? Have you said things and tried to deceive someone into thinking that you meant one thing when in reality you meant something else?
6. Turn to Matt. 12:36&37. In Matt. 12:36&37 Jesus warns us that every unguarded word will receive condemnation on judgment day. Let’s read Matt. 12:36&37, “36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
7. When will be the best time to ask for forgiveness for our misspoken words? Do we have a better chance of being forgiven of them this morning or waiting until judgment day?
VI. SIXTH, PSALM 139:5 TEACHES THAT THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE GOD IS ALSO OMNIPRESENT. GOD IS PRESENT IN FRONT OF US AND BEHIND US IN EVERY MOVE THAT WE MAKE.
1. Let’s read Psalm 139:5, “You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.”
(1) The phrase “you have hedged me behind and before” teaches that there is not any place that we will go, but that God will be there before we get there.
(2) The phrase “and laid Your hand upon me” let’s us know that the omnipresence and omniscience of God is not just for the purpose of trying to catch us in the doing of bad things.
(3) The word omnipresence refers to God’s presence being close by.
(4) The word omniscience refers to God being so close by that God can know everything there is to know about us.
2. Have you ever laid your hand on someone else’s shoulder? Why would you normally lay your hand on someone else’s shoulder?
(1) Wouldn’t it be to encourage and strengthen them?
(2) Can we find comfort and encouragement in the fact that God is always close by and has His hand laid on our shoulder ?
VII. SEVENTH, PSALM 139:6 TEACHES THAT TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE OMNISCIECE AND THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD IS INFORMATION THAT IS WONDERFUL AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO COMPRHEND!!!
1. Let’s read Psalm 139:6, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.”
(1) David, the writer of this Psalm burst out in praise as he thought about the characteristics of God that allowed God to be omniscient and omnipresent and to know so many things about him and all other human beings.
(2) David knew that he personally couldn’t be as informed about himself as God knew about him.
(3) David knew that he couldn’t know the secret things about other human beings.
2. Are you awed and astonished at how wonderful our God and His characteristics of omniscience and omnipresence are?
CONCLUSION
1. Since God knows you better than you know yourself what do you think God wants you to do when we sing the invitation hymn?
2. Does God want you to come forward and become a Christian?
3. If you’re already a Christians and need to come and ask for prayers should you do what God wants you to do?
4. If you need to come to the front, please come as we stand and sing!
Acknowledgments from commentaries to double check about accurate Scripture interpretation: 1. The Songs and Devotions of David Vol. 7
by Tom Wacaster P.O. Box 283, Talco, Tx 75487 (903) 427-0212
2. Psalm by David Guzik 3. Psalm by Adam Clarke 4. Psalm by Albert Barnes 5. Psalm by John Gill
