Rev. David Holwick T
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
June 3, 1990
Psalm 139
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I. Being known.
A. Babe Ruth.
Babe Ruth, perhaps one of the greatest sport figures of all time,
was not exactly noted as a Sunday school teacher.
An incident for which he received reams of publicity involved
11-year-old Johnny Sylvester.
The boy had been kicked in the head by a horse and doctors were
fearful it might be fatal.
Johnny told his father, Horace, a Manhattan banker,
"I wish I could see Babe Ruth wallop a homer before I die."
A telegram went off to the New York Yankees in St. Louis, where
they were playing the Cardinals in the 1926 World Series.
Back came autographed balls from both Yankees and Cardinals,
including one the Babe had inscribed,
"I'll hit a home run for you in Wednesday's game."
He hit 3 of them!
The doctors called the effect on the boy's condition a miracle.
Some months later, during Spring training, an uncle of the lad
approached Ruth and thanked him profusely.
Ruth politely asked, "How is Johnny?"
The uncle said Johnny was doing fine, then he left.
Ruth turned to the reporters and asked,
"Who the [blankety-blank] is Johnny Sylvester?"
God never forgets who we are!
139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my
thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are
familiar with all my ways.
Who could ask for anything more?
By the way, what happened to Johnny? He died.
On January 8, 1990 - at the ripe old age of 74! #1123
B. Not bland doctrine, "God knows everything..."
1) Many people think they know us, but they don't have a clue.
2) God's knowledge (and this psalm) is very personal.
C. God's knowledge of us is wonderful. 139:6
1) It is also unsettling.
2) What would God find in your life?
II. God is all-present.
A. David tries to flee from God. (somewhat) 139:7
B. Ways people try to flee God, but can't.
1) Experience of religious people.
2) Poem, "The Hound of Heaven." (Francis Thompson)
C. New Flavor in NT.
1) Here - How can I separate myself from God?
2) NT (Rom 8) - nothing separates us from God.
a) Jesus reaches down to us, even to place of dead.
3) "You are there!" 139:8
a) David comes around to see God's presence as positive.
b) Tragedies - God is still with us.
III. God is all-creative.
A. God is with us from beginning.
1) Created...knit together. 139:13
2) Wonder of our unborn child.
Hard to view it as anything but a basketball.
But a baby will come out!
B. Application to abortion.
1) Essence of debate: Should fetuses be treated as human?
a) If it is only tissue, not necessary.
b) If human - options:
1> Allow abortion due to expediency.
2> Disallow abortion due to principle.
2) What would God have us to do?
C. God does not make garbage.
1) All people have worth in his eyes.
IV. God is all-holy. 139:19
A. David's re-entry to earth "creates a sudden incandescence."
1) To love God, is to hate sin. 139:21-22
2) But evil may also be within us. ("Search me")
B. Allow God to search our hearts as we prepare for communion.
139:23-24
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