日期 : 08/09/09

經文 : 詩篇一百卅九篇一至廿四節

題目 : 鴻毛與泰山？

主旨 : 因為神是如此超越偉大，所以祂的子民能在信靠跟隨祂而得到安慰。

引言 :

最近因為有減價，於是我就買了三條褲子，買一送二，這樣的一個減價我們都不會錯過的。買回來一穿，發現與我的褲子長短有出路？我就自己拿起來一剪，一捲把它縫起來，配合我的高度，但是有一條弄壞了，只有拿出去請人替我修補，又多花了一點錢。如果您有錢，您的體材又不是標準的話，大概可以量身定做襯衫和西裝，我們一般拿衣服修改成我的身材，不單是衣服如此。買一張床單正好配合我床鋪。高爾夫球的捍子、乒乓球的拍子我們都要找那最適合我們的，我們可能走上一天的時間來找一個乒乓球拍來配合我的手感。如果您真的很挑剔的話，連您的車窗遮陽片也要找個半天，為來配合您的車窗，買一塊用在任何車上的，剛好是用在您的車上。很多的政治家也是將我們要的給我們，很少把我們帶到更高的一個層面。

有時候，我們也用這個心態帶進屬靈的旅程裡。我們所要的一個神是配合我，瞭解我的那一位！我們要的是一個量身定做的神！但是您再想，這有點不合理是嗎？如果是一位量身定做的神的話，祂的大小是一致的。

在過去的七個月裡，我們都在看“與神連繫”的主題。當我們一相信耶穌基督的時候，我們已經與神連結在一起。您不需要再去努力，然後才跟神連結在一起，您已經與祂連結在一起了！我們也看到基督徒是如何“與神連結”表明在每天的生活裡。從今天開始到以下的二個禮拜，我們會看幾篇的詩篇，一起來幫助我們對這一位神清楚的認識。認清楚這一位與我們連結的神是怎麼樣的一位神？

現在讓我們來看詩篇一百卅九篇，是一篇很熟悉的經文。每一次我們談到生命的尊嚴的時候、生命的意義，我們就會看這一篇中一段的經文，如果您仔細看的話，您就會發現這一段經文，深度、闊度超過我們所想像的。您說您告訴我們這一位是何等的大、何等的超越，看看！如果這位神像您一樣大小，就像這片羽毛一樣，您可以隨身的擺，走到那裡，帶到那裡。如果這一位神！像泰山那樣高的話？像泰山那樣大的話？那就很不一樣的了！就不是跟著您跑了，而是您要跟著祂了。因為這麼一個靠山，您就要好好的、不要遠離了他。

I 、在全知的神裡我們得安慰。

在第一到第六節，有這麼樣的話語：“耶和華啊！禰鑒察了我，禰認識我。我坐下，我起來，禰都知道；禰在遠處就明白我的意念。我行路，我躺臥，禰都細察；我的一切行為，禰都熟悉。耶和華啊！我的舌頭還沒有發言，禰已經完全知道了。”在這段經文裡，神在那裡鑒察，像探照燈在那照來照去，祂鑒察我的思想、祂知道我的行為、明白我所想的，祂說祂不但知道我在想什麼，並且祂也知道那些思想是好的、那些思想是邪惡的？甚至我還沒想什麼，祂已經知道我想說什麼樣的話語。在祂那裡，沒有任何的東西是可以隱藏。

我們當中有兒女的，您大概還記得，在他們很小的時候，他還沒有開口、沒有動，您已經知道他想做什麼了。您看他的表情，稍微描一下，他好像就知道您已經知道了，難怪許多小孩子來說，母親就好像神一樣的，什麼都知道的。可能在我們這些墮落的人，我們有一些思想和行為，是不願意別人知道的，但對神來說是沒用的，祂知道我的一切。甚至我還沒有開口、還沒有動作，祂已經知道我要做的是什麼！在祂面前沒有任何東西我是可以隱藏的。

