PSALM 139:1-14
Summer of Psalms Message Series
September 10, 2017
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson
Something I vividly remember from my childhood was the amazing games all of us neighborhood kids played together. Throughout the summer days we often played pick-up baseball; touch football; driveway basketball. Teams were picked from whoever showed up.
However it was in the evening that the games were extra fun. We often had some really wild games like kick the can and hide-and-go-seek. With large numbers of girls and boys showing up we often played on the Luther Seminary campus which was just a block away from my house.
It was so much fun in this large space with lots of trees (bushes; building columns; countless shadows) to hide and try to win the game. Also with the large cross in front of the oldest building (Bockman Hall) being our goal there was lots of strategy; lots of running in every game.
Playing hide-and-seek—one of the interesting things was the different ways that each of the kids played the game. For example there were those who seemed to want to get caught right away. They were the ones who seemed to hide in places where it was easy to see them.
Then there were those who would go off and hide pretty well; however after a few minutes they would begin to grow impatient/restless. They were the ones who would clear their throat really loud hoping to be seen; would start fidgeting and actually get out of their hiding place; would make an ill advised run toward the goal in order to simply get it over with.
Yet then there were those who played this game like they were on army maneuvers. They were so determined to not be found that they often hid in places where it would be hard for a search dog to find them. In fact I wonder if some of my friends are still hiding today?
In the same way there are multiple people today who are playing hide-and-seek with God; playing hide-and-seek with their friends; families; faith communities. Truth is that some of these people also want to be found. Certain individuals may be crying out in various ways; dropping hints; hoping that God (some caring person) will find them and help them.
The unfortunate things is that those in the church are often so busy dealing with their own stuff; with making sure that the church makes them feel good that they easily miss those peeking out from their hiding places; those making sounds trying to get their attention.
There are individuals all around who want to be found (want to hear about the love of Jesus) yet lots of church people are too reluctant to reach out; to welcome them to share in Christ’s community. As a result they stand in the shadows; waiting for someone to care enough to tell them about Jesus.
Truth is there are also those in the world today (in the church) who are doing everything they can to hide away from God; trying to hide their true self away from friends (fellow believers). Some individuals hide behind their words telling people they don’t believe in God; others rather hide behind their religious exterior (pious words).
Whether one proclaims to be an atheist; one who feels they aren’t worthy to be found; one in the church who hide their hurts (real self) behind their religious persona there are tons of individuals who are wearing masks; hiding away; hoping to not be found out.
The amazing promise (teaching) found in Psalm 139 however is that there is nowhere any person can hide from God. As hard as they may try (as good as they think their hiding places and deceptions are) there is absolutely no way any individual can hide anything from God.
The Psalmist says, “You have searched me, Lord, and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”
And in Vs. 7 the Psalm writer asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
The Psalm writer is very clear that there is no way that any person (bar none) can hide anything from God—nothing. Yet rather than being scared (intimidated) by God’s knowledge the Psalm writer reminds you of how precious you are in God’s sight.
He says, “For you (God) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know them full well.”
He continues, “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.” Truth is that God doesn’t make any junk.
Finally at the end the Psalm writer prays, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offense in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” A clear word of forgiveness and hope.
The good news in Psalm 139 is that even though God knows everything about you (he knows all your sins/failings); even with that he is not surprised. Fact is that he is the one who made you; who wove you together as the person you are. Even though you fail you are precious to God.
All God wants is for you to come out of your hiding place; to confess who you truly are and the sins you are trying to hide; then he can lead you in the way everlasting. God through his Son, Jesus, promises to forgive you; wash you clean if you stop hiding; receive his love by faith.
You may be familiar with the Gospel story of the woman caught in adultery. This woman of course was put on display in front of everyone for her sin. There was nowhere for her to hide; no alibi to give. She was caught in the act; everyone thought they could see right through her.
However Jesus (who truly knew this woman and her heart) turns the focus back on the men ready to stone her. “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to stone her.” Jesus knew that these men were hiding behind their self-righteous words (exteriors); he knew that on the inside they were equally as unclean (sinful) as this woman.
After these men (feeling Jesus’ conviction) left one by one Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” (John 8:3-11)
The awesome good news of Jesus is that whenever you come to him just as you are; lay your broken (exposed) lives at his feet; he showers you with his grace and forgiveness. It doesn’t matter what you have done (the shame you feel); his love is able to heal whatever is broken.
The story is told about some children who lined up one day for lunch in the cafeteria of a religious school. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The teacher had made a sign and placed it next to this pile, “Take only one apple; God is watching.”
At the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A boy student wrote a sign and put next to this plate, “Take all the cookies you want; God is watching the apples.” Truth is that God is not just watching other people—he is also watching you.
When some of our Moms and Dads let us know it was time to go home; when our game of hide-and-seek needed to end we would shout and call out to all those still hiding, “Alle-Alle-All-In-Free!” This meant that all were free to come out of hiding without losing the game.
The good news of God through Jesus Christ is that he is also calling you (this world), “Alle-Alle-All-In-Free!” He is proclaiming that no matter what sins; hurts; shame you may be carrying (trying to shield from others) you can come to him just as you are. As the Apostle Paul says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)
Just as Jesus calls you out of your hiding places he also calls this church community to be real; to be honest with who you are and the struggles you have. Only then will other individuals come out of their hiding places; be found in Jesus’ love; be set free to live for him.
Let your prayer be today and everyday, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offense in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”