Bob Josey - Problems - Jul 13, 2025

SLIDES

Problems. Problems, Problems

Psalm 139:1-18

1. Introduction

Over the last ten years or so, I have seen friends and family have more and more problems. I’m not talking things like having to replace a hot water heater or having to put a news transmission in one’s car. I’m talking about problems that are painful, gut wrenching, and maybe life threating that are related to ourselves personally, our spouse, our children, other close relatives, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, particularly those in our connect group.

Looking back, I guess it started Linda having breast cancer, followed by pancreatitis in the hospital for 19 days with a gall bladder and pancreas problem. But in the last five years or so I think these problems have begun to increase more and among myself, Linda, family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ in this class, and the world.

I think back to our godly friend and teacher, Harry Hammond, and the struggles he had, and Janie had taking care of him. to premature deaths of Dick Gormley and Larry Gantt. The premature deaths of these godly men brought much heartache and gut-wrenching pain and loneliness to Margaret and Alice. Our friend Tom Ashworth lived a long and fruitful life before he died, but his death still brought heartache, pain, and loneliness to Alice Faye who was married to him for many years.

More recently Linda got colon cancer went through an agonizing surgery and suffered for months afterword. Two years ago, I found out that I had stage three liver disease. I live with the fact that it may go to stage four at any time which will assuredly bring death. Our friend Beverly Stroud had knee surgery that took longer than normal to heal. During the time she was recovering from knee surgery, they found out she had breast cancer and had surgery for that. Shortly after that, her husband, Dan, fell down some stairs on a boat while deep sea fishing and is now bring a lot of pain until he can have surgery. After falling down the stairs, he was given an MRI to determine the extent of his back problems. Several days later after returning home, one of the staff at his local doctor’s office saw a spot on his pancreas that his back doctor did not see. After a biopsy, they determined that the spot was cancer. Last week he had a six and one-half hour surgery to remove 60 percent of his Pancras. He was in the hospital for five days with a lot of problems and much pain. Chemotherapy and radiation will follow. I have thought of the one in our class who have had or continue to have medical problems.

A Jewish lady we minister to had tremendous back pain and took high doses of steroids that ended up destroyed one of her hips. when they went in to replace her hip, the found cancer. She has gone through chemotherapy and radiation but is now doing ok. she asked when it will all end. I said that it will never end. There will only be pauses between problems.

A couple of weeks ago our son found out that some swollen lymph nodes in his neck was a result of him having Hodgkins’s lymphoma. He will begin Chemotherapy next week Tuesday and will probably be followed by radiation.

We look at the things going on in the world such as the Russia-Ukraine war and the problems in the middle east.

The icing on the cake was last when At least 70 deaths—including the deaths of 21 children—have now been confirmed in the central Texas flash floods. Many were part of summer camps. Some were families camping in RV’s that were swept way.

Problems, problems, problems

Play the first part of the Everly Brother’s song Problems.

I have begun to think about these things more and more. I have not been overwhelmed or anxious about all of this, but I am greatly concerned. Many of you have recent stories to tell with problems with health or family problems. There are problems that exist in individuals or family’s that they do not talk about but are problems indeed.

We are all going to have more and more problems as time rolls on, particularly with our health. But how will we deal with them? Will we allow these problems to overwhelm us and make us super anxious? Will we allow them to distract us from worshipping the Lord and keeping us from using our spiritual gifts and being servants? As believers get older, they either gravitate to the Lord, or they repel from the Lord.

Today from Psalm 139, we are going to discuss some of God’s attributes.  An attribute has to do with someone’s inherent qualities. God’s attributes have everything to do with God’s character. So, we are going to learn about some God’s attributes by me asking and answering three questions about our relationship with Him.

The three questions and answerers come from Psalm 139 which was written by David. This is perhaps the most intimate psalm of all the Psalms. The first question is:

A. How well does God know me? (vv. 1–6)

David gives the answer to this question in verses 1 - 6. Here he shows God is omniscient. This means that God knows everything that is or even could be.

1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. - 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.

God knew every move David made; the two opposites of sitting and rising represent all his actions. God also knew his motivations (thoughts; cf. v. 17). The word afar evidently refers not to space but to time.