在第六節：“這樣的知識奇妙，是我不能理解的；高超，是我不能達到的。”詩人說神是這樣透徹的對我認識，是我不能瞭解的。第五節，禰在我前後圍繞著我，禰的手按在我身上。您怎麼看這一句話呢？禰的手在前後圍繞著我，禰的手按在我身上。當您知道有一位神對您完全的認識，您的反應是如何？有時候跟一位同工談話，還沒講完，他就說我知道您在想什麼？我也知道您會做什麼？很多時候他的那個預言，百分之一百、百發百中。然後我就說，跟您談話好可怕。當您面對一位識透您的人，心中會害怕的。會不會因為這個原因，有當人跟您分享他內心的掙紮、他的問題，然後過了沒有多久，他就跟您慢慢的疏遠了，為什麼？因為您對我有這麼多、這麼深的認識，會造成心裡的不安全、害怕。有本書名：「為什麼我不敢告訴你我是誰？」因為怕您認識我太深。

當神這樣的認識我們，那又怎麼樣？是一件安慰的事嗎？還是一件有威脅的事，那在乎我們屬靈情況在那裡？如果我是自私的 , 是自我為中心，有自私的野心，對神的話語沒有順服，這一位全知的神對我來說是一個威脅。我們會說：不要前後圍繞著我，您的手也不要按在我身上，您還是離我遠遠的，當我有事我會來找您，不然的話，您不要靠得我太近。

但如果我是靠著神的力量，儘量過著一個祂喜悅、順服祂的生活，在愛神、愛人，那祂的全知對我是何等的安慰。當我對自己都不很認識的時後，最少祂認識我、知道我，祂知道我這麼清楚，祂仍然的愛我、接納我，這是莫大的安慰。

II ．在全在的神裡我們得安慰。

在第七至十二節 , “ 我到哪裡去躲避你的靈？我往哪裡去逃避你的面呢？如果我升到天上，你在那裡；如果我在陰間下榻，你也在那裡。 ” 這裡在講另外一個事，不是說如果我到天堂的事、落到地獄的事，我現在這個世界的事。用我們現在的話語，如果我們到喜馬拉阿山的山頂，神在那裡，如果我到山頂最尖端的那一點，神也在那裡，我們沒有辦法逃離祂的，祂是無所不在的，祂是一位全在的神。

第九、十節：“如果我展開清晨的翅膀，飛到海的極處居住，就是在那裡，你的手仍必引導我，你的右手也必扶持我。”如果說在太陽出來往東邊，祂就在那裡，如果我到最遠、最遠的地方，祂禰也在那裡！坐過船的人，船一離開岸的時候，大概廿、卅分鐘，您前面所看的都是海洋，您看不到前面的盡頭。就是我跑到最遠、最遠的地方，你也在那裡。這是安慰的話？還是威脅的話？同樣是在乎我們屬靈的狀況。如果我是與神同行、順服祂的教導，這是一個安慰的話。如果沒有與祂同在，堅持己意，不順服祂，這是蠻害怕的。

然後十一、十二節，如果我說：「願黑暗遮蓋我，願我周圍的亮光變成黑夜。」但對你來說，“黑暗也不算是黑暗，黑夜必如同白晝一樣發亮，黑暗和光明，在你看來都是一樣的。”就是當我在的一個處境，當這些燈一盞、一盞熄掉時，當光明變成了黑暗時，你在那裡！神在那裡！

我們中國人都讀過金庸寫的小說，有沒有人沒有讀過金庸的小說？有人說，在那裡有中國人，就有金庸的著作。神雕俠侶已是幾十年前所寫的。我們在中學時已經在看了，現在在香港變成了一個歌舞劇，您總是逃離不了金庸的小說。您還記得您在中學唸書，老師一邊講課，在您桌上就有一本金庸小說在看，各人都有這種的經驗，在追金庸的小說。中學我有讀、大學我也看，一直到十多年前才停止。最近又聽說，金庸在改編他的小說，又想再看一看。在金庸的小說裡，有好幾個故事，好像是郭靖，當他在井底、在山洞裡，是黑黑的，但是過了一段時間，他才發現裡面還有人，而且這一個人的功力，是遠超過任何人的，所以在黑洞裡的那個經歷，成為人生難得一次的遭遇。

