Prayer for Self-Knowledge
C. Bradley, M. A. Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:… : — I. TRUE RELIGION HAS ITS SEAT IS THE HEART. The man of real godliness has not only "a name to live," but he lives. There is a consistency in his character. The Gospel not only enlightens his understanding, but shines into his heart; not only delights his imagination, but captivates his affections. It makes his conscience tender, his thoughts humble, peaceful, holy. II. HENCE THE TRULY RELIGIOUS MAN IS ANXIOUS TO KNOW THE REAL STATE OF HIS HEART. True, he may find this self-examination painful and humiliating, but this makes no matter to him. He feels that he has the salvation of an immortal soul at stake, and he is not to lose that soul for the sake of being kept easy in his follies and proud in his sins. III. THE SINCERE CHRISTIAN IS NOT CONSCIOUS OF HAVING WITHIN HIS HEART ANY ONE CHERISHED SIN, It is one thing to have iniquity entering the breast, and another thing to harbour it and have it reigning there. St. Paul felt a sinful "law in his members," but he felt it as "warring against the law of his mind," as opposed to the habitual frame of his soul, to that holy and heavenly principle which made him "delight in the law of God after the inward man," and enabled him to "walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Every Christian also feels the same warfare within. Sin tempts and harasses him, and sometimes brings him into captivity, but it cannot hold him in bondage; it cannot make him quietly submit to its hated laws. We soon see the prisoner struggling with his vile oppressor, and bursting its bonds. Trampling his lusts underneath his feet, we hear him exclaim, "I thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord." IV. YET HE OFTEN SUSPECTS HIMSELF OF SOME UNDETECTED INIQUITY. The best of our actions, the brightest of our graces, the most holy of our dispositions, the most fervent of our prayers, and the most ardent of our praises, are blended with so much that is evil that we despair of separating the one from the other, and are often ready to faint with disquietude and fear." V. IS THE MIDST OF HIS PERPLEXITIES THE SINCERE CHRISTIAN HAS A FIRM AND LIVELY BELIEF THAT GOD KNOWS HIS HEART. Like David, he knows that "the Lord searcheth the hearts," and "understandeth the thoughts," and "compasseth the path," and is "acquainted with the ways" of the children of men; and, like David, he is willing to be searched, and prays to be tried by this omniscient God. VI. HE APPLIES TO GOD FOR SELF-KNOWLEDGE AND INSTRUCTION, He can show us wherein we are right in our judgment of ourselves, and wherein we are wrong; what there is to be brought low in us, and what to be raised up; what we must endeavour to get rid of, and what to obtain. Laying open our hearts, He can discover to us the sin which is lurking there, and, like a worm at the root, secretly marring our comforts and withering our graces; and, shining on the work of His own hands, He can make visible to us the wails of that spiritual temple which He has begun to raise up for Himself within our souls. VII. HE WHO SEEKS INSTRUCTION OF GOD MUST BE WILLING TO SUBMIT HIMSELF TO GOD'S GUIDANCE. We often pray for instruction without being mindful of the necessity of this submission. Our supplications are sincere, but we know not what we ask. We forget that the Saviour employs various methods of showing His children their hearts. Affliction, frequent and severe affliction, is the school into which prayer often brings a man, and in which he first learns to know himself and his God. It is in the furnace that the gold is proved and distinguished from the secret dross. But the path of tribulation is not the only path which we must be content to enter. If we wish our prayers to be answered, we must be prepared to walk in "the way everlasting." And what is this way? It is that way of access to the Father in which the patriarchs and prophets, the glorious company of the apostles and the noble army of martyrs drew near to Him — the way of reconciliation through the blood of His Son. It is that highway which is called in the Scriptures "the way of holiness." (C. Bradley, M. A.) 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.