“For Thou Hast Possessed my Reins”...the Wayfarer 5/24/14

“For Thou Hast Possessed my Reins”
5/24/14

“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will Praise thee: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”

(Psalm 139:13 &14)

Who is in possession of your reins?  Reins are the means used to steer the direction of horse, mule, or other beast of burden in the intended direction traveled, and it is those reins that give guidance despite any blinders used to prevent it from seeing that direction.  

 The possessor of those reigns determines that direction, and that direction cannot be denied by the creature being steered, as turns the head, so turns the body.

In this Psalm, David stated quite clearly that the guidance given by God on those reins, the direction traveled would be the direction intended by God, for himself and the people God gave him to lead.

He stated that that direction had been determined from his very conception in the womb, and that God provided protection and love to assure that those reins were firmly in place.

He went on to state that he gave praise to God, in full comprehension of the power and thought that had gone into his very creation.

He took no credit for that creation, nor did he give credit to himself for the direction travelled, instead, marveling at God’s wisdom and strength in having been that creator, stating that his very soul knew that God was in control, not only of him, but in all things accomplished that was good in this world.

This Psalmist constantly gave credit and praise to God glorifying Him because of the power held in his life, and because of his own lack of any of that power, to either follow the correct direction without the hand of God on those reins, or to do anything more marvelous than that which God himself had already done, was doing as he spoke, and continues to do today.

This Psalm is a song of praise and thanks for that guidance and protection, from beginning to end, glorifying God from beginning to end, making clear the weakness and inability of its writer, by comparison, from beginning to end.

“O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off.”

(Psalm 139: 1 & 2)

GOD is all seeing and all knowing. Just as David recognized that he had been searched and known by God, to be, whom and what he was, so too should all recognize that same fact.

From the moment of arising to the moment of rest, God is aware of all actions done, and the intent of those actions, aware of praise given or withheld, of obedience, or disobedience to both His commandments given through the laws of Moses, as required of David through the law, and pure intent of that law as it was given, and the commandment given by Him though His Son, who was given us to assure the clarity and intent of those commandments.

God is aware of the dreams and thoughts of mankind, all of mankind, and the intent held by mankind because of those thoughts and dreams.

“Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.”

(Psalm 139:3 & 4)

David recognized that God was with him wherever he might be, knowing before anything that would be done was to happen, giving credit and praise for the protection of that constant companionship that was enjoyed.

David knew that whatever spoken, was recognized by God, not only in the words given, but in the intent of those words, and whether those words were intended to glorify Himself, or the speaker of those words, whether those words were spoken in concern and love, or in malice without regard for the love and protection given that speaker.

David gave praise for the fact that God had His hand on him at all times, gently and surely guiding him with that hand to accomplish the purpose given him by God.

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

(Psalm 139:6)

David found incomprehensible, the knowledge of how much love had been given him by God, and his own unworthiness of that love, realizing that the acceptance of that love, not his own ability to earn it was impossible to understand, by himself or any other.

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

(Psalm 139:7-10)

There is no place on this earth that we fall outside of the love and protection of God, no place where His ability to lead is denied us, no place where GOD is not in control, no situation of trouble, or turmoil that He is unable to solve, because of the power possessed by Him alone.

“If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Yea the darkness hideth not from thee: the night not from thee; but the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”

(Psalm 139:11&12)

No matter how dark anything in life may seem, no matter how troublesome and disturbing to mankind, God is able to resolve and overcome that darkness.

David realized, as should we, that with God’s protection there is nothing of which we should be afraid. Darkness creates fear, for those who have no light to light their way for them. That light is available now to us, as it was to David, who comprehended and appreciated where that light was, from whom it came and welcomed that light that overcame that darkness.

There is no darkness that cannot be overcome by light, not even in the belly of the earth at the bottom of the deepest mine or cave… there is no darkness that cannot be overcome in any life if light is sought and found, and it has been provided to all willing to accept that light.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

(John1:1-5)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

(John 3:16-19)

As stated in a previous sermon, reliance on that light will not and cannot disappoint.

Jesus, and the light brought by Him through what He taught, and more specifically by the sacrifice made by him is the source of that light.

Reliance on anything less is reason to fear, now that that light has been given.

