Psalm 139

Psalm 139 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

For the next few weeks, we’re going to be studying the Psalms

Next week Justin is jumping in

Followed by Luke

After which we will be heading to the book of Judges.

All Seeing

All Present

All Creative

All Holy

Have you ever felt surrounded?

People

Concert

Playing Basketball…get the ball in the corner and the double team comes at you.

Nature

Caves

Mosquitoes

Thoughts

Overwhelmed by your responsibilities

Anxious about uncertainties of life

Afraid of what people might think of you

…afraid of what God thinks of you.

Psalm 139 tells us where God is in the midst of all of this...

Psalm 139:1–6 ESV

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

You know me (1-6)

God has full knowledge of me (1-4)

my movements

my thoughts

my habits

my words

God’s knowledge surrounds me

Behind, in front of, above

Perfect reflection

Perfect anticipation

Perfect action

This is wonderful!

God knows beyond what I know

God knows more than whatever surrounds me...

Psalm 139:7–12 ESV

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

You are with me (7-12)

7 - The Lord is everywhere

8 - In the heavens and in the depths

9 - From the East (wings of the morning-sunrise) to the West (the Sea-sunset)

10 - The Lord’s hand lead’s me in every place

11-12 - God is not afraid of the dark!

God knows where I am even in the dark…darkness cannot hide anything from God

Psalm 139:13–18 ESV

13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

You made me (13-18)

13 - Before my mom gave birth to me, you formed me.

14 - This phrase sounds a bit prideful, but remember the Psalmist is reflecting personally on how God has made each and everyone of us…not just himself...

I am (The human body is) AWESOME AND one of a kind (lit: distinguished)

15-16 - God saw me before I was made…God knew my days before they came to pass

17-18 -

Psalm 139:17–18 ESV

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

17 -

Psalm 139:19–24 ESV

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

You lead me (19-24)

To this point, the Psalmist has reflected on

The Lord’s omniscience (all-knowing)

The Lord’s omnipresence (all-present)

The Lord’s omnipotence (all-powerful)

In this final stanza, we the Psalmist shows us there are two polar opposite responses to the Sovereignty of God.

Hatred or Humility

20 - Hatred

They speak against God

They treat God’s name as meaningless

19-22 - Protecting me from evil

The Psalmist cries out for God’s protection from these who hate God

The Psalmist declares hatred for those who hate God

23-24 - Humility

Instead of boasting in the strength the Lord has given him or gloating over the destruction of his enemies

The Psalmist admits the brokenness of his own heart

23 - search ME…know MY heart. Try ME …know MY thoughts

24 - If there is any grievous way in me, lead me in

Leading me to the everlasting way

GO WITH THIS...

Are amazed by God’s knowledge?

God knows more about what you’re going through than you know

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, 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 understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Do we trust God in every place we go?

God is with you everywhere you go

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Are God’s thoughts precious to you?

Do we desire God’s everlasting ways in our life or our own?

-Through swings of emotion