3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,

And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.

The daily activities of the David were also thoroughly familiar to the Lord. The opposites of going out in the morning and lying down at night represent the whole day’s activities

4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, You know it all.

But the one sample that characterizes God’s omniscience (God know everything actual and possible) is in verse 4. Before the David could frame a word on his tongue, the LORD was thoroughly familiar with what he was about to say.

5 You have enclosed me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

David’s initial response to this staggering knowledge was that he was troubled. Like many who respond to the fact of God’s omniscience, he thought it was confining, that God had besieged him and cupped His hand over him.

Moreover, this kind of knowledge was out of David’s control—it was too wonderful for him. David’s initial response to this staggering knowledge was that he was troubled. Like many who respond to the fact of God’s omniscience, he thought it was confining, that God had besieged him and cupped His hand over him. David knew that this kind of knowledge was out of His’ control—it was too wonderful for him. The word “wonderful” is at the beginning of the sentence for the sake of emphasis. The meaning of “wonderful” is “extraordinary or incomprehensible,”. In other words, divine omniscience is too high for humans to comprehend. The words extraordinary or incomprehensible is used frequently of God’s works in the Psalms.

There may be times when you may often feel isolated from people, even brothers and sisters in Christ, thinking nobody understands your struggles. Remind yourself that God knows every detail of your life, including fears and hopes. Each morning or evening, take time to reflect in prayer, sharing your thoughts with God. Consider journaling your thoughts and prayers, laying bare your heart before Him. Knowing that He is always listening can bring peace as Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Also, must always remember when it comes to the future and our challenges now and into the future that only the knows our future. One does not need a gypsy woman with a scarf on her head trying to read your future. Since God is the only one who knows our future, God wants us to seek His only His guidance and trust only Him .

The second question we should ask ourselves is:

B. How close is God to Me? (Psalm 139:7–12)

Believers when they get overwhelmed with problems and/or the cares of this world, usually go in one or two directions. They either get closer to God or try to get as far away from Him as they can. Jonah tried to flee from God in a ship and how did that work out for him.

In any case, Kind David gave us the answer in verses 7-12 about how close is God to each one of us?  These verses show us that God is omnipresent. This means that God is everywhere at the same time. Putting it another way, there is not place where God is not.

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.

In view of this confining knowledge the LORD has, David’s first inclination was to flee, to get out from under the besieging hand of God. But that impulse raises the question of where he should go, which leads to a second meditation on the omnipresence of God. Not only does God know everything about us. He is everywhere we go or even think of going to.

We find opposites again in verse 8, heaven and Sheol. Sheol refers to the place of the dead. Depending on the context, it’s either the grave or the place where the unsaved reside until the Great White Throne Judgement that will occur at the end of the Messianic Kingdom. The New Testament equivalent to Sheol is Hades. Remember that Hades is where the rich man went when he died in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. Remember Lazarus went to Abraham’s bosom when he died, and the rich man went to Hades where he was tormented. So, in this Psalm, David is referring to the grave. Whether in Heaven or the grave and everywhere in between, David would not been able to escape God presence because God would be there.

In Jeremiah 23:23-24 we learn that God is not only everywhere but that He also sees everything.

23 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord, 

“And not a God far off? 

24 “Can a man hide himself in hiding places 

So I do not see him?” declares the Lord. 

“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord. 

Let’s return to Psalm 139:9-10.

9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

Moreover, if he could fly at the speed of light (the wings of the dawn) from the east across the sky to the west (far side of the Mediterranean Sea) he could still not escape from the Lord. Therefore, God’s presence then began to take on a new meaning for the David, as if the light were dawning on him. Now, he stated, the hand of the Lord would lead and comfort him even there and then.

11. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

David developed the theme of light a little further. The darkness might bruise him (probably referring to the oppressive nature of darkness). But David could not be concealed from God, for darkness and light are the same to Him because of His omniscience and omnipresence

A believer cannot go anywhere to get away from God. Wherever we go, God is there. Whether you’re high or low, up or down, strong or struggling, the Lord is with you as was stated in Hebrews 13:5 which says “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” David quoted Deuteronomy 31:6,8 or Joshua 1:5. As one thinks of Jesus sending the Apostles to Jerusalem, Judah, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth, He was sending them to spread the Gospel being with them each step of the way. Regardless of where the LORD sends each of us today, God has gifted us to do the job He send to do and will be with us each step of the way.

