Psalm 139

Psalm 139 MEV

For the Music Director. A Psalm of David. O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand my thought from far off. You search my path and my lying down and are aware of all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it fully. You put Yourself behind and before me, and keep Your hand on me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is lofty, and I cannot fathom it. Where shall I go from Your spirit, or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell at the end of the sea, even there Your hand shall guide me, and Your right hand shall take hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light shall be as night about me,” even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines as the day, for the darkness is like light to You. You brought my inner parts into being; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder; marvelous are Your works, and You know me completely. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw me unformed, yet in Your book all my days were written, before any of them came into being. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. If only You would slay the wicked, O God! O violent men, depart from me. For they speak against You with malice, and Your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not abhor those who rise up against You? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my concerns, and see if there is any rebellious way in me, and lead me in the ancient way.

The Bible Guide ‘All Yours!’ (Psalm 139)

‘All yours!’

(Psalm 139)

This is a psalm about the completeness of God’s knowledge and care for every individual.

‘O LORD, YOU KNOW!’

David is amazed at how completely God knows him (139:1–16). It is as though God has sifted through him in painstaking detail, to know him in every part.

God has always been at work in David’s life. He formed him in his mother’s womb. He sees his every action and knows his every thought. There is nowhere David can go which is beyond God’s saving presence and love. The vastest distance, the deepest darkness—even death itself—are no barriers to God.

‘STILL WITH YOU’

David turns his wonder to praise (139:17–18). God thinks about him constantly! This gives him total security. When he wakes, whether in the morning after sleep or at resurrection after death, he is still with God.

AN OUTBURST

Suddenly David flashes with anger at the violence and blasphemy of the wicked (139:19–22). If God is so powerful, why doesn’t he rid him of them? After all, they are God’s enemies too.

There is no answer. But the psalm prompts us to realize that God has also made these enemies. Like David, they are never beyond God’s reach. He doesn’t destroy them, because his patient love waits for them to become friends.

‘LEAD ME’

The outburst over, David invites God to test his inner thoughts and worries (139:23–24). He wants more of God’s perfect knowledge of him. He wants all of God’s way to life

1 Corinthians 2:9–10 KJV 1900

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 2:5

1 Corinthians 2:5 KJV 1900

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9