Is God Enough?—Encouragement From David’s PsalmsSample

Is God’s Intimacy Enough? (Part I)

As an introvert, I value privacy. Spending time alone refreshes me, body, soul, and spirit. My mama (age 95) is also an introvert who longs to be alone. Unfortunately, she needs help with her daily needs. Weighing her safety against her deep desire to be alone, we installed video cameras (with her approval) to watch for falls. Now, we can see and hear if she needs help while honoring her need for refreshing. Why tell you this? Because Psalm 139 is God's declaration that He's got better equipment than video cameras to know everything about everyone—inside and out.

In Psalm 139:1-6, we learn that God has unrestricted access to EVERYTHING about us. No one knows exactly when David penned this beautiful psalm, but I like to imagine that he added a stanza or two with each revelation of how deeply God knew and understood him.

• God searches – while I’m sitting and standing
• He perceives – my intentional and wandering thoughts
• The LORD discerns – when I come and go (physically & spiritually)
• He IS familiar – with all my quirks & habits
• Jesus knows what I say – before the words leave my mouth
• He hems me in (a spiritual & physical playpen) – behind and before (past & future)
• My God lays His hand on me – this is too precious for David to put into words

Psalm 139:7-12 not only assures us that the LORD is always with us. It’s also a reminder none can hide from God.

• Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:7-8) – who hid from God after they sinned.
• Jonah (Jonah 1:1-3) – who hid from God because he didn’t want to obey.
• David (1 Samuel 27) – who avoided God’s guidance, believing his own plan better.

David usually sought God’s will through the priest’s Urim and Thummim. But when faced with the decision to leave Israel and flee to Gath, he seems to have relied on his “earthly wisdom” instead.

Intimacy with God is weakened whenever we choose our plan instead of consulting Him. Adam, Eve, Jonah, and David enjoyed intimacy with Yahweh but relied on their own “earthly wisdom” instead of God’s omniscient (all-knowing) plan. Believing the serpent instead of God, Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge to become “like God,” knowing good and evil. God spoke directly to His prophet, Jonah, and sent him to preach forgiveness to the Ninevites. Jonah refused. According to his knowledge, the Ninevites didn’t deserve forgiveness. Might David have relied on his military knowledge instead of God’s guidance?

During the sixteen months David and his people lived under King Achish’s “protection,” their hearts strayed into a life of brutality and deception (1 Samuel 27). Hiding from or ignoring God is a declaration of our independence. Too many independent choices can result in a twisted moral compass. At some point, David realized he couldn’t trust his heart anymore.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

God’s Intimacy Is Enough when we trust Him more than ourselves.

Have your choices pressed you into a mold that isn’t pleasing to the LORD? Has your busy life silenced His whisper? In what ways might you be trying to hide from God?

Have you shut God out because He might say No to your plan? What practical steps can you take today to be more transparent with Yahweh?