The Wonder Of God

Sermon.976

“The Wonder of God”

From the pulpit of Bayview Baptist Church, Sunday, June 3, 2001

Psalm 139:1-18

Lightning was flashing, thunder war roaring, black clouds looked angry; and the train was traveling fast!

The tension and fear among the passengers was evident; however, one little boy, who was sitting by himself, seemed completely unaware of the raging storm.

One of the passengers spoke to him and said, “Aren’t you afraid to travel alone on this train on such a stormy night?”

The little boy looked up and answered with a smile, “No ma’am, I’m not afraid! My daddy is the engineer!”

Last week, Wanda and I had the unique opportunity to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

We viewed several Picaso and Rembrandt paintings among many other famous artist.

Rembrandt once did a painting which portrays the biblical story of the storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Perhaps some of you remember this painting!

The little ship occupied by Jesus and the Disciples is being hit by a huge wave.

You can feel the fear running through each disciple.

The storm is all around.

The rigging on the boat is loose and blowing in the wind.

It’s marvelous to realize that even though all the disciples are panic-stricken, the disciples had to awaken Jesus to tell Him about the storm.

It wasn’t because Jesus didn’t care, or because He was indifferent to their needs.

It was because Jesus had such trust in God that He was sleeping right through the storm.

Rembrandt does a wonderful work in this painting, and when you look at it, you’ve got to say to yourself, “I’ve got to learn how I can have complete trust in God.”

David, the psalmist was utterly amazed that God was always so intimately involved in all the circumstances of his life!

When we consider how God is so involved in our lives today we are astounded at the wonder of God’s grace and greatness.

Read Psalm 139:1-18

At any age in life, you need a personal agenda for life, for if you do not create for yourself a life agenda, one will be provided for you either by the events and circumstances of life, or by some other person.

We might ask ourselves a question as we begin to analyze this beautiful psalm: Does God know us?

All of us need someone who knows us, encourages us, comforts us, and builds us up!

We all have that basic human instinct to want somebody to know the things we like and the things we dislike, to know where we are in life and to know where we have been in life.

Is there anyone who really knows us?

Is there anyone who really understands us?

The answer to those questions is a resounding “Yes!”

God knows all!

In verses 2-5 David writes:

1. “You know when I sit and when I rise”: God knows David’s daily activities.

2. “you perceive my thoughts from afar”: God knows what David is thinking even before David thinks it.

3. “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways”: God knows where David went and God passed judgment on it.

4. “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord”: God knew David’s words before he spoke them.

5. “You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me”: God has His providential hand upon David and David is surrounded by God’s hand of protection.

Does God know you and I?

Yes, He does!

God knows your habits, good or bad.

He knows us inside and out, and He loves us and cares for us.

God wants to build us up with encouragement.

Where then is this God who knows us and wants to build us up with encouragement?

I think all of us have had times when we wonder and ask ourselves, “Where is God in the midst of all my circumstances?”

David answered that question.

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there…” (verses 7,8ff.).

In the realm of light, life, heaven, darkness, and even death, God is there!

David looks to the east and to the west, and to the far side of the sea, and God was there.

Wherever David went, God was there!

Are you hurting right now?

God is there!

Are you experiencing great joy in your life right now?

God is there!

God, you know me! And I know you are there!

How desperately we need to be led through our complexities of life!

Now, God, listen to me in my great joy or in my deepest hurt: can you help me?