Do you ever wonder if there is anyone who even knows you exist? Or cares? There is a moment in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel when the prophet Samuel is sent to Bethlehem to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be God’s king. When Samuel meets with Jesse and his sons, he soon discovers that none of the seven sons that Jesse brings are God’s chosen king. So, he asks Jesse if there are any other sons out there. Jesse reveals that the youngest son, David, wasn’t invited. He was out shepherding the fields. So, Jesse sends for David and David is anointed to be God’s next king over Israel.
I wonder how that felt. I wonder what David experienced as a young man living a life where no one, not even his father, gave him much notice to his existence. What was it like to have no one in his family have any high hopes for how his life will turn out.? In the next chapter of 1 Samuel (ch.17), when David is sent by his father to bring food for his brothers, his eldest brother scornfully chides David for speaking out against Goliath’s taunting of the armies of Israel. He says “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?” In other words, go back to the fields where you belong, punk! David is not seen. David is not valued. David is not needed.
In Psalm 139, we see why and how much David delights in the Lord. God knew him, cared about him, and God had a detailed plan for David’s life. To David, this is mind-blowing. David is in awe of God. Our sermon is called Living in Awe of the Lord.
What an amazing thing it is to think and to know that while we may feel invisible to the world around us, we are seen, known, and loved by God. In the gospel, we discover that while God is about the work of redeeming His people and making the world new again, God is also intentionally and attentively pursuing every one of His children.
We will contemplate the glorious truth that God sees and persistently pursues each one of us who belong to Him. God sees us when we are forgotten by others. May the beautiful truths of Psalm 139 cause us to be filled with overwhelming awe for such a great and gracious God and may that completely transform how we live.
