The Names of God Praising God As El Roi Psalm 139:1-24 1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 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 was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! This morning we are going to continue the series of messages on the names of God. When you really meet and experience God by His name it will radically change your life. When we met God as: Elohim we learned that this name speaks of His Personality He is all we need, He has all we need and He is doing all we need done.
El Elyon this name speaks of His Position He is both Sovereign and Supreme in Position and Power. Several weeks ago we meet God El Roi in Genesis 16 Hagar When we met God as El Roi we found that this name speak of His Perception The Eternal Scope of His Vision His Vision is Inclusive His Vision is Intensive The Earthly Sensitivity of His Vision His Vision is Personal His Vision is Precise The Encouraging Strength of His Vision An Affect on Your Walk An Affect on Your Worship An Affect on Your Work An Affect on Your Wait When We Experienced God as El Roi we found that Hagar gave a testimony that she discovered that: When You Are Dismayed God Sees and Still loves You! When You Are Disobedient God Sees and Still loves You! When You Are Distressed God sees and Still loves and You! When You Are Discouraged God See and Still loves You! Everybody needs to know that they count. That they are special, that they are loved. You are vital You do count, you do mean something to the body of Christ. People wonder what other people are thinking when they look at them. The big question is what does God think when He looks at me. We ought to stand in front of the Word of God as much as we stand in front of the mirror.it doesn t hurt most of us to stand in front of the mirror if the barn needs painting paint it. What does God see when He sees me?????? Psalm 139 Open your Bibles.. Today We want to learn to Praise God as El Roi. What is Praiseworthy about God as El Roi. The Eternal Sweep of His Vision is Intensive Inclusive Everything gets equal attention from God. How does He see your heart right now. The Causes of Our Praise Why should we Praise? The Content of Our Prayer What should we Say? One of the most exciting Psalms in the entire Bible 139
Five things that should cause you to Praise God when you know that He is looking at you These are very clear from this passage of scripture. I. The Causes of Our Praise Why Should We Praise? Because: A. His Vision Is Permanent there is never a time when God is not looking. 1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. Some people believe it is ok to do wrong as long as the right people are not looking. If you don t get caught. (like speeding, running lights) Are you familiar with the laws in this state. They don t bother you do they? I do see you are familiar the safety belt laws in our state. Yes sir, I sure am That s rather unusual, you re the only guy I ve ever seen who can drive with the safety belt through the steering wheel. God has seen everything you have done good or bad. B. His Vision is Persistent 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. He tracks us down There is no cover from God No place you can go where He will not see you. C. His Vision is Penetrating 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 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 was none of them.
He just doesn t look at me, He looks in me. This will make you stop and think. D. His Vision is Precious Vs. 17-18 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. If you are seeing and you are conscience of that, it means that you are thinking about me. You know some people can look right at you and not think about you Do you know anybody like that? You can even be talking to them.. and they don t hear you. Some of you are like that here this morning. But for God to see me is to know that He is thinking about me. Notice vs. 18 not just 2 or 3 thoughts but more than can be numbered. Not just God s thoughts, but God s thoughts about me! E. His Vision is Protective 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! Now the Psalmist looks at evil man. Why? Because he knows that God is going to handle them. I ve often had people that have gone after me but I have always believed that God would take care of them. Over the years, I ve experienced God s protection. I know that God is going to take care of the wicked and I can roll up my sleeves and keep on working and serving the Lord. Notice vs. 19 David speaks to the wicked. Vs. 19-22 God s vision is protective Permanent Persistent Penetrating Precious Protective What Should Be The Content Of Our Prayer? What should we say when we praise the Lord because of the way He is looking at us? Two things.. A. Search Me 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! There is a eagerness in David s heart inviting the Lord to look into his heart. Test me Try me. Someone who is getting ready for a big test will often after they have studied ask someone to test them to help them really be ready. I want to be tested because the big test is going to come one day
B. Shepherd Me Vs. 24b 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Submit to His purposes in your life. Would you take a few minutes to Praise God El Roi Who Sees You because His Vision is: Permanent Persistent Penetrating Precious Protective Would you ask Him to search you this morning. Would you ask Him to shepherd you this morning. Psalm 40:1-17 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. 6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. 9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. 10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 11 As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! 12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! 14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, Aha, Aha!
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, Great is the LORD! 17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!