God Is Known, Caring, and in Control
Karen Rees reflects on Psalm 139 and contrasts the living God with the gods worshiped in other religious systems and cultural assumptions. The lesson emphasizes that God knows us fully, cares for us personally, and can be trusted in uncertain times.
- Psalm 139 presents God as all-knowing, caring, and personally involved with his people.
- Other gods, whether religious or Western cultural idols, cannot provide secure rest for searching hearts.
- David’s prayer for God to search his heart should shape our own worship and witness.
This week’s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for November 28) is written by Karen Rees. She and her husband, Benjamin, have served in Hong Kong since 1975.
Their God
What is their god like?
In the 35 years my husband and I have served in Hong Kong, knowing the answer to this question has helped us to share our God in a more meaningful way with the variety of people we’ve worked with.
The Chinese traditionally believe that the gods can’t be known. They rely on their ancestors to intercede on their behalf with whatever gods there are. Although the gods can’t be known, they can be tricked. The kitchen god, a lesser god, is an example. Its picture spends the year in the kitchen eavesdropping on the family. At year’s end it is burned and returns to the gods to report. But first its mouth is smeared with honey so it can say only good things.
Islam’s Allah is similar to our God in many ways, since Muhammad borrowed heavily from the Bible. Islamic folks believe Allah is compassionate, merciful, lord of creation, and king of judgment day. His moral standards are similar to those of our God. Islam does not accept the Trinity, however, and claims Jesus was but a prophet. Without a loving Savior, Muslims think they must save themselves by good works. But they can never know if they’ve done enough.
Hinduism has two main versions. Folk Hinduism believes in many gods, all of whom both reward and punish. It also includes much superstition and fear. Philosophical Hinduism holds that each person is god. God is all that exists, and everything that exists is god. This god is the one, infinite, impersonal, ultimate reality. No distinctions exist between people, plants, animals, and rocks, or between good and evil. If this sounds like New Age teaching, it should. Their religion is recycled philosophical Hinduism with an individualistic Western twist.
Our God
What is our God like?
The prayer of Psalm 139 tells us that our God is all-knowing. In fact, he knows us better than we know ourselves (vv. 1-4, 15). Being known intimately is dangerous. We hide guilty secrets because we don’t want to lose people’s respect. We guard personal information against identity theft. We conform to society’s expectations out of fear our real selves won’t be accepted.
Yet our God uses his knowledge for our benefit; he is a caring God. In verse 5, and even more clearly in verse 10, David says God protects and guides us. We can rest secure in him.
Our God wants to be known. Genesis through Revelation testifies to this fact. As we grow in our knowledge of God, we will realize, as David did, that full knowledge of him is too lofty for us to attain (v. 6). He is the all-knowing God, the Creator of the universe, our Creator, not a god who can be tricked by placing honey on his mouth.
God uses his knowledge to bring about what he wants in this world. Verses 13 and 14 declare that God created David. Even before his birth, God had ordained his days (v. 16). This realization must have encouraged David during the years he was running for his life from jealous King Saul, and also helped David refrain from killing God’s appointed king and solving his problem (1 Samuel 24:1-7). It certainly encouraged Daniel, a captive in Babylon (Daniel 2:19-22). It also should encourage us as our country faces uncertain times.
David ends Psalm 139 with a request (vv. 23, 24). He doesn’t ask God for a to-do list; he knows that “works” worship is secondary (Isaiah 29:13). He asks for inner cleansing so his “heart” worship will be acceptable. He knows that everything starts in the heart. He asks God to expose his blind spots and lead him in the right way, a way that reaches beyond death. He knows he worships a God who can do just that. This should be our prayer as well.
Sharing Our God in a World of Other Gods
Today we don’t need to move to Hong Kong to meet worshippers of other gods. The mission field has come to us. We also have our own Western gods—money, sex, fame, power, naturalism, patriotism—that are looked to for meaning, direction, and a solution to life’s problems. These gods, whether home-grown or imported, are nothing but gods of straw. Only our all-knowing, caring God can provide secure rest for the empty, searching hearts of the world. This is the message we must share.
Discussion Questions
What attributes of God, from this lesson or elsewhere, encourage you the most? Why?
If we prayed verses 23 and 24, what would God tell us?
How can we best share our God with acquaintances who worship other gods?
Does knowing God is in control of governments affect our view of politics? If so, how? If not, why not?
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.
When you speak. You know if it is a Lie or Truth. God also Know.
Your comments are very helpful, and will be used in our discussion tomorrow. Thank you.
God is so amazing when you read how he blessed David over and over again. How HE is doing the very same thing for us today. It is truly amazing.
just wanted to say the lesson was a blessing… and you’re correct, God is the same yesterday today and forever more. Dea.Untwon Chandler