Leadership Ministries Worldwide

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The God Who Sees Us

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You have searched me, Lord,
    and you 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.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:1-6 NIV

Living with constant awareness of God’s omniscience is a key element to the Christian walk. The fact that the Lord knows everything about us—down to the smallest detail—should both comfort us and motivate us to live pure and righteous lives. It should also convict us greatly. Before we speak an untruth, dwell on an impure thought, or commit a sinful act, our awareness that God knows about it may deter us from sin.

Do not be deceived into thinking you can sin and get away with it. Even when no other human being is watching, God is. His all-seeing eye catches everything we do, and we are fully accountable to Him. Remember Achan (Joshua 7), who thought no one would know when he disobeyed God by taking a portion of Jericho’s spoil. No human eyes witnessed his treacherous deed, but the Lord saw him, and Achan paid for his sin with his life.

On the other hand, God’s omniscience should serve as a great source of comfort. Nothing that happens to us escapes God’s attention. He is fully aware of every trouble, trial, and threat we face. He is constantly watching over us, guarding and protecting us at all times. We can rest peacefully and walk fearlessly through life knowing that His loving, careful eye is always on us.

Search Me

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You have searched me, Lord,
    and you 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.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:1-6 NIV

Every day, multitudes of people around the world hear the news that they have cancer or some other disease that puts their lives at risk. In many cases, no symptoms presented themselves to warn the people that something was wrong. In the majority of cases, though, specific symptoms led the doctors to their diagnoses. Still, other individuals who are obviously sick go undiagnosed for years despite a battery of tests.

While x-rays, scans, and other marvels of modern technology reveal much of what is underneath our skin, doctors still find it necessary sometimes to perform exploratory surgery. In exploratory surgery, a doctor opens a person up for the purpose of seeing clearly what cannot be seen otherwise. This is the only way to get to the root of the problem.

Psalm 139 is an exploratory journey of sorts. In it, David celebrates the omniscience and omnipresence of God. He proceeds to discuss how wonderfully and carefully we are made by our Creator who loves us deeply and forms us according to His glorious plan for our lives. Then, suddenly, David jumps to a different subject: his hatred for his wicked enemies. Having established that God knows everything about us, David closes with a strange request: he asks God to explore him within to reveal if he has any hidden sins, any secret sins he may not be aware of. In essence, David asked God to perform spiritual exploratory surgery on him, to probe him deeply and painfully to reveal any spiritual cancers or disease within him.

Scripture states a frightening truth: we cannot fully know the wickedness and deceit that lie within our sinful hearts. We are totally capable of thinking we are right when we are actually wrong. We do not always recognize the sin in our own lives. Furthermore, we may think we have suppressed and even defeated certain feelings and desires when they are destroying us without our being aware of them.

For all these reasons and more, we need to follow David’s example and open ourselves up to God, earnestly desiring that He search us within.

Bible Training for Women in Nigeria

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We recently heard from our partners Timothy and Hannah Olonade. The Olonades minister in Jos, Nigeria.

Mrs. Hannah Olonade led a leaders’ program. This is part of the Community Life Enrichment Program where over 1000 women, vulnerable children, and needy women are reached in the various communities on a monthly basis.

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Longing Desperately For God

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Psalm 42

While we do not know the exact reason this was written, we do know the purpose for Psalm 42: it is a maschil psalm, a song of instruction, and teaching. Whatever his circumstances, the author has been suffering through a period of intense trials, trials so severe that they have plunged him into a deep depression. God’s Spirit inspired Psalm 42 to teach us what to do when we find ourselves in the same pit of despair.

The psalmist uses a vivid image to express his need for God: Like a deer searching desperately for water in the wilderness, his soul craves the energizing strength, hope, and joy found only in the Lord. Emotionally and spiritually dehydrated, he cries out to God from the bottom of his heart. The psalmist desperately longs for the Lord to rejuvenate his spirit. But he was far from Jerusalem and the temple where God’s presence dwelt. Because of this, he felt unable to connect with God.

Under the old covenant, God’s presence dwelt in one specific place: the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle (and, later, the temple). The psalmist feels alienated from God because he is away from this sacred place. Therefore, he asks God how much longer it would be before he is able to return to Jerusalem to stand before Him. Under the new covenant, God does not abide in a specific place but in His people. Through His Holy Spirit, the Lord lives within every true believer. Although God’s presence is always within us, we may feel distant.

The psalmist’s spiritual suffering is compounded because he can do nothing to change his distressing situation. He cannot return to Jerusalem to worship with God’s people. Memories of “better days” – past celebrations in God’s house – only intensify his craving for the Lord’s presence. There had been a time when he was the most excited of worshipers, leading the joyous procession to God’s house. Now, lonely and depressed, he yearns to be among the congregation again as they march to the temple on the holy days, the days of celebrating the feasts ordained by God under the law. How he aches to be with the people of God, dancing and singing in praise and worship to Him!

  • During the lockdown for COVID-19, have you felt emotionally and spiritually dehydrated?
  • What are some ways you can remind yourself of God’s nearness?
  • What does this Psalm teach us about the communal aspects of worship?

Download the free PDF of this section of Psalms in the The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible to continue your study:

Download the PDF

    Support LMW with Everyday Shopping!

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    If you are already an Amazon shopper, support Leadership Ministries Worldwide through AmazonSmile. When you designate LMW as your Charity, 0.5% of eligible purchases will be donated at no additional cost to you! Click here to make LMW your AmazonSmile Charity.

    Even though mundane shopping, your purchases could help the work of Leadership Ministries Worldwide!

    In memory of Renee Bottoms

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    Yesterday, many LMW folks, past and present, gathered at the graveside of a beloved colleague, J. Renee Bottoms. We at Leadership Ministries Worldwide mourn her passing yet rejoice that she is in the presence of her Lord. Renee worked at LMW for seventeen years on the editorial staff until her retirement in January. Her keen eye for detail was a great asset to the ministry. Originally from Texas, Renee worked as a family practice attorney for many years. When she moved to Chattanooga with her husband Rick, she began working for LMW. Her legal background and meticulous nature served her well at LMW; her skills were invaluable during the creation of the NIV collection of The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Renee’s sweet spirit of encouragement along with her devotion and love for Jesus were hallmarks of her personality.

    Please pray for Renee’s husband, Rick, and other loved ones she is leaving behind. Pray also for her colleagues at LMW who carry on, encouraged by her faithful example.