David's Prayer
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way of everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
Before David closes Psalm 139, he makes a final request of God in verses 23–24. Here David petitioned God to really examine his heart. He was asking God to identify anything he might be doing that offended or dishonored Him. Whatever these offenses were, David wanted God’s help so he could repent, so that he could enrich his relationship with God.
Let’s go back to the start of Psalm 139 – David acknowledged that God knew him as no other could. And, God did know his heart completely. Makes one pause to think about the relationships we each develop in our lives. Don’t we tend to allow the people in our lives to see us as we want them to? Why might we be fearful of opening ourselves up as David confessed here? Maybe we fear that if they knew all our heart, we wouldn’t have a relationship with them. If those important to us only knew – would they stand by us or would they abandon us – perhaps justifiably by our model of relationship standards. But God, knowing everything about us – even issues of the heart we still yet don’t know, loves us, and accepts us – despite those hidden things we and certainly others cannot see.
David came to realize that his relationship with God was so deep and precious because there was nothing that he could do to hide himself from God’s presence. What a lesson for us. Once Jesus comes into our lives – we cannot put him out. We know He listens to us always, but He also takes pleasure in our asking, “Am I guilty of offending you in anyway?” Often, our own sin may be easy to discern by ourselves. But like David, we may judge the behaviors we witness in others – and then wonder, am I guilty of that behavior myself? We are fallible creatures – but we are unique in that we are blessed to have The Holy Spirit – that little, small voice that can make us pause and wonder, am I wrong in God’s eyes?
This petitioning by David is what Lent is meant to do – bring us face to face with our sinfulness, our weaknesses, and a recognition of our need of a Savior.
During this Lenten season, know that God sees you, God always hears you, and that God loves you. So much that you are forgiven and claimed as one of His adopted by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Good News of Easter.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful insights that David has given us into Your perfect character. I pray that You would search my heart and expose anything that is hindering my relationship with You. Cleanse me from my sin, purify my heart, comfort any anxious thoughts, and draw me into closer fellowship with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.