November 30, 2022 - Psalm 139:1-6

Shedd: “All religion, all holy and reverential fear of God, rises and sets, as in an atmosphere, in the thought: ‘Thou God seest me.’” There is great concern, here, but also great hope. Our God, who has created us and knit us together in the womb, fully knows us. He searches the inmost heart, and those private sins, unknown to others, are fully known by God. There is no hiding ourselves and our sins from him. Oh my, how great a fear this knowledge should produce in us, though, to our shame, often, it does not. However, what hope is ours: That God sees us, fully, along with all our sin and, still, he loves us! How does Paul put the matter? “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Shedd ends his chapter: “This is salvation; first to know yourself, and then to know Christ as your Prophet, Priest, and King.” We know ourselves; we are great sinners. But we also know a great Savior, and “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Oh, wondrous knowledge, deep and high!

Where can a creature hide?

Within Thy circling arms I lie,

Beset on every side.

So let Thy grace surround me still,

And like a bulwark prove,

To guard my soul from every ill,

Secured by sovereign love. –Isaac Watts (18th century)