Immanuel Lutheran High School, College, and Seminary
Eau Claire, WI

2014-04-03 ILC Chapel — Our God is watching. Thankfully,…

2014 Chapels -
Our God is watching. Thankfully, Jesus paid for our sins.

 

Date : 2014-04-03
Speaker : Steven Sippert

Psalm 139 (Listen)

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.


139:1   O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
  You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
  You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
  Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
  You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.


  Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
  If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
  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.1
  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.2
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!3
24   And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!4

Footnotes

[1] 139:14 Or for I am fearfully set apart

[2] 139:20 Hebrew lacks your name

[3] 139:23 Or cares

[4] 139:24 Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16)

(ESV)

Lamentations 3:22–23 (Listen)


22   The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;1
    his mercies never come to an end;
23   they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Footnotes

[1] 3:22 Syriac, Targum; Hebrew Because of the steadfast love of the Lord, we are not cut off

(ESV)

Hymn: TLH 155 :
Sweet the Moments Rich in Blessing

Hymnary.org — Organ Audio

1. Sweet the moments, rich in blessing,
Which before the cross we spend,
Life and health and peace possessing
From the sinner’s dying Friend.

2. Here we rest in wonder, viewing
All our sins on Jesus laid;
Here we see redemption flowing
From the sacrifice He made.

3. Here we find the dawn of heaven
While upon the cross we gaze,
See our trespasses forgiven,
And our songs of triumph raise.

4. Oh, that, near the cross abiding,
We may to the Savior cleave,
Naught with Him our hearts dividing,
All for Him content to leave!

5. Lord, in loving contemplation
Fix our hearts and eyes on Thee
Till we taste Thy full salvation
And we unveiled glory see.