An Even More Amazing Kind of Reflection

Scripture — Psalm 139:1-6 (NRSV)

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 far away.
You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    O LORD, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is so high that I cannot attain it.

Devotion

In yesterday’s Life for Leaders devotion, we noted the self-reflection of the psalm writer. Contemplating the intricacy of his body, the psalmist exults, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). I would suggest that one of the most wonderful parts of the human being is the ability to reflect, not only on things “out there,” but also on things “in here.” We can easily take this ability for granted, of course. But reflection, including self-reflection, is one of the things that sets human beings apart from other creatures. It is one way that we reflect the very image of God.

Yet, as amazing as our ability to reflect upon ourselves may be, Psalm 139 begins with something even more mind-blowing. We are known, not only to ourselves but also to God. God has searched us and known us (v. 1). God knows our actions and our thoughts (v. 2). Everything about us is known to God (v. 3). God knows, not only what we have said in the past, but even what we will say in the future (v. 4). God is always with us, going before us and behind us (v. 5). The psalm writer, reflecting on how deeply and thoroughly God knows him, exclaims, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it” (v. 6).

Sometimes when we engage in self-reflection, it can feel as if we’re completely alone. This makes sense, in a way, because contemplation of this sort often happens best in silence and solitude. Yet, Psalm 139 reminds us that we are not in fact alone when we reflect upon ourselves. God has done this before we even started. God sees everything about us, all that we do, all that we say, all that we feel. We are utterly, thoroughly, completely known to God. This, according to the psalmist, is “knowledge too wonderful” to be fully comprehended.

Such wonderful knowledge could easily be terrifying. If God demanded perfection from us, if God was unable to understand our weaknesses, if God was unwilling to forgive our faults, then being fully known by God would be anything but wonderful. But the psalm writer knows God’s compassion and grace. It’s almost as if the author of Psalm 139 was familiar with Hebrews 4:12-16:

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Though we are “naked and laid bare” before God, we are not afraid because of Jesus, the Son of God, who is able “to sympathize with our weaknesses.” Moreover, because of what Jesus did as the great high priest who sacrificed his own life, we can approach God’s throne, not with fear, but with boldness. Why? Because through Jesus the throne of judgment has become the throne of grace.

Thus, when our self-reflection reveals things about us that aren’t wonderful, when we see our weaknesses and faults, we don’t have to pretend they aren’t there. Nor do we have to try and hide from God, as if this were possible. Rather, because we know that the God of grace already knows everything about us, we can be bold, not only to approach the throne of grace, but also to be honest about who we are. We can celebrate that which is wonderful about us while, at the same time, honestly confronting that which isn’t. We can bring all that we are before God with the confidence that “we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Perfectionism and Impostor Syndrome.

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