Gospel Reflections #1170: The only ONE who understands us deeply

Psalm 139:1 ‘O Lord, you have searched me and known me.’

This is one of the most profound and beloved verses in the Bible, a confession that God knows us completely (God’s omniscience).

The word ‘search’ refers to ‘digging deep into the earth’ to extract ore, or to a thorough ‘investigation or search’.

In other words, it shows that God has shone a spotlight not only on the superficial parts of us, but right down to the deepest recesses of our hearts.

‘To know’ here does not simply mean possessing information as knowledge, but rather understanding someone experientially within a personal and intimate relationship.

God does not judge us by appearances alone; rather, having thoroughly examined every corner of our hearts, He deeply understands us in our entirety.

In human relationships, having one’s flaws and murky true feelings exposed is often accompanied by fear and shame.

However, the omniscience of God described in the Bible gives us an ‘absolute sense of security’.

God loves and accepts us even after knowing in full, in advance, all our weaknesses, ugliness, unspoken anxieties and sins.

The great comfort underlying this psalm is the knowledge that there is someone who understands us better than we understand ourselves, and who stands by us at all times.

When you feel lonely, thinking ‘No one understands me’, or when you feel as though you are about to be crushed by your worries, this verse delivers a powerful message: ‘God has known you completely from the very beginning, and despite that, He loves you unconditionally.’

If you are not yet able to trust God to that extent, do not give up here; instead, cling to Him and continue to cry out to Him until you can trust Him completely.

Since God’s purpose is to bring us back to Him, He will certainly hear our cries and begin to act immediately.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.