As I write that familiar greeting to you, fellow traveler, I want to remind you on this 5th day of Lent that, despite what you may have on your plate today, it truly is a good morning because we have a King who is reigning over us, a watchful Eye who never slumbers nor sleeps. He is our light and our salvation -- whom shall we fear indeed?
We are journeying through Psalm 139 this season in preparation for the celebration of Resurrection Sunday. Thus far, we have pondered "To the Choirmaster. A psalm of David." And we have already gained much insight from the psalm heading alone.
Today, we get to the psalm proper, beginning in verse 1, which reads in the ESV,
"O Lord, You have searched me and known me!"
So rich a verse could take us forever to unpack but, for today, let us meditate upon the first part of that verse -- "O Lord."
The first word, "O," is an expression that depicts wonderment -- a state of awestruck respect and amazement. This particular opener reveals in David, the psalmist, one who stands in awe of the unfathomable God he addresses.
In fact, David says elsewhere, "All my bones shall say, 'O Lord, who is like You?'" (Ps 35:10). Again, in Psalm 40:5, he writes, "You have multiplied, O Lord my God, Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us; none can compare with You! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told."
In that wonderment David is joined by Isaiah who prophesied, "To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with Him? . . . Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? . . . Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint to grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable." (Isa 40:18, 21, 28)
Lent calls you and me to enter this state of awestruck respect and amazement as we approach the throne of grace. It bids us part company with apathy and nonchalance in deference to a holy God who deserves all our faculties -- all that we have, all that we are, and all that we hope to be -- and all our love.
This wonder-working God, David calls Him "Lord" -- the second word of Psalm 139.
This incomparable Creator is the Lord of heaven and earth, according to Genesis 1:1.
Yet, is He truly our Lord?
Do you and I handle most decisions and only go to Him for the really big ones? When we say "Lord," is it merely intellectual faith or empty confession? Does our conduct back up the all-too-familiar "Lord" statement?
Introspection reveals that we live our lives based on a magnificent obsession lodged deep within our gut, our heart. Until we find that One governing thing, that Rudder, we roam to and fro -- hungry and weary -- with a restless longing to give in. Although many things can govern our hearts, nothing else can fulfill us. No one will satisfy that innermost longing . . .
. . . excepting the Lord
- the same One mentioned by Moses in Deuteronomy 10:17, "For the Lord your God is 'God of gods' and 'Lord of lords,' the great, the mighty, and the awesome God."
- the same One exulted in Hannah's prayer, "For the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed." (1 Sam 2:3b)
- the same One of whom Job asserted, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)
- the same one heralded by the apostle Paul to the Colossians, ". . . as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." (Col 2:6)
- the same One of whom day and night the four living creatures never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come!" (Rev 4:8)
- the same One who will govern on His heavenly throne and on whose robe and thigh has this name written, "King of kings and Lord of lords." (Rev 19:16)
Could it be that in this Lenten season you and I are being invited to join Moses, Hannah, David, Job, Paul, the four living creatures, angels, and heaven and earth in surrendering the reins of our hearts to the Lord -- the One governing thing, the Rudder, the Satisfier of our restless longing?
Friend, let us continue to ponder all of the above and so much more as we think of the opening phrase of Psalm 139, "O Lord."
The first word, "O," is an expression that depicts wonderment -- a state of awestruck respect and amazement. This particular opener reveals in David, the psalmist, one who stands in awe of the unfathomable God he addresses.
In fact, David says elsewhere, "All my bones shall say, 'O Lord, who is like You?'" (Ps 35:10). Again, in Psalm 40:5, he writes, "You have multiplied, O Lord my God, Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us; none can compare with You! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told."
In that wonderment David is joined by Isaiah who prophesied, "To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with Him? . . . Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? . . . Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint to grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable." (Isa 40:18, 21, 28)
Lent calls you and me to enter this state of awestruck respect and amazement as we approach the throne of grace. It bids us part company with apathy and nonchalance in deference to a holy God who deserves all our faculties -- all that we have, all that we are, and all that we hope to be -- and all our love.
This wonder-working God, David calls Him "Lord" -- the second word of Psalm 139.
This incomparable Creator is the Lord of heaven and earth, according to Genesis 1:1.
Yet, is He truly our Lord?
Do you and I handle most decisions and only go to Him for the really big ones? When we say "Lord," is it merely intellectual faith or empty confession? Does our conduct back up the all-too-familiar "Lord" statement?
Introspection reveals that we live our lives based on a magnificent obsession lodged deep within our gut, our heart. Until we find that One governing thing, that Rudder, we roam to and fro -- hungry and weary -- with a restless longing to give in. Although many things can govern our hearts, nothing else can fulfill us. No one will satisfy that innermost longing . . .
. . . excepting the Lord
- the same One mentioned by Moses in Deuteronomy 10:17, "For the Lord your God is 'God of gods' and 'Lord of lords,' the great, the mighty, and the awesome God."
- the same One exulted in Hannah's prayer, "For the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed." (1 Sam 2:3b)
- the same One of whom Job asserted, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." (Job 1:21)
- the same one heralded by the apostle Paul to the Colossians, ". . . as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." (Col 2:6)
- the same One of whom day and night the four living creatures never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come!" (Rev 4:8)
- the same One who will govern on His heavenly throne and on whose robe and thigh has this name written, "King of kings and Lord of lords." (Rev 19:16)
Could it be that in this Lenten season you and I are being invited to join Moses, Hannah, David, Job, Paul, the four living creatures, angels, and heaven and earth in surrendering the reins of our hearts to the Lord -- the One governing thing, the Rudder, the Satisfier of our restless longing?
Friend, let us continue to ponder all of the above and so much more as we think of the opening phrase of Psalm 139, "O Lord."
O Lord,
we are awestruck and amazed
to think of who You are.
None can compare.
You are Lord and apart from You,
we have no good thing.
We confess we have wasted years and seasons
pursuing idols to govern our hearts instead of Your lordship.
Teach our souls, minds, and bodies to be grateful for Your governance
especially when our every yearning is otherwise inclined.
Thank You for pursuing us and for seeking our hearts
in order to bridge the chasm separating us from You.
Amen.
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