Search me, know my heart, test me

Search me, know my heart, test me. Who would ever say these things? Do you say them? Maybe you should. Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. That's from Psalms.  So if you're a Christian, you should be asking this question.  Asking no less than God.  The same is true for Jews and Muslims. And we're not just talking words here.  Not just about what comes out of our mouths when we're in full control of ourselves.  That would be too easy. No.  We're talking a real search of the things that only God knows.  Things our friends might not know.  Maybe even things we've successfully convinced ourselves that we don't do.  But for today, let's focus on words that we express both verbally and / or in our heads.

Search me

Search me means search all of me.  Search my heart means search what's inside of me.  The things we do when we think no one's watching.  Or at least when no one we know is watching, because maybe we think strangers don't count.  But they do. Searching will also show the things we didn't do.  Things we should have.  Like when we could have helped, but chose not to.  The times when we put God low on our list of priorities. Not to mention the things we think but rarely, if ever, utter when someone else is around to hear.

Know my heart

Even if we think we've succeeded in keeping things hidden from other people, look what else Psalms has to say about the tongue.

Psalm 5

... Ps 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make straight your way before me. Ps 5:9 Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.

This is interesting.  David is talking about the words that come from the mouths of his enemies.  How nothing they say can be trusted.  And how their hearts are filled with destruction.

And yet, are we not all like that?  Maybe not all the time.  But at least some of the time?  Here's the difference.

Ps 5:10 Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. Ps 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Ps 5:12 For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

The difference is between those who rebel against God and those who take refuge in God.  Yes, we all rebel against God at some times in our lives.  But when we do things that are against God, do we continue to rebel against Him?  Or do we have the nerve to say, "God, search me, and know my heart"?

Psalm 10

Ps 10:1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Ps 10:2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. Ps 10:3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. Ps 10:4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Ps 10:5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. Ps 10:6 He says to himself, “Nothing will shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.” Ps 10:7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.

We see more from David on wicked people.  What they want in their hearts, their arrogance, pride and what comes out of their mouths.  At the beginning, David is asking God where He is while all this goes on.  These thoughts continue for another eight verses.  Then this Psalm concludes with David's innermost feelings about God.  Feelings that are very telling about where God is in his heart, even as he asks God, where are you?

Ps 10:15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. Ps 10:16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. Ps 10:17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, Ps 10:18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

As with Psalm 5, the difference between those who take refuge in God and those who rebel against God is forefront here.  It's important to note that David never claims to be perfect.  In fact, he becomes very far from it.  However, David never loses sight of God as his source of refuge.  The same should be true for us.

Psalm 12

There are many more instances of the evil that comes from our tongue / mouth.  However, I believe this last one will suffice for this article.  I encourage you to check out other instances as well.  If you'd like, this link will take you to biblegateway.com with a search for the word "tongue" in the NIV translation of the Bible. Ps 12:1 Help, LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men. Ps 12:2 Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception. Ps 12:3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue Ps 12:4 that says, “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips—who is our master?” Ps 12:5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” Ps 12:6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. Ps 12:7 O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever. Ps 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Unlike before, David isn't asking God where He is.  However, he is asking for God's help.  Furthermore, David ties people's evil words together with their evil deeds - including oppression of the weak.