Text:

"1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before,  and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!  If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"

‭‭

Lexicon:
vs. 1 - searched (chaqar) - "to investigate, to explore, to penetrate, to examine intimately"

​

vs. 1 - known (yada') - "to see, to be acquainted, to observe with the eyes, to get to know, to discover, to turn the mind to something, to care for, to consider, to have understanding"

​

vs. 2 - discern (biyn) - "to distinguish, to separate, to perceive, to have understanding, to turn the mind to, to have insight"

​

vs. 5 - hem me in (tsuwr) - "to bind together, to press upon, to besiege, to confine, to cramp, to stir upon anyone to urge him to rise"

​

vs. 10 - lead me (nachah) - "to guide, to transport, to govern, to lead forth"

​

vs. 10 - hold me ('achaz) - "to take hold of, to seize, to make oneself the possessor of anything"

​

vs. 13 - formed (qanah) - "to create, to erect, to set upright, to buy, to acquire for oneself"

​

vs. 13 - kinitted (cakak) - "to weave, to interweave, to protect, to cover over, to hedge or fence about"

​

vs. 14 - fearfully (yare') - "to tremble for joy, reverence, admirable, stupendous and wonderful"

​

vs. 14 - wonderfully (palah) - "to be separated or distinguished, to show marvelous, to set apart, to be marked out or be distinct"

​

vs. 15 - made in the secret (cether) - "a hiding, a covering, a protection or defense"

​

vs. 15 - intricately (raqam) - "to adorn with colors, to be skillfully wrought or woven, to variegate (to make varied in appearance by adding different colors, to give variety to, to diversify)"

​

vs. 20 - take your name in vain ('amar &  mezimmah) - "to bring light to the wickedness in one's heart and mind"

​

vs. 23 - try me (bachan) - "to try, to prove, to search out, to examine, to investigate, to scrutinize" 

​

vs. 24 - grievous ('otseb) - "the image of an idol, sorrow, pain"

​

vs. 24 - everlasting ('owlam) - "antiquity, long duration, futurity, continuous existence, perpetual, indefinite or unending future"

​

What does this reveal about God's character?

God is our creator.  He fashioned each and every one of us differently and skillfully on purpose.  God is near to us.  He binds Himself together with us, before and behind us.  He is our protector and our covering.  God is our judge.  He examines my heart and intent to rid me of sin and idols.

​

Questions:

1) Do I allow the Lord to lead and transport me to where I need to go?  Or am I stubborn and controlling at times, and take over the reins?

​

2) Do I believe God created me wonderfully and skillfully, and on purpose?  Or do I sometimes think God was busy doing more important things when He got around to making me?  Do I think God gave me the "leftover" genes?

​

3) In what ways do I insult God and His handiwork?  Do I think lowly of myself or of others?  Do I say negative things to myself or about others?

​

4) In what areas have I set up idols in my heart?  (Anything that we put before God, is an idol - even good things).

​

5) Have I asked God to cleanse my heart and rid me of impurities?

​

Prayer:

Father God, thank you that you are Creator of all.  You wove me together and covered and protected me so that I might have life.  I thank you for creating me so skillfully, wonderfully and differently.  You are so creative and loving. There is no one else like me in all the world.  I thank you for who you made me to be.  Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have talked negatively about myself and others.  Forgive me for directly insulting what you have made and deemed good (Genesis 1:31).  You are good and all good things come from you, Lord (James 1:17).  I acknowledge that you are supreme and that you are perfect in your ways (Psalms 18:30).  Lord, I pray that you would enlighten the spiritual eyes of my understanding (Ephesians 1:17-19), that I may see myself as you made me and that I may love myself as you love me.  I pray, Lord, that you would also give me eyes to see others as you see them and to love them as you love them.  Help me to embrace who you made me to be.  Fill me up to the measure with your unfailing love.  And, I pray that out of this love, I would extend love and grace to those you place in my path and life.  Lord, if there is any sin and idol in my life, I pray you would reveal it to me now.  I cast it down at the feet of Jesus and ask you, Lord, to forgive me and cleanse my heart and mind of their impurities.  Lead me, Lord, down your everlasting path.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!