Search Me, O God

Psalm 139: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

How many of us would want to ask God to search every crevice of our heart and thoughts to see if there is any wickedness lurking there?  What about when that other car cut you off this morning? Or when you chose to buy a new TV, instead of giving to the church as God prompted you to do?  Or when you rushed out the front door without so much as saying "Good morning" to God?  Or when you grumbled about the financial state that the government is in; never acknowledging that God is still on His Throne?  Was this a moment of pride by David? Or not.  Look at the rest of Psalm 139: 

1.O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Ah, this was a David who knew that God already knew every crevice of his heart and every area of darkness that lurked there and had loved David even in the imperfection that he was.  He knew that God already had chosen him inspite of his sin and had formed him, loved him, and never left his side.  This was David asking God to search him, transform him and to remove every form of wickedness so that God might lead him ever forward into God’s righteousness.  This was David asking that God search and remove every piece of chaff, every evil desire or action that would bring shame to God’s Glorious Name. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAzSl-kJzOY