我想我們也經歷過，他們的生命裡的燈，都一個個關掉了，感覺到黑暗，當您回頭看時，發現神果然在那裡！有時候您現在感覺到這種處境裡，您在想您在工作上的改變、或者進入人生另一個階段，您的年紀到了某一個地步，開始對人生有一個不同的看法！有一種莫名其妙的害怕，因為您從沒有走過這樣的路！或者您要離開這裡去另外一個城市，或者您府上的孩子跟您有十八年了、再過一兩個禮拜就要去大學讀書，前面您看不清楚，您心中會有害怕，如果您不害怕的話，是非常少有的人。但是您要記得，就算到那樣的處境裡，還沒到那裡時，甚至您都不知道那是什麼地方時？祂已經在那裡！您還記得您第一次來美國嗎？一個人來，下了飛機，拿了行李，您要找人是不是？您要找那個您認識的人來接您四周的掃描，您一看見了他，您心裡就放鬆了是嗎？第一次您年長的父母來時，在他們來之前，再三叮嚀他們說：爸爸、媽媽！您們放心，我們會在飛機場等您們！知道您在那裡，他們就會放心。

記得我頭一次去阿拉木圖，一個人去，關於阿拉木圖的飛機場的故事聽了太多了。一個人在那裡，言語也不通，又是早上一、兩點鐘，還要一關關的過，好擔心怎麼過。以為都過關了，又是另外一關，看到人都把錢包都拿出來，怎麼辦？那個出去的門，一開一關時，看看外面有認識的人？看到邱長老在那裡，一剎眼門又關了，看到了人就放心了，門又開了，聽到他們大聲在叫「千萬不要給錢！」好，我就聽他的，放心了。

當您的孩子在學走路的時候，你會不會對孩子說，“往前走，我在後面看你了？”如果您這樣說的話，小孩是不敢走的。但您走在小孩的前面，告訴他說：“我在這裡，慢慢來，一步步走來，”孩子就看著您，然後一步步走到您那裡，因為您在那裡，所以可以放心。我們生命也是如此！很多處境，您沒有辦法、沒法控制。這段經文、這個真理，你安慰了我，我還沒到那裡之前，因為這一位神已經在那裡！因為祂是那位無所不在的神！可以帶給我們安慰！

III ．在滿有創造力的神裡我們得安慰  

十三到十六節，是我們非常熟悉的經文，每一年或每隔一年來看這段經文時，告訴我們神的手不是單單在我出生到我死的時候看著我，乃是在我在母腹中時，祂已看顧了我！甚至在我母親都不知道我存在的時候，神已經知道我在那裡！在那黑黑的地方，按著祂的樣式塑造我、創造我。

在十七節：“神啊！你的意念對我多麼珍貴，數目何等眾多。如果我數點，它們比海沙更多；我睡醒的時候，仍然與你同在！”詩人說，在這個創造的過程，神用很多的心思放在我們人身上。在我們出生之前後都無法數清祂對我們的思念。祂想到我的身體、想到我頭腦、想到我的心裡、想到我的情緒、處境，祂是何等有創造性來創造了我。您知道我們有六十七億的人口，如果從人類開始到現在，那是一個天文的數字，對嗎？但您知道兩個人的手指紋沒有一樣的、沒有二個人的ＤＮＡ程式是一樣的！如果有二個人的手指紋、ＤＮＡ一樣的話，那些做員警、偵探的就糟糕了。沒有一個是一樣的，有沒有多一個您？當我年輕、幼稚一點的時候，想著，如果世界上周圍的人都跟我一樣的話，多好？慢慢成熟一點，然後會說，還好只有一個薛孔偉，如果多一個薛孔偉的話或半個薛孔偉的話，就不得了了！世界就好亂了！還好，只有一個，每個人都是神用不少的心機在那裡創造我們，每一個裡面有我們的高貴，因為祂創造了您！

我們四周圍的人，許多時候錯待了我們，我們經常在那裡受罪，覺得被錯待、不公平的對待，當我們在這種的處境時，要回到神的面前，回到這位創造您的神前，對祂來說，您是非常的寶貴、特殊，千萬不要讓那些看不起您的人投降，您要告訴他們，告訴自己在神的眼中當寶貴一個人，不但如此，您也要同樣對待我們生命裡的人，要尊敬、尊嚴來對待每一個人。

大約兩個禮拜前，紐約時報，在報導廣州有生產蘋果手機的工廠，這個手機是一個最賺錢的手機，但是在廣州的那幾個工廠，大約有三個到四個工廠。有許多的報導說他們錯待這些員工，沒有如期的發薪水，造成廣州有些抗議和不安，結果蘋果總公司發了一個通知，他的內容是，鼓勵他們公司要用公平、公義的方式來對待他們的同工，最後一句話要以尊敬、尊嚴來對待每一個人。

