The Believer's Cry: "Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart"

 

The human heart is a complex and mysterious thing. It is the wellspring of our deepest thoughts, desires, and motivations - the noble and the base, the pure and the wicked. The prophet Jeremiah declared that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). And yet, the Psalmist David cries out to the Lord, "Search me, O God, and know my heart!" (Psalm 139:23). This remarkable prayer represents a profound and courageous act of self-examination and surrender before the all-knowing God. 

In this blog post, we will explore the theological significance of David's plea and consider the vital importance of every believer following his example. Through an in-depth study of Psalm 139, we will unpack the deep longing for God's intimate knowledge and purification of the human heart. Moreover, we will consider the practical results of this spiritual discipline and its transformative impact on the lives of Jesus Christ's disciples.

The Heart of the Matter

We must establish a Biblical understanding of the human heart at the very outset. In the Scriptures, the "heart" is not merely a physical organ but a person's innermost being - the wellspring from which all life flows. The book of Proverbs declares, "Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23). The heart is the control center of the human person, shaping our thoughts, emotions, desires, and ultimately, our actions.

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah captures the complexity and deceitfulness of the human heart in his scathing indictment: "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). This sobering assessment underscores the profound brokenness of the human condition. Left to our own devices, our hearts are prone to self-deception, manipulation, and moral depravity. As the apostle Paul writes, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out" (Romans 7:18).

And yet, in the very next verse of Jeremiah's prophecy, we find a glimmer of hope: "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds" (Jeremiah 17:10). Here we see that while the human heart is hopelessly broken, it is not beyond the reach of God's searching and redemptive gaze. The Lord, who alone can "search the heart and test the mind," can discern the true motives and condition of the human soul.

It is against this backdrop that we must understand the profound significance of David's plea in Psalm 139: "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!" (Psalm 139:23). David, a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), recognizes the inherent deceitfulness of the human heart, and longs for the purifying, transformative work of the Almighty. He invites the Lord, the all-knowing and all-powerful God, to probe the deepest recesses of his being, to expose any hidden wickedness, and to lead him in the way everlasting.

The Significance of Psalm 139

Psalm 139 is widely regarded as one of the most theologically rich and emotionally resonant passages in Scripture. In this profound meditation, David celebrates God's omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, culminating his reflections with a plea for divine scrutiny and purification of his heart.

The psalm begins with a powerful affirmation of God's intimate knowledge of the human person: "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" (Psalm 139:1-2). David acknowledges that the Lord is intimately acquainted with every aspect of his life - his actions, thoughts, and hidden motives. There is nowhere he can go to escape the all-seeing gaze of the Almighty: "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?" (Psalm 139:7).

The subsequent verses further develop this theme of God's all-encompassing knowledge and presence. David marvels at the Lord's sovereign control over the details of his life, from his formation in the womb to the days ordained for him (Psalm 139:13-16). He recognizes that the Lord's thoughts towards him are "more than the sand" (Psalm 139:17-18) and that there is no place in all of creation where he is not under the watchful eye of his Creator.

And it is in the context of this profound theological truth - that God knows him wholly and intimately - that David makes his impassioned plea: "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

This cry for divine scrutiny and purification is all the more remarkable when considering the broader context of David's life and ministry. As the king of Israel, David was a towering figure in the history of God's people. He was a mighty warrior, a skilled administrator, and a gifted psalmist - a man after God's own heart. And yet, even with all of his spiritual achievements and position of authority, David recognized the profound need for ongoing self-examination and transformation by the hand of the Almighty.

The Believer's Cry: "Search Me, O God"

As we reflect on the significance of Psalm 139 and David's cry, "Search me, O God, and know my heart," we must consider the vital importance of this spiritual discipline for every follower of Jesus Christ. For if even the great King David, a man of immense faith and spiritual depth, recognized the deceitfulness of his own heart and the need for God's probing and purifying work, how much more should we, imperfect and broken vessels, heed this clarion call?

The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Philippians, exhorts the believers to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:12-13). This admonition captures the essence of the believer's lifelong journey of sanctification - a constant striving towards holiness, empowered and sustained by the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

At the heart of this sanctification process is the ongoing examination and surrender of the human heart. As the psalmist declares, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). It is only when we come before the Lord with our hearts laid bare, acknowledging our sin and brokenness, that we can experience the cleansing, renewing, and empowering work of the Holy Spirit.

The Christian theologian John Owen, in his seminal work "The Mortification of Sin," eloquently captures the necessity of this spiritual discipline: "Be killing sin, or it will be killing you."  Owen's words underscore the urgency of the believer's need to guard their hearts vigilantly against the corrupting influence of sin. For if we do not actively and intentionally "kill" the sin that dwells within us, it will inevitably overtake us, leading to spiritual stagnation, moral compromise, and even outright rebellion against God.

