When we consider judgment, as God’s people, we are not exempt from judgment. Just because we have fled to the judge and begged his pardon for our weakness and waywardness does not mean that we get off free if we continue to participate in erroneous behavior. Psalm 139 is a reminder to be humble when it comes to judgment, and be prepared for it when it comes.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
David belonged to God and had the Holy Spirit upon him. David was guided, empowered, and enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Yet that did not make him perfect. His stumbling and fall is well documented in scripture in the matter of Bathsheba. We also see that at other times he was not perfect in all his ways. His handling of his family issues later in life, the matter of the insult of “the fool” Nabal, and the fact that he had tephilim in his household shows that he did not always “have it all together.”
That said, one thing David did have was the desire to keep things straight with God. And because he knew how wayward his own heart could be (see for example, Psalms 32 and 51) he knew that he was ever in need of a check up “from the heart up” for his own life. Psalm 139 reminds us to ever submit to God’s search light, in order that we may have our own wicked ways, thoughts, and tendencies revealed.
If you don’t think you have wicked ideas, ways, thought, etc., just ask for an honest assessment from those who know you best. Your spouse will know if you have a problem. So will your kids. Your co-workers probably do too. I know of a church near my house where, if you wish to be in leadership, the church puts together a team to go an interview people in your work environment. May God permit that we should all be able to pass such a test.
But the one who knows and loves us best is God. His desire is to make us more and more into reflections of His own character. Since our desire ought to be the same, then asking Him to evaluate us is a wise, yes, necessary move.
God will have His way with His people. Its true. But things are so much better for us if we participate in the process of growing in Christlikenss with willing hearts. So David prays, “Search, Test, Lead.”
Search, because often we are so good at hiding wickedness, even from our own selves, deep down in our souls. Test, because the soundness of our ways and thoughts must be demonstrated, proved, and demonstrated a fail if they weakness and waywardness be found there. Lead me, because we have a naturally tendency to wander. We, left to ourselves, like to go astray (like sheep!).
This must be done, for God is a just judge. This brings us to the difference between Punishment, which is done to the wicked, and discipline which is for His children. Punishment is final. Its meant to demonstrate and vindicate the righteousness and holiness of God. Disicpline is different. It is meant to correct, reprove, and restore. Goddoes not leave his people to return to wickedness. He must discipline if we do. He works to correct that we may be like Jesus.
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