The Wonder Of Summer

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

I awake, and I am still with you.

Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!

O men of blood, depart from me!

They speak against you with malicious intent;

your enemies take your name in vain.[b]

Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?

I hate them with complete hatred;

I count them my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts![c]

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting![d]"

-Psalm 139:1-24 (ESV)

I love this chapter in Psalms, because really we are just painted this beautiful picture of God and His attributes. If we’re going to stay mindful of and recognize God during the good times, during the summers of our life, then starting with His attributes is one of the best things we can do.

In relation to this, and in an urging for appreciating God and all of His attributes, A. W. Tozer in his book, The Knowledge of the Holy, says this:

What we think about God, is the most important part of us.

A. W. Tozer

I think this is amazing. See, it’s what we think about God that determines our foundation for life, and belief, and behavior.

It’s important as Christians, that we have a right view of God. It’s important that the lens through which we develop a Christian worldview isn’t tinted, and that foundation is Psalm 139, the foundation of that right view of God. The right view of the greatness of God. The right view of God, who loves us, cares for us, and knows us. So again, in this Psalm we have this magnificent appreciation of God and who He is from the psalmist. Not an exhaustive (or total) list by any means, but a truly wonderful depiction nonetheless.

So if you’re taking notes this morning, we’re going to look at a few of these attributes that are outlined in this Psalm.

3 Assurances

1. God Knows Me Intimately

The first is this, “God Knows Me Intimately.”

This is verses 1-6 of the Psalm:

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high; I cannot attain it."

Psalm 139:1-6 (ESV)

Again – “God knows you intimately.”

I don’t want us to take this for granted, which I think again, we can often do (myself included). So just for a second let’s zoom out – our great, magnificent, omniscient, God knows you – by name. Knows my name. He knows your nature, He knows your needs.

You know in Luke 12:7 we even see that God knows the very number of the hairs on our head.