Psalms 44:21 - Homiletics

God's knowledge of men's hearts.

"Shall not God search," etc.? A world of perfect, mutual knowledge, in which the secrets of every heart lay open to every eye, must needs be either heaven or hell. Every one must be perfectly good or else perfectly miserable. In this world of mixed good and evil, God has mercifully built a wall of secrecy, or at least thrown a veil of privacy, around the consciousness of each one of us. Every heart has its own secrets. But the text reminds us that there is neither wall nor veil to God's eye, nor thinnest film of obscurity ( Hebrews 4:13 ).

I. GOD KNOWS THE SECRETS OF THE HEART .

1 . Our thoughts. How impenetrably these are veiled from our fellows! Our feelings often betray themselves. They escape our control. A look, a change of colour, a start, an exclamation, a tremor, may discover them against our will. But our thoughts lie deeper. Words may be used not to express, but to conceal them. A man's outward conduct and apparent character may be such that if the habitual current of his inmost thoughts could be laid open, his nearest friends would stand aghast. But God knows. Thought may flash so swiftly through the mind, that we ourselves are scarcely aware of it; but God sees. It may fade in a moment from the mirror of memory; but God remembers.

2 . Our feelings lie as open to God as our thoughts. They are often a mystery to ourselves, not to him. They surprise us by their sudden and unexpected character and power. They do not surprise him. They perplex us by their mixture of good and evil. All is plain to him. Our inmost springs of character lie under his hand as well as eye. He knows how to work in us both to will and to do ( Philippians 2:13 ).

3 . Our hidden future ; unconscious capabilities, good or evil; undeveloped possibilities. Examples: Jeremiah 1:5-9 ; 2 Kings 8:13 ; Luke 5:2-10 . Our sins (known or unknown to ourselves), and all our spiritual needs. Perhaps you have not felt your sins. But God takes account ( Psalms 90:8 ); knows your need of pardon ( Isaiah 1:18 ); knows your weakness, and need of grace ( John 13:37 , John 13:38 ); knows your need of trial and discipline ( Hebrews 13:6 ).

II. WE SEARCH IN ORDER TO KNOW ; GOD SEARCHES BECAUSE HE KNOWS .

1 . By his providence , proving men and revealing their character. As Abraham ( Genesis 22:12 ), Hezekiah ( 2 Chronicles 32:31 ).

2 . By. his Spirit ( John 16:8 ).

3 . By his Word ( Hebrews 4:12 , Hebrews 4:13 ).

CONCLUSION . The Lord Jesus claims this Divine prerogative ( Revelation 2:23 ; 1 Corinthians 4:4 , 1 Corinthians 4:5 ). But he loves to discover even the little that is good in us, and to reward it ( Revelation 3:8 ). He that probes can heal. He that knows can save ( Revelation 3:9 ). Let us open our hearts to him ( Psalms 139:23 , Psalms 139:24 ).