If you’re walking with the Lord, this is comforting. If you’re running from Him, it should be convicting. The third question is:

C. How Carefully has God made me (Psalm 139:13-16)

In verses 13-16 David teaches us that God is omnipotent. God being omnipotent means that God is all powerful and in control of everything. There is nothing can’t do

The thought that darkness cannot conceal anyone from the Lord (vv. 11–12) brought to David’s mind this meditation in verses 13–18: God knew all about him when He created him in his mother’s womb. Verse 13 begins with “For,” indicating that since God can create a person, He certainly knows him intimately and is with him everywhere.

13 For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

The theme of verses 13–18 is announced here: the Lord created him in his mother’s womb. The language is figurative in that creating and knitting describe God’s sovereign superintendence over the natural process of reproduction. We see this in Job 10:11.

11 Clothe me with skin and flesh, 

And knit me together with bones and sinews? 

The thought of God creating David prompted him to break forth in praise over the thought of how marvelously he had been made. Even David’s rudimentary knowledge of the marvels of the human body led him to be in awe and wonder. The words wonderfully and wonderful are mindful of God’s marvelous knowledge as we saw in verse 6.

15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

Then David stressed certain features of God’s superintendence over him. In the womb he was woven together. The word woven is literally “embroidered.” In verse 13 it’s suggested his veins and arteries were knit together. But God saw every detail. David’s frame means his skeleton and his unformed body is his embryo. Moreover, God prerecorded all the days of the psalmist before he was even born. This statement may mean that God determined how long he would live, but in view of verses 1–4, it more likely refers to God’s divine purpose for creating David. God marvelously planned out his life. In verses 17-18 we find David drawing a conclusion from verses 1-16.

D. Conclusion: The LORD’s loving intention for believers are precious and innumerable( Psalm 139:17-18)

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

This thought led David to conclude that the Lord’s plans for His people are most precious and in fact are innumerable. They are also most relevant, for each morning when he awakened, God was still with him, extending His thoughts toward him.

David is saying here that God’s omniscience of his entire life is precious. “How precious” is expressed with the adjective which means “rare,” and is used often to describe precious gems. If it is rare, it is precious and valuable. But what is precious are God’s intentions. And the emphasis in the text is on “to me,” which comes first in the line. At the very least this section would call for a healthier consideration of how God has plans for the child being formed in the womb; and in addition to that, the section calls for people to evaluate every aspect of their lives to ensure that they are fulfilling God’s intentions.  This should remind us of Ephesians 2:10.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

It appears that the intentions of God creating us are the good works Paul refers to in Ephesians 2:10. David says in verse 18, “When I awake, I am still with you.” The verb “awake” can refer to awakening from sleep, from drunkenness, from death, or in this case from meditation. He has been meditating, and in those meditations, he came to be filled with peace.

Do you sometimes feel a lack of peace or direction in your life due to stress or distractions. If so, make sure you are having quality alone time with the LORD daily to pray, meditate, and read Scripture. Use this time to reflect all the Lord to speak to you concerning His intentions for your life. Ask for His guidance in handling daily challenges and His daily intentions for you. By dedicating this intentional time with God, you’ll find clarity amidst the chaos and distractions of life.

Conclusion

There are three things about God, I want you to remember from his lesson.

1.      We worship and serve an all-knowing God. He knows about everything past, present, and future and everything that possible. Since He knows everything, He knows everything about you and your family.  Nothing takes Him by surprise. God is, therefore, omniscient.

2.      The God that we worship and serve is everywhere at the same time.  Wherever you go, God will be with you every step of the way. When you get there, He will be there waiting on you.  This means God is omnipresent.

3.      The God we worship and serve is also sovereign and all powerful. That means that He is omnipotent. He has unlimited power and able to do anything and deal with any problem we have.