Psalm 142:3a: God's Omniscience of Our Weaknesses

“When my spirit faints within me, you know my way.” Psalm 143:3a

David is in a cave, hiding from his boss (Saul) for fear that he might kill him (go read 1 Samuel 24). Yet amidst his troubles, he does not take matters into his own hands, nor does he hopelessly whine and complain as if his life is over. Rather, he finds comfort in the omniscience of God as he utters the following words in Psalm 142: "When my spirit faints within me, you know my way."

The term omniscience is the big and fancy word we use to describe God's all-knowingness. Scripture plainly tells us that there is nothing outside of God's knowledge (go read Psalm 139). Not even a sparrow falls apart from the Lord's knowing (Matt. 10:29). Thus, God must also know our circumstances as well, even in our deepest and darkest moments.

Take notice of what the psalmist says here: "When my spirit faints, you know my way." When does the Lord know our way? Well, always, but specifically here, when our spirit faints. In other words, when you are broken, beat-down, tired, exhausted, unable to stand on your own, weak, and ready to give up. When you can't get the kids to obey, when you can't do anything right at your job, when you are in your 8th hour of homework for the day, when you just can't ace the exam, when your friends all dessert you, and when you are in terror of the coronavirus, then, and exactly then, is when the Lord knows full well of your condition.

Oh, dear reader, what great comfort we can find in knowing that the Lord knows of our every condition, especially when our spirits are faint! Hear the words of Arthur W. Pink:

"[Unrighteous] men would strip Deity of his omniscience if they could. . . .They wish there might be no Witness of their sins, no Searcher of their heart, no Judge of their deeds. . . .But to the believer, the fact of God's omniscience is a truth fraught with much comfort. . . .In times of weariness and weakness believers assure themselves, 'he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust' (Ps. 103:14)."

And furthermore:

"He [God] foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding; yet, nevertheless, fixed his heart upon me."

Beloved child of God, take great comfort in the fact that the Lord knows of your weak and weary position. Your condition is not outside of his knowledge, nor his care outside of your reach. We serve a God who is knowing amidst our tragedies, remembering amidst our brokenheartedness, and saving if we would only come humbly to his feet.

Arthur W. Pink, The Attributes of God, chapter 3.