2 Samuel 5:19, 23 “Then David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?’ . . . When David inquired of the LORD, He said, ‘You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them in front of the balsam trees.’”
Psalm 139
Observation: I savor the goodness of God as I read Psalm 139. There is little point beginning to quote from it; once begun, there is no stopping. But in reading this morning, I was struck by the juxtaposition of Psalm 139 and these two verses from 2 Samuel 5, “Then David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?’” (v. 19). Then in verse 23, “And when David inquired of the LORD, He said, ‘You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them in front of the balsam trees.’”
Application: What I noticed first is that Psalm 139, for all its breathtaking majesty, is universally true; it is not just for believers. God does know me; He has made me and loves me enough to always be present. I am unable to go anywhere that He is not. His intimate knowledge of me is unending. The truths of this psalm are as fixed and real for a pagan nonbeliever as for a Christian.
But David’s queries of the Lord reveal an added dimension of relationship. In them I see a man who had such communion with God that he could ask profound questions of God, and then listen to God’s remarkable, precise counsel.
As wonderful as the truths of Psalm 139 are, it is even more glorious that if I will pursue relationship with Him, if I covenant to become a wholehearted lover of God, then I can appropriate all He provides in Psalm 139. And my secret life in Him can become a two-way conversation. That’s really great news! As awesome as it is to think about God’s knowing me while still in my mother’s womb, it is far more astonishing to realize that He presently occupies the seat next to me, and that He is eager to speak His wisdom and counsel into the deep places of my heart if I will but seek Him.
Prayer: Lord, this passage convicts me to realize how fully available You are, and yet how limited have been my times of seeking genuine communication with You. The learning curve I have to make up is enormous because of all the missed opportunity to hear from You over the years. I choose to seek You intentionally and daily, that I might cultivate a heart like David’s. Thank You for extending such grace to me for so long.