Sermon Tone Analysis

How is it?

We live in a day and age where you can be better connected with people around the world, within seconds, multiple people at one time, plugged in to what they are doing where they are going, their likes and dislikes, and yet…

The feeling of loneliness, the scary lack of depth in relationships, and the spiral decline of the value for another person seems like an epidemic.

In fact many around the world are calling loneliness an epidemic now!

Leading individuals into despair and depression...

Suicide among teens and adults is on a consistent rise

Self worth and the value of life are rapidly declining

Meanwhile “self-help” books, blogs, and TED talks are abundant

They come in all varieties, flavors, all pointing to YOU the individual

Your beauty

Your talents

Your Uniqueness

Your rights… All pointing to you!

So WHY is it getting worse, spiraling out of control?

People crying out in various ways… KNOW ME, SEE ME, LOVE ME!

David as he writes is reflecting on the same cries… BUT looks to God not himself.

C. S. Lewis states:

Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay.

But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.

This Psalm has four strophes of six verses each…

Verses 1 & 23-24 summarize the theme

1) vs 1-6 Depth of God’s knowledge

2) vs 7-12 Never alone / too far

3) vs 13-18 Your value to God

4) vs 19-24 Drawing close to God

Let’s read this together

You Are Known By God Almighty

David starts by making a clear statement he knows of God… because God is God!

Then as David ponders this he begins to unpack this statement we “know” and really think through this:

verb “search” means “to examine with pain and care.”

The Jewish people used this word to describe digging deep into a mine, exploring a land, and investigating a legal case.

Our friends see the outside but God sees the heart, and we cannot deceive Him -Wiersbe

He knows what you are doing

He UNDERSTANDS your thoughts!

Weather you are active or resting God knows it

David begins to contemplate this even deeper...

You know what I am going to say before I even say something!

You go in front… you are following me…

Laying a hand on David

Gives the idea of blessing

It is also an assurance… I am here!

David contemplates this kind of involvement, this kind of knowledge, this fine tune awareness!

Would you desire God to be a part of all of it?

He IS!

This kind knowledge is beyond David’s control and too wonderful (Surpassing all David can even comprehend!)

WOW GOD!

I don’t understand this God… David is saying.

This is God’s Omniscience= Knowing everything!

Wiersbe~ What we think about God and our relationship to Him determines what we think about everything else that makes up our busy world—other people, the universe, God’s Word, God’s will, sin, faith, and obedience.

Wrong ideas about God will ultimately lead to wrong ideas about who we are and what we should do, and this leads to a wrong life on the wrong path toward the wrong destiny.

In other words, theology—the right knowledge of God—is essential to a fulfilled life in this world.

David contemplated God and wrote for us a psalm whose message can only encourage us to be in a right relationship with Him.