Psalm 139—God’s Omniscience (8)

Peter—I know better

After Peter confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus crowned this confession with a beatitude, giving glory to His Father: “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:16&17).

Peter believed with sincere faith that Jesus was the Son of God. In so doing, he simultaneously confessed that Jesus was omniscient and could not err—“LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.” Yet, when the Saviour announced to His disciples that they would be offended because of Him and even added, “…for it is written…,” not one of the disciples believed it, Peter least of all. That the other disciples would be offended because of Jesus, well, that would be possible, that he could not judge about, but his love for Jesus was too great for that; He could count on Peter, no matter what would happen, no matter what dangers and difficulties would arise. Though all would forsake Jesus, he would never be offended because of Him.

Oh, such a Peter! He did not know the measure of his love for Jesus, and the awful pride of his heart was hidden from him.

Peter, have you never sung Psalm 139? Why did you not confess, “O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether”? Was it not your prayer, “Keep me from myself and show me Thy unspeakable love?” However, now you declared that the omniscient Jesus did not know what He said…that He knew much but not everything...

Jesus let Peter know that he knew nothing about it. You will not only be offended because of Me this night, Peter, but you will even deny Me, the only one of all to do so. You, who praise yourself above others, will prove to be worse than others. You will deny Me completely, not once or twice, but thrice. You will do so by denying that you know Me or have anything to do with Me. Peter, soon it will happen; it is near: Before the morning will be announced by cockcrowing, “thou shalt deny Me thrice” (Matthew 26:34; cf. Luke 22:34).

“Verily, I say unto thee!” But…I will not be unfaithful to you. “I have prayed for thee, that” even then “thy faith fail not.” That, Peter, is My love, also for you—I will never forsake the work begun by My hand.

Afraid of himself?

What was Peter’s response? Did he become sorrowful and afraid of himself? Did he think now, when the Lord had spoken these words to him so precisely and with so much emphasis, that his Master was omniscient? Alas, no, he refused to believe Jesus. Impertinently and obstinately, he wanted to have the highest and the last word. The more Christ spoke, the more he objected. The more Christ wanted to humble him, the more he exalted himself. “Though I,” he said, “should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee.”

And the other disciples? Peter roused them all in a wrong manner. None of them wanted to be inferior to him. Jesus should not think that they loved Him less than Peter did. The one wandering sheep was followed by all. All said, “Amen,” not to what Jesus said but to what Peter objected.

Are you surprised? Do you not know of what manner of spirit you are? Of ourselves we do nothing but close our ears to the truth of the omniscient God. The more we are warned, admonished, and lured, the more we object. By nature, a person never gives up, even if that spiritual fool is brayed in a mortar with a pestle; he still thinks he knows better and continues on his own way, and in different kinds of ways within that path.

One does not ultimately consider it so necessary for himself to know how great his sin and misery are—he thinks this is also a correct way to believe. Another believes that sanctification consists of some outward show. Yet another cannot be persuaded that a promise in the Word and in the memory is not a promise bestowed in the heart. Another thinks that acting humble is the same as being humble.

And how is it after received grace? Is it not clear enough from what has been pondered that much love is not the same as much knowledge of faith and self-knowledge? Oh, what a source of all kinds of iniquity it is to be converted in one’s own eyes. Also, what a danger and temptation one is to others then.

Conversion is a miracle, for the first time, again, and continuously. There will come a holy rivalry in modesty and humility. We find out that we will never be able to fully search and know our depraved existence. Then our prayer becomes, “Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins” (Psalm 19:13a). In the way of ongoing uncovering, the eternal miracle will begin to mature more and more: “That whereas you should otherwise have suffered eternal death, I have given My body to the death of the cross and shed My blood for you.”

In Christ, the Father will turn His hand upon the little ones. Oh, is there yet a crumb of returning love in me, a sigh for holiness, a small piece of the gold of grace in the midst of an ocean of wickedness? Do I really belong to the spiritual temple choir? “To the chief Musician, A Psalm.” “O LORD, Thou knowest…!”

The haughty humbled, the humbled exalted

Peter had fallen deeply, but his Shepherd did not let him go. He turned to him and gave him repentance, atoned his guilt, conquered his death, went after him, and found him full of bitter tears in his lostness. “Peace be unto you!” Then Peter’s bitter tears became even more bitter but mixed in a flood of sweet tears of joy.

On the evening of that first day of the week, Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples. Standing in the midst, He called out to them, “Peace be unto you!”

“Peace be unto you,” children! Peter also… Oh, unspeakable and wonderful joy! “Peace be unto you,” My apostles! “As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” And “He breathed on them,” also on Peter, “and saith unto them,” also to Peter, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:19-22).

But what had Jesus settled with Peter in secret? A few weeks later, on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias, it was shown in the fruit to all the disciples. They all knew that Jesus had foretold Peter’s fall. They all would also see the word of grace confirmed to him: “…and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32).

(To be continued)

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