如果一個世俗的公司都這麼做，那個屬神的人是不是更應該如此呢？當我以尊敬和尊嚴來對待每一位，就不會在背面說一些傷害您的話、不會看不起您、不會用言語來虐待您、更加不能用行動、暴力的虐待，當我看您時，不要按著您的收入、地位來衡量您、也不能以您房子的大小來衡您，更加不能看您在教會有多活躍來看您！我仍是要以敬嚴、尊敬來對待您，看您的生命裡有一個神的形像！因為您是一位非常寶貴。

卅三年前的今天、我和已經去世的 Francis Schaffer 見面，那個禮拜一的晚上，在小小的屋子裡，有個聚餐的聚會，大約廿多個人， Schaffer 看見我的時候，他非常有禮貌的來對待我，他的那個禮貌，讓我嚇了一跳，我不太記得，但是仙霞提醒我，在那一次的見面，記不記得 Schaffer 對你鞠了一個躬？我不是任何人，我只不過是他一大群人的一位，但是對 Schaffer 來說，任何人他都是這樣來對待，不但如此，他還記得一年前我跟他說話的內容，我都有點不記得了。可是他記得，因為他非常看重每一個人，每次與他見面，聽他講話，使我感覺到我是非常重要的人，我也是一個很特別的人。有一次 Schaffer 演講前，要經過一個走廊，他看到一位西疲站在那裡，一般人是不理的，時間又緊湊，但 Schaffer 停下來，蹲下來，他跟這位面對面目視的跟他談話。因為在 Schaffer 的生命裡，每一位都是屬神的創造。但願我們也能如此對待被神帶進的人。

IV ．在全然聖潔的神裡我們得安慰  

十九節說：“神啊！甚願你殺戮惡人；你們流人血的啊，離開我去吧！”您有沒有注意到忽然的改變，在十八節，“如果我數點過，它們比海沙更多；我睡醒的時候，仍然與你同在！”是個何等高超、優美的話，但是一來到十九節，好像眼睛都不用眨，變成了惡毒的話，神啊！甚願你殺戮惡人；你們流人血的啊，離開我去吧！ “ C.S. Lewis 寫說：詩人寫這句話好像詩人在提醒神的話要怎麼做？所以詩人要提醒他”。也有人說，十九節是不是屬於這篇詩裡，但是當您看第一節，神啊！你已鑒察了我。廿三節，神啊！求你鑒察我，體會到這一段經文是聯合在一起的。

在廿至廿二節：“他們惡意說話頂撞你，你的仇敵妄稱你的名。耶和華啊！恨惡你的，我怎能不恨惡他們呢？起來攻擊你的，我怎能不厭惡他們呢？我極度恨惡他們，把他們視為我的仇敵” 在廿節這裡講的那裡的威脅。廿一、廿二節這裡講到這一位神的絕對聖潔的神！因為神有這些的敵人在，不但如此，一位詩人說，神所恨惡的，那些起來攻擊神的，他也厭惡他們，他極度恨惡他們，他以神的敵人為祂的敵人。在這裡看見什麼？因為神是那位聖潔的神！所以我要以他的聖潔認同，我的心要與神的心在一起。因為我是被神所創造的，所以我們都有道德意念的人，我們知道什麼是對、什麼是錯的。但是問題是，我們站在那一邊？我們站在對的這一邊呢？還是站在錯的那一邊呢？我們是站在神的這一邊？還是站在敵人的這一邊？歷史和個人的經歷告訴我們，很多時候，採取一個中立的立場，還是採取一個錯誤的立場？

在二零零六年，就是非洲的魯安達記念種族屠殺的時候，魯安達總統、國際的團體講了一句話，然後在三個禮拜前又被再一次的引用。他說：「你們沈默了，當這些受害者需要你們的幫助來生存，你們沈默了。」因為這個國際的群體沈默了，所以這國際的群體選擇了那錯誤的那一邊。我想這一個國際的群體，也包括了您、和我！當這些受害者需要人幫助生存時，我們卻沈默了。因著沈默，站在錯誤的一邊。在個人的層面，也有時候，我的話語、行為，沒有站在神的這邊。詩人所說的，要我們的心與神的心連結，要恨祂所恨的，我們要選擇神！我們要愛祂和愛人！

我可能講過下一段活，但我覺得需要再講一次。我們在美國，時常禱告：神啊！求你祝福這個國家，打仗的時候，神啊！求你站在我們這邊，禰幫助我們，使我們打贏扙。心是很好，但是好像有問題。如果我對神的話語正確，我們的禱告是：神啊！求你幫助這個國家，無論中國、美國是站在你的那一邊。我們不要求神祝福我們，要幫助我們站在祂那一邊、順服祂，每一天處境中來愛祂、愛人。

最後！怎樣來選神這一邊？怎麼樣站在神那一邊？神啊！求你鑒察我，知道我的心思；試驗我，知道我的意念。看看我裡面有甚麼惡行沒有，引導我走永恆的道路。首先、我們要將自己開放，要邀請祂鑒察我，第一節是說我已經鑒察了你，神已經鑒察了，廿三節，神啊！求你來鑒察我。第二、神啊！求你來看我的心思、意念不是站在你那一面，有沒有與你的真理是冥合的。第三、在我的裡面可能有邪惡、行為，換句話說，如果我要偏神這一邊的話，要經常的反醒我裡面有沒有惡行，如果我裡面有惡行的話，有惡思想和動機，我的行為是錯的，所以我需要神來鑒察，將我這些指出來。只有這樣的心，來幫助我、調整我的心思意念走在神永恆的路上，站在神的這一邊，最大的阻礙，就是我們有一個很大、很大的自我，我不會錯的，錯的都是您你。如果在神的面前有這樣心意，就很難走在永恆的路上。

結論 :

我們都要修改我們的衣服，要找那個最好的手套、舒服的椅子，雖然很舒服，那跟您的大小就差不多了，他不能大過您，但也不會小過您，跟您差不多，您大他也大，您小他也小，想想看！如果用這種心態來對神的話，就將那無限的神這裡減一點、那裡減一點，來配合您，嗯！不太合適吧？如果有了這樣一位神！只不過跟您一樣。難怪在五十多年前，大衛‧菲力樸說：「你的神太小了！」這是對基督徒寫的。我想在五十之後，還是一樣！在這消費者的社會裡，我們的神太小了？

在這篇詩篇裡，我們看到我們這一位神是全知、全在、蠻有創造性、全聖潔的神！遠遠的超過您和我，那這樣對我們有什麼意義？我想用 James Boice’ 的幾句話來結束：首先是要我們謙卑、祂這樣的認識你，認識我，我們沒有什麼可誇的。第二、祂給我們安慰，無論我們去那裡、無論明天會有什麼事、下個禮拜、下個月、明年祂已經在那裡了，祂在那裡等著我們了，我不要怕！第三、以祂做我們的神！以祂督促我、推動我多禱告。如果祂可以像羽毛一樣可隨身帶的話，我還要向祂禱告？吩咐就行了，祂只不過是一個羽毛而已。單如果祂是一個泰山一樣，我就不會要祂做我想要做的事，我就儘量不要離開祂，跟從祂，好好的靠近祂，這是我們的安慰。在海德堡的第一條問題：人生最大的安慰是什麼？答案是，人生最大安慰是認識耶穌基督，這是我們的安慰！ 不是因為我多了不起，乃是因為祂是何等超越、何等偉大！

Date:    08/09/09

Text:    Psalm 139

Title:    What Size is Your God?

Theme: Since God is so great and beyond, His children can find comfort in trusting and following Him.

Introduction:

  Recently I brought 3 pairs of pants for the price of one. After wearing them, I discovered that their lengths do not match my height. So I cut and hemmed them in order to fit me. If you have money and your size is not standard, you may custom make your shirts, pants and suits. We make adjustments to clothes so they’ll fit us. We want our bed sheets to fit our mattress. We want our golf clubs, ping pong paddles and tennis rackets to fit us perfectly. If you are picky, you even want the car’s windshield shade to fit the car just right. Most politicians give us what we want and few lead us to a higher ground.

  Sometimes, we carry this into our spiritual journey. We want a God that fits our understanding and needs. A custom made God. It doesn’t quite make sense, does it? If it is a custom made God, then he would be just as small as we are.   

For the past 7 months, we have been looking at Connecting with God. We learned that the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are connected with God. We learned how this connection is to be expressed in our daily living. Beginning today, and in the following two Sundays, we’ll study several Psalms to help us to have a greater understanding of the God to whom we are connected.

  This morning we’ll look at Psalm 139. This is a familiar psalm that is examined when we tackle the issue of sanctity and the significance of life. However, when we take a closer look at this Psalm, it has a much broader perspective than we normally see. It tells us about how big and great this God is.

I  •  We find comfort in the All Knowing God. vs.1-6

In vs.1, “ O Lord, you have searched me and known me!”; vs.2-3, “ You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Vs.4, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” God searches, knows our thoughts and behaviors. He discerns, meaning he knows which thoughts are good and which are evil. Even before we open our mouths, he already knows what will come out of it. There is nothing we can hide from him.

For those us with children, even before they speak a word or make a move, we know what they are up to. No wonder to the little ones, mom is like God, who knows everything. As fallen beings, we have certain thoughts or behaviors that we don’t want anyone to know, right? But this doesn’t work with God. He knows everything about me. Even before we utter a word or make a move, He knows what we are up to. There is nothing we can hide from him.

And then vs.6, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” God's thorough knowledge of me is beyond my comprehension, it is too much for me. And vs. 5, “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” How do we take this? When you face someone who knows you thoroughly, what is your response? Sometimes in conversations with a staff member, he would predict what I’d think or do and he was right on the dot. I often responded by saying, this is scary. It is scary to face someone who knows me inside and out. For this reason, sometimes after we have shared some of our deepest feeling and struggles with a person, we begin to withdraw and avoid that individual. You see, one could have feelings of fear and insecurity when another person knows us too well.

So how about God knowing us inside out? Is this comforting or threatening? It really depend on where we are spiritually. If I am self-centered, with selfish ambitions or disobedient to his teaching, His omniscience is threatening. We may say, don’t come near me, don’t hem me in, don’t lay your hands on me. I’ll come to you when I need you.

However, when I am striving to live a obedient life, loving God and men, I will welcome his omniscience. Such a comfort to know that this God knows me so thoroughly, even at times when I don’t know myself well.

  II  •  We find comfort in the All present God. 7-12

Vs.7, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” vs.8, “If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” Its not about the next world, heaven or hell. It means that if we go to the top of Mt. Everest , God is there. If we go to the tip of S. America , God is there. We just can’t get away from him, he is everywhere. Vs.9-10, “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” If I go to the east, you are there. If I go to the far side of the sea, you are there already.

  Is this comforting or threatening? Again, it depends on where we are spiritually, right? If I am not walking with the Lord, being disobedient to him, this is scary. If I am doing my best to live an obedient life, what a comfort this can bring us. In vs.11-12, “If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Even in a place where light has turned into darkness, God is there.

  Most of us from overseas have read King Yung’s martial arts stories. It is said that where there are Chinese, there you’ll find his books. In quite a few of his stories, there was this main character being captured and thrown into either a dark cave or a deep well. It was miserable and painful. But after a while, he realized that someone else was there. Moreover, this person’s kung fu was eons ahead of him and the rest of the world. So the dark cave turned into a once in a life time experience.

  We have experienced times in life when we feel our light has turned into darkness. Looking back, we recognized that God was there. Some may feel that you are in the midst of darkness, or you are expecting a career change in another few years, or entering another stage in life. You have never been there before. This could be scary and full of anxiety. Yet we are being reminded that even before we land there, he is there already. Do you remember the first time you came to this country? Or the first time you flew into a new city ? What was the first thing you did after claiming your luggage? You looked for a friend or relative who has promised to come meet you. What a relief when you saw that face. The same is true with life. When I know that He is present with me, He is already there at the place I’ll be at next month or next year, It is a very comforting thought.

III.   We find comfort in the All Creative God. 13-18

   Vs.13-16, “ For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.” These familiar words tell us that God's handiwork was upon us not just from birth to death, but at the very moment of conception, he was there and He knew me. Even before our mothers were aware of us, God was there creating us, molding us according to his image..

  Vs.17-18, “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” God has put so many thoughts into us during this creation process, both before and after birth and they were countless. He thought of our body, mind, psy, emotions, our situations and relationships with people around us. He has so creatively created each one of us. You know, there are 6.7 billion people living on earth now. No two finger prints are alike. Likewise, there are no two human DNA sequences are exactly the same. Each one of us is very unique and precious to Him. We have dignity and nobility because he made us.

  We may be surrounded by people who show no respect to us, treating us like dirt. When you are in such situations, please remember to come to the God who created you. To Him, you are very precious and unique. Don’t allow yourselves to succumb to people looking down on you. Tell yourself and others, you are very valuable in God's sight. And this is how we should treat those God brings into our lives. Treat each person with respect and dignity.

  About one week ago, there was a news item in the NY Times about Apple factories in Guangzhou . There were reports of mistreatments and salary delays, leading to protests and unrest. The Apple headquarter in Cupertino issued a statement to urge fair and just treatment of the employees in Guangzhou . And the last sentence was: treat the workers with dignity and respect.

  If a secular company can do this, how much more we Christians should practice this. When I treat you with dignity and respect, it means that I will not gossip about you behind you. I will not look down on you or insult you with words nor will I abuse you physically nor psychologically. I will not view you based on your income, position and your possession. Nor will I view you based on how active your are in this and other churches. Instead, seeing you as created in God's image, full of beauty and dignity.

  I still remember an encounter with the late Francis Schaeffer some 33 years ago. He greeted me with great respect and politeness. He even remembered the matter I discussed with him a year earlier. He made me feel good, important and unique.

IV.   We find comfort in the All Holy God. 19-24

  Listen to vs.19, “Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me!” You notice the sudden change, such as noble thoughts in v18, “”to such venomous thoughts in v19. Furthermore, the psalmist did not show any regret over using such strong words. CS Lewis wrote that the psalmist wrote these words as if God needed to be reminded by the psalmist. However, in both v1 and v23 we have the words search and know. This points to the fact that 19-24 is an integral part of psalm 139.

  Vs. 20-22, “They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.” vs.20 are threats from the enemies. vs.21-22, is about a Holy God and His enemies.

Moreover, we see that the psalmist hates what God hates. This means we are to identify with God's cause, to be aligned with his heart. Being created by God in his image, we are moral beings. We can differentiate right from wrong, but which side are we on? Are we on God's side, or on His enemies’ side?

  History and our personal experience have shown us that there were times we avoided taking sides or were on the wrong side. Rwandan’s president Paul Kagame said in 2006 to the international community on the anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, “You kept quiet…….. when these victims wanted your help to survive, you kept quiet.” By being silent, the international community took the wrong side. At a personal level, there are times our words and behavior show that we are on the wrong side of God. Instead, like the psalmist, we are to align ourselves with God, hating what He hates. We are to choose to be obedient to God, loving Him and men in all situations. Very often we pray that God will bless America , or at times of war, we ask God to be on our side. If we take God's words seriously, we should pray that God will help America to be on His side. Instead of asking God to bless us, we should ask God to help us to be on his side; obeying Him, loving Him and men in all situations.

  Then finally, what is the key to be on God's side? Vs.23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” First, we are to open ourselves to God's searching, inviting him to search us. Secondly, we ask God to test us, to see if our thoughts and insights are on his side. Are they in line with God's truth as revealed in the Bible? Thirdly, we need to recognize there could be evil ways and intentions within us.

  In other words, we need to reflect and recognize that we could be wrong and there could be evil, wrong and unhealthful thoughts and motives within us. Our behaviors and attitudes could be wrong and we need God to search us and point them out to us. Only after I recognize my straying way, then I will correct and walk in God's path.

Conclusion:

  We want to make sure our clothes, gloves and even chairs fit us so they are comfortable to wear and use. Isn’t this true that while they are comfortable, they are only as big or as small as we are. Can we try to imagine making this infinite God to fit this finite person? To make God as big or as small as we are is really an oxymoron. For this reason, over 50 years ago, J.B. Phillips wrote the book, “Your God is Too Small.”

In Today’s Psalm, we learn that the God we are connected to is all knowing, all present, all creative and all holy. He is much, much bigger than we are. So what does it mean to us in our daily lives? I like to close with some of James Boice’s thoughts. First, it will humble us. There is nothing we can boast before the God who knows us so thoroughly. Secondly, it brings comfort to us. Knowing that wherever I am, or wherever I will go tomorrow, next week or next month, He is already there waiting for me. This is great comfort and encouragement. Then thirdly, with Him as my God, it will cause me to come to him to pray. If He is my size, custom made to fit my needs, why should I be praying to someone who is my size? But when he is so much greater and beyond me, it will motivate me to bring all my concerns to God in prayer, and experience the peace and joy that transcends all circumstances.

  He is so much greater and beyond us, this is the reason to follow, trust and obey him.