Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 24, NKJV.
Oh LORD, how wonderful You are! What a privilege is ours to surrender completely to You. This we do gladly, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Surrendering is not easy. Most of us like to have control over our lives. We like to make our decisions and determine the course our lives should take. As king of the children of Israel, that is what David did. He was in control. However, David never forgot who was Israel’s real king. I believe that made the difference between Saul’s short-lived reign, and David’s eternal reign.
This psalm is a one-of-its-kind. It makes mention of God’s omniscience, His omnipresence, His omnipotence, His mercy and His might, all in one psalm. No wonder David had no reservations in surrendering to such a God! God could have full control over him.
He was willing to be searched. God could dig into the recesses of his heart and soul and examine those areas unseen by others. We search for things that are hidden. When we allow ourselves to be searched it could mean one of three things: We do not have a choice. We have nothing to hide, or, we know that we can completely trust the one who is doing the searching. I believe that with David, it was the latter reason. He knew that He could trust a God who, “does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16: 7d).
He was willing to be tried. Trials reveal our weaknesses as well as our strengths. He knew a God who would never “allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10: 13). And in times of weakness, God’s “grace [would be] sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12: 9)!
David was willing to be led. He knew that under God’s guidance he would never go astray. God had brought him from the fields where he kept his father’s flocks, and had placed him upon the throne of Israel. When he fell into the miry clay of sin and disgrace, God had stooped down, lifted him up, and set his feet upon the Solid Rock. He could and would, follow God to the ends of the earth.
Isn’t it a wonderful thing to be completely surrendered to such a God as this? You and I can do the same!