Man Addressing God
M. Braithwaite. Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:… : — I. MAN REQUESTING DIVINE SCRUTINY. 1. Reverence manifested. "O God." He realized God's presence, and his soul was filled with awe. 2. Thorough investigation invoked. "Search me," etc. Not that God was to thus obtain information unknown to Him before; but the asker, penetrated with a sense of sinfulness, desires God to search his heart, that the heart — with all its tendencies, passions, evils — may become known to himself through God's inquest. II. MAN DESIRING DIVINE DISCIPLINE. 1. Severe testing. "Try me." 2. Moral discrimination. "Know my thoughts," etc. III. MAN IMPLORING DIVINE LEADERSHIP. 1. Spiritual ignorance confessed. 2. Divine condescension besought. 3. Perpetual guidance implored. (M. Braithwaite.) Parallel Verses KJV: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: WEB: Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.