And it is precisely at this point that we must heed the example of King David and cry out with him, "Search me, O God, and know my heart!" Only through this courageous act of self-examination and surrender can we truly experience the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, who will "convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8).

The Practical Outworkings of "Searching the Heart"

Having established the theological foundation and the vital importance of the believer's cry, "Search me, O God, and know my heart," we must now consider the practical outworkings of this spiritual discipline. How, precisely, can we emulate David's example and make this plea a central part of our spiritual journey?

1. Cultivating a Posture of Humility and Contrition

At the heart of David's plea in Psalm 139 is a profound posture of humility and contrition before the Lord. He does not approach God with a sense of self-righteousness or moral superiority but rather with a deep awareness of his own brokenness and the deceitfulness of his own heart.

As believers, we must follow David's example and approach the throne of grace with a similar spirit of humility and dependence. We must acknowledge that, apart from the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are prone to self-deception, manipulation, and moral depravity. As the apostle Paul reminds us, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh" (Romans 7:18).

Only when we come before the Lord in this posture of humility and contrition can we truly experience the gospel's cleansing and renewing power. As the psalmist declares, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

2. Engaging in Regular, Honest Self-Examination

The spiritual discipline of regular, honest self-examination is closely related to the posture of humility and contrition. Following David's example, we must actively and intentionally invite the Lord to scrutinize the depths of our hearts, exposing any hidden sin or areas of moral compromise.

This process of self-examination should not be a perfunctory or superficial exercise but rather a deep and searching exploration of our motives, desires, and thought patterns. As the book of Lamentations exhorts, "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!" (Lamentations 3:40).

Through this regular practice of self-examination, we can gain invaluable insight into the actual condition of our hearts and identify areas that require the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. This self-examination, in turn, will equip us to more effectively "put to death the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13) and "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

3. Embracing the Conviction and Correction of the Holy Spirit

As we engage in self-examination, we must be willing to embrace the conviction and correction of the Holy Spirit, for it is the Holy Spirit, the "Helper" whom Jesus promised to send (John 14:26), who will illuminate the hidden recesses of our hearts and expose the areas that require repentance and transformation.

This examination can often be painful and uncomfortable, as the Holy Spirit's work of conviction can be deeply unsettling. The prophet Jeremiah describes it as a "fire" that "burns within" (Jer. 20:9). The writer of Hebrews warns that "the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

Yet, it is precisely through this process of conviction and correction that the Holy Spirit can accomplish His sanctifying work in our lives. As the psalmist declares, "Blessed is the one you discipline, O Lord, the one you teach from your law" (Psalm 94:12). It is only as we humbly submit to the Holy Spirit's refining work that we can truly experience the transformative power of the gospel and grow in holiness.

4. Pursuing Ongoing Repentance and Transformation

The final, and perhaps most crucial, outworking of the believer's cry, "Search me, O God, and know my heart," is a lifelong commitment to ongoing repentance and transformation. As we engage in the spiritual discipline of self-examination and embrace the conviction and correction of the Holy Spirit, we will inevitably uncover areas of sin, brokenness, and moral compromise that require our attention and surrendered obedience.

In this regard, we must heed the exhortation of the apostle Paul, who urges the believers in Ephesus to "put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22-24).

This process of "putting off" the old self and "putting on" the new self is a daily, moment-by-moment endeavor as we continually surrender our hearts to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. It requires a deep and abiding commitment to repentance as we turn away from our sins and embrace the restorative power of the gospel.

And it is in this context that we must once again return to David's plea in Psalm 139: "And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:24). For it is only as we allow the Lord to search our hearts, expose our sin, and guide us in the way of righteousness that we can truly experience the fullness of life in Christ and bear fruit for His Kingdom.

Conclusion

The believer's cry, "Search me, O God, and know my heart," represents a profound and vital spiritual discipline that every follower of Jesus Christ must embrace. As we have seen, it is rooted in a deep understanding of the deceitfulness and brokenness of the human heart and a recognition of our profound need for the scrutiny and purification of the Almighty.

By emulating King David's example, engaging in the ongoing process of self-examination, embracing the conviction and correction of the Holy Spirit, and pursuing a life of repentance and transformation, we can experience the profound joy and freedom that comes from walking in the way everlasting. Only as we surrender our hearts fully to the Lord, allowing Him to search us and know us, can we truly become the men and women of God that He has called us to be.

May this blog post serve as a clarion call to all who desire to grow in their faith and walk more closely with the Lord. Let us heed the psalmist's plea and cry out with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart!" In doing so, we will find peace, joy, and abundant life, which can only be found in the presence of our Heavenly Father.