Taking Spiritual Inventory!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” - Psalm 139:23-24

Nowhere else in Scripture does the Holy Spirit give us such a detailed exposition of God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence as He does in Psalm 139.

• In verses 1-6, God is all-knowing.

• In verses 7-12, God is ever-present.

• In verses 13-18, God is all-powerful.

These facts about our God had a powerful effect upon David and prompted him to take a personal, spiritual inventory. He determined that...

1. He Needs to be Separate from the Wicked. Psalm 139:19-20, "Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain." Separation is likely the most overlooked principle in our churches today, yet it is clearly taught throughout Scripture. In Genesis 13, we find Abraham separating from worldly Lot. In Exodus, we find God separating His people from the wicked Egyptians. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, we’re given clear teaching on the necessity of Scriptural separation.

   
   

2. He Needs to be Serious in His Attitude. Psalm 139:21-22, "Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." It is obvious that David’s relationship with the Lord was not simply a casual relationship. It was the most serious and important thing in his life. I am afraid that a major problem in our churches today is that our Christianity has become a casual and convenient relationship.

   
   

3. He Needs to be Sincere in His Heart. Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." It is clear from both Scripture and experience that we cannot rely on our own hearts, as we do not truly understand them (Proverbs 28:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-23).

We frequently focus more on the spiritual state of others’ hearts than our own. This is the heartfelt prayer of a man seeking to be completely right with God, judged not by others or even himself, but by God’s standards. David wants to know that God is satisfied with the purity of his heart. David’s spiritual inventory serves as a valuable model for us as believers today.