Volume No. 2011 Issue No. 34 Date: October 2, 2011
Publication of the BIBLE BAPTIST MINISTRY, 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706
Phone: 570.829.5216 pdmikBBM@aol.com pastormiklas@aol.com
In Psalm 139:1-6 we read, “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.”
We are human. Sometimes we get down, discouraged, overwhelmed, or just extra busy. Sometimes we feel backslidden, away from God, unlovable, and useless. There are days when we simply wake up on the wrong side of the bed and nothing seems right with the world. I admit that sometimes I go to the Bible just needing a hug from God. Can you relate? When I feel like I need a hug from the Lord, one of the places to which I run is Psalm 139. This is such a beautiful and personal chapter. I almost don't like to write about it because I feel that it is God's "private" love letter to me. Why? Well, let me explain what I have discovered about the Lord in these verses.
Verse 1, “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Jehovah God, ruler of the universe, has taken the time to know me!” He studied me until He knew every minute detail about me, even more than I know about myself!
Verse 2, “Thou knowest my down sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” He watches me all night long. He knows when I fall asleep and when I awake. He knows my best day and my worst day. And (I love this!) He understands every thought I think! Wow! I don't even understand myself over half the time. I have wild, emotional thoughts and sometimes irrational thoughts. He understands each one.
Verse 3, “Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." I think of God in this verse like a bodyguard who clears the way and makes sure it is safe for me. God always goes before me and knows what is ahead in my life. I am completely safe in His care. Also, He knows all my habits, all my quirky idiosyncrasies. He knows every detail of what makes me unique. He thoroughly understands me, inside and out.
Verse 4, “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” In my mind, I picture Jesus Christ, sitting next to me in my home office lazy-boy, focusing on me to say, "Tell me everything." He knows every word I say. His attention never leaves me. He is "dialed in' to my conversation and feels that what I have to say is interesting and important. He does not want me to stop talking until I have shared my entire heart. That's how I visualize this verse.
Verse 5, “Thou hast beset me behind and before and hast laid thine hand upon me.” I liken this verse to a father walking down a path with his child. He walks next to them, his hand on their shoulder, gently guiding them. The Lord never takes His hand off my shoulder. He is always guiding my path, even when I feel that I might be going astray, His hand is still there.
I think the greatest verses in this chapter are verses 17-18, “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.” His thoughts toward me are precious, priceless. He thinks about me so much that I cannot even count the number of thoughts He has about me! He loves me!!! As I awake in the morning, He's there to say, "Good morning. I've been watching you sleep all night."
Take a few moments today to let these thoughts sink in! God is not mad at you. He is not disappointed in you. He loves you so personally it is indescribable! Let's hold our heads high today with the knowledge of being loved so greatly by such a wonderful God! He's thinking about you right now — and He is smiling.
In His Amazing Grace,
PS: As we have repeatedly said, we will not charge for sending the Weekly SERMON. However there are expenses associated with doing what we do. If possible during 2011, would you please consider helping us in this faith ministry? Your donation will help us to continue to “stand in the gap” in “teaching others also.” After you have given your tithes to your church and taken care of your pastor, would you consider giving either a yearly gift, or a monthly offering? Remember, for the purposes of financial accountability, we have placed this ministry under the Green Street Baptist Chapel of Edwardsville, PA. Checks made out to Green Street Baptist Chapel, memo to the Bible Baptist ministry and mailed to Bible Baptist Ministry 48 Alexie Rd, Hanover Township, PA 18706 will be applied to this ministry.
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