Three essential qualities of God are recorded in Psalm 139: omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.

King David tells us of God’s perfect knowledge of the thoughts of man (v1-6), His looming presence over the universe (v7-12), and His masterful creation of man (v13-16). In light of this awesomeness, this is what he inquired of God:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (v23-24)

But if God is all-knowing, why must David still ask Him to search his heart? Why must we ask God to search our hearts?

Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Humans have limited knowledge and perspective, there is only so much we can perceive about ourselves. What’s worse is that this perspective is often skewed–we think lightly of our own weaknesses, or are completely unaware of them.

Essentially, we don’t know ourselves as well as we think.

This was the case with King David. He was undoubtedly a man after God’s own heart. But Mark 10:18 tells us that “no one is good but One, that is, God” – no human is perfect and without sin. David still sinned against God sometimes, the most severe of them recorded in 2 Samuel 11: his adultery with Bathsheba, and murder of her husband Uriah.

When God sent the prophet Nathan to rebuke David, David was completely oblivious that Nathan’s parable was referring to his own sinful actions. He was deceived by his own heart, and failed to see his impurities.

1 John 1:8 tells us that we deceive ourselves when we profess to have no sin. Our knowledge can never surpass that of the living God, who is never fooled by the outward appearance of man (1 Samuel 16:7).

With this mind, it is then vital for us to be searched by God. We must ask God to reveal our bad qualities and sinfulness to us–anything that can obstruct us from truly becoming His people–so that they can be corrected.

Additionally, when we ask God to reveal our weaknesses, we must remove all sense of self-pride and defensiveness. When Nathan rebuked David directly, he was extremely remorseful and repented sincerely. It is crucial for us to emulate this humility.

If we wish to be led in the way everlasting, let us follow what Proverbs 3:6 tells us: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” Let us be honest and humble before our Almighty God, and willing to submit to His sovereignty.