A Poetic Theology of God

A Poetic Theology of God’s Omniscience and Omnipresence Leading to Complete Trust in the Midst of Difficult Times

Psalm 139

Context of the Psalm

V1- Yahweh knows David “penetratingly” and David understands the depth of God’s knowledge of him.

Unpacks what this looks like in the rest of the psalm.

VV 19-22- The presence of the wicked is a reality in David’s life and seems to be present in his immediate context

Speaks to the reality of evil and sin in life
Wrestles with theodicy

“From the standpoint of OT theology this is the climax of thought in the psalter on God’s relationship to the individual.”

God’s active knowledge of David’s life and experience

David uses a literary tool called a merism (coming from a word meaning division). So he sets up these divisions of thought in order to illustrate the scope of God’s knowledge and work.
David says…

i. V2. You know what I do

ii. V3. You know where I go

iii. V4. You know what I think

Everything David does occurs within the boundaries of God’s permissive will.

i. Permissive will is not used here as it is when God’s permissive will is compared to God’s perfect will. I use this term only to indicate that God allows us freedom within a certain limited sphere.

David is blown away by God’s knowledge i. It is not because of some abstract philosophical concept of God but because of the very concrete and real experience that David has with Yahweh. This is a common element throughout the OT.

1. There is always an appeal to look at what God has done

2. We share the same type of privilege in that we look back to a fixed concrete event in the crucifixion and resurrection.

ii. Carry this awe forward to us…

1. You know me. You see all of me. There is nothing hidden from you and yet you love me and actively participate in my life.

2. Heb 11:12-16- God’s intimate knowledge of us and of all things leads us to be able to draw near

a. We can do this with boldness because of our high priest.

3. Rom 11:33- Oh the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways.

4. Jn 10:14- I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.

David begins to think in rhetorical potentialities.

2 Questions i. “Where can I go from your Spirit?”

ii. Where shall I flee from your presence?”

V8. Heaven or hell?

i. You are there

ii. As an aside…Will God’s presence be in hell? Will God be with those who are condemned to eternal punishment? If not, is he truly omnipresent?

V9. wings of the morning. i. Sunrise and the light moves so fast from east to west. Even David could go that fast he still could not get away from God.

1. Light has been proved, by many experiments, to travel at the astonishing rate of 194,188 miles in one second of time; and comes from the sun to the earth, a distance of 95,513,794 miles in 8 minutes and nearly 12 seconds! But, could I even fly upon the wings or rays of the morning light, which diffuses itself with such velocity over the globe from east to west, instead of being beyond Thy reach, or by this sudden transition be able to escape Thy notice, Thy arm could still at pleasure prevent or arrest my progress, and I should still be encircled with the immensity of Thy essence. The sentiment in this noble passage is remarkably striking and the description truly sublime[1]

V10. David develops the idea of God’s hand more here by showing that he is not merely restrictive. His hand leads and holds. #. V11, 12. Even the most oppressive darkness cannot hide David.
Summary of these two parts…

i. PART 1- You know everything about me and participate actively in my life

ii. PART 2- There is no way I could ever get away from you.

This begs the question…Why? #. PART 3 answers.

God takes responsibility for His creation.

V13. For you formed my inward parts… i. God made David and therefore takes responsibility for him

ii. We see this idea developed in its fullness in the redemption.

1. Rom 8:18-23. Redeems his people and redeems his creation (world etc.)

V.16. God not only made David, but he formed his days.

i. Opens the box for a huge theological and philosophical debate about God’s sovereignty, foreknowledge, predestination, free will, etc.

ii. Let’s just take the word at face value.

1. V 16. In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Very similar to Paul’s sermon in Acts 17. i. Creates, Ordains, Judges
V.17, 18. God’s thoughts toward David are precious i. Rare, honored, dignified, heavy, difficult.

ii. I don’t think David is dealing in the realm of warm fuzzies.

iii. “To me”

1. in regard to me, toward me, in reference to me.

iv. V. 18. I awake, and am still with you

1. Lam 3:22-24

v. It means so much to David that God is thinking about him. His very life is in the mind of God.

1. We love when our lives take up the thoughts of someone else. The reality is that our lives take up the mind of God.

What about the wicked?

V19. David asks God to get rid of them. #. He describes them

i. Speak against God

ii. Malicious intent

iii. Take the name of God in vain

iv. Hate (reject) God

v. Rise up against God

God loves David, watches him, cares for him, knows everything about him, and actively and personably interacts with him. Yet he allows this precious one to live in a world with sin and evil and wickedness. How does that work?
Effects of sin as seen in the fall.

i. Gen 3:7 they knew they were naked

1. shame

ii. Gen 3:8 Hiding from God

1. Brokenness of relationship

iii. Gen 3:10 I was afraid

1. Fear

iv. Gen 3: 11 …of which I commanded you

1. Guilt

v. Gen 3:16-19 Curse

1. physical pain/ distorted relationships/ creation cursed/ physical conditions/ etc.

Gospel addresses all of these, but the manifestation is not immediately seen in all areas i. Personal effects

1. Rom 5:1

a. Justified-guilt

b. Peace- fear

c. Hope-shame

d. All of this works out a restored relationship with God

ii. What has yet to be dealt with?

1. judgment of the ungodly

2. redemption of the created order

3. redemption of our bodies

iii. There is promise…

1. 2 Peter 3

a. V7. ungodly

b. V13. creation (Rom 8)

2. 1 Cor 15

a. V52. bodies

iv. I can’t remember hating sin and its effects more than I do now in the present situation with Matt.

David’s Conclusion

V23, 24 i. Search me…know my heart

ii. Try me…know my thoughts

iii. See me…know my actions

iv. Lead me…in the way everlasting

“You know me better than I know myself. You made me and you have laid out my days. You think of me all the time. Therefore, in the midst of this struggle with sin (without and within) I can trust you and I will trust you.
The psalm’s overall approach to the subject seems to be…

i. God knows it

ii. God is sovereign over it

iii. God wants us to trust him in the midst of it.

1 Peter 4:19- Therefore, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

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