The Greek philosopher Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living for any human being.” Many would disagree with him, because all lives are worth living to some degree and have some merit, although the unexamined life might not change much. My question for the deceased Socrates is, “Who will do the examining? Who can rightly examine my heart and deepest thoughts?” Surely, no other human being can truly know me and see what’s inside me. I don’t even trust myself to examine me, since I am likely to miss something or discount or minimize something evil that’s there. Even the Apostle Paul wrote that he didn’t even judge himself and explained, “For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” Like David, Paul knew that it was the Lord who “will disclose the purposes of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4).
Here in the closing verses of Psalm 139, David appealed to God to search him and know his heart and try him and know his deepest cares or concerns or misgivings he might have had about himself (23). This was very appropriate, since David had just declared his zeal for God in hating those who hated Yahweh. Did he truly have righteous hatred, or was there some wickedness mixed in? David didn’t want to be like the wicked in any way and prayed for God to lead him “in the way everlasting” (24b) in contrast to the perishing way of the wicked (Psalm 1:6). I, too, need to ask God every day to search me and reveal to me anything that might grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30); for I’m sure there is something hurtful there. I always want to remain on the path of righteousness that, like the dawn, “shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Proverbs 4:18).
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