Refusal to recognize that the power to provide that light may not come from men, who continue to refuse to accept that light when it exposes their own ineptitude, and lack of any possible righteousness of their own, only contributes to the darkness preferred by a world seeking the darkness instead,  seeking self-glorification, self-enrichment, self-elevation, claiming attainment of things not held by them, and worst of all denial of the power of that light to truly shine, through the requirement of repentance and the resulting redemption, that shows in that light, in the lives it touches, as those lives give honor to Christ’s commandment to love one another, to put the needs of those in need above the greed of self. This requires a heart open to the failures of man, failures of their own, that require that same repentance constantly, consistently, without thinking to be so grand as to be above the judgment and power of God themselves. It requires obedience to Christ, obedience in life as well as word.

 “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect: and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sands when I awake, I am still with thee.”

(Psalm 139:15-18)

All substances, physical, and spiritual are seen and known by God. That substance, in and of itself is imperfect, to include the bodies made from the very mud of the earth and given life by God, something impossible to accomplish by the most educated, most powerful, richest man ever to have lived, or any man yet to be born.

That substance, physical or spiritual is not only seen by God, but so is the value of that substance to the holder of it.

The thoughts of God, His wishes, His will, were only ever completely, correctly, interpreted by the Savior sent to do so, only to be rejected for having given that interpretation. Those thoughts, those wishes, that Will, that cannot be numbered should still be precious above all things to this lesser creature who far too often places his own thoughts, wishes and personal will above that of God, instead of  understanding and accepting that interpretation given by Christ alone.

“Surely, thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore ye bloody men.

For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.”

(Psalm 139:19-22)

David continues to give praise to God for His power, His ability to overcome any and all enemies, in full knowledge that God is still the one in charge, God is still the one who reads the hearts of men, God is to be honored, and those men rejecting Him face damnation and condemnation of God!

He asks that God remove those who hate both Him and what has been given, stating that it is a perfect hatred held with those who vainly use God for their own purposes, instead of His own, vainly using His name instead of glorifying it.

Just as David counted them as enemies, so does God, Who knows all, sees all, understands all.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

David concludes this Psalm, still giving credit to God, still recognizing that he is imperfect in himself, asking only that God continue to monitor and correct his thoughts, to monitor his intent, and to remove anything that falls outside what God himself wants of him.

He asks to be lead, not to lead himself; he asks that God examine him, and make him understand what is required of him.

This Psalm of praise should be, and is, a comfort to any and all who recognize that God retains that same power and wisdom praised by David. It should be, and is, a comfort to know that the means to assure that the reins are held by God, and not by man was given through Jesus, His ministry, His teachings, and His sacrifice, that those teachings are readily available to any who is willing to read, hear and accept them. It should be, and is, a comfort to know that redemption through repentance is available, that that promised light is still available, and still capable of overcoming all darkness, with that same realization held by David, of God’s greatness, and his own insignificance when placed side by side.

It should be, and is, a comfort to hear and understand the simple message given by Christ to ALL for the need to:

“Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Those who fail to hear, and accept that message should find no comfort in the praise given, through this Psalm, but find only the condemnation as spoken through David, assured by God that they will have earned for themselves by that failure.

Praise is to be given for the words given us by David, and throughout the scriptures, both in the warnings of the prophets, and the promises of the prophets as well.

 They have been given as a guide to find the way to comprehend THE WORD, Who remains the WAY, TRUTH and the LIFE!

It is that Word, and the teachings and sacrifice for which the highest praise is reserved, and what is now required of us should be accepted and followed.

It is only through that Word, that redemption is possible, allowing the means of finding that WAY, TRUTH and LIFE.

I remain in recognition that I am, still, and yet, only a simple sinner saved by the grace of that same all seeing, all knowing God honored and praised by David, nothing more nor less, but, by virtue of faith in that same God, the sacrifice given by His Son for me, and faith and willingness to continue to be led by the reins held by Christ Jesus, having the assurance and comfort of the promise of that WAY, TRUTH and LIFE.

I remain also that soldier, chosen long ago, not to hold the reins, but to call attention to exactly who may be holding them and the direction in which those reins are steering.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer