Search me, O God, and know my heart!

"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" (Psalm 139:23-24).

David undoubtedly knows that there were "grievous ways" in his heart.

Like the rest of us, he was aware of his sinful thoughts.

He knew about the sins in his life that no one else knew about.

And, like us, he knew that god is omniscient. He knows about those sins, too.

So what does David want god to do?

I think he is asking God to expose his sins.

He wants God to tell him, "These are the things in your life that grieve Me."

He wants to make sure that nothing is hidden between himself and his God.

But he is also calling out for redemption.

"I know You'll find sins, but lead me in the way everlasting. I want to deal with those sins. I want Your forgiveness. I want Your righteousness applied to my sinfulness."

What a glorious hope!

We can't hide our sins from God. And even though He knows about all the sins that no one else even imagines, He is able to forgive them and lead us into the way everlasting (1 John 1:9).