Psalm 139
Psalm 139 is a profound reflection on God's intimate knowledge and care for each individual. David acknowledges that God knows everything about him, from his thoughts to his actions, and that there is no place he can go where God is not present. This chapter highlights the omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence of God while expressing awe at His creation and care for humanity.
Psalm 139:1-10 (NKJV)
1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, 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.
David acknowledges God's complete and intimate knowledge of him. God knows everything about David—his actions, thoughts, and words—even before they are formed. There is no place where David can hide or escape from God's Spirit, His personal presence, whether in the heights of heaven or the depths of the earth. God is always there, leading and holding him, offering both protection and guidance. The depth of God's omniscience and omnipresence overwhelms David, causing him to marvel at this incredible reality.
Psalm 139:11-12 (NKJV)
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.
David reflects on how darkness cannot hide him from God. Even in the darkest places, God’s presence brings light, and no amount of darkness can obscure His sight. This shows the all-seeing nature of God, for to Him, light and darkness are the same. David expresses a deep trust that God's care and awareness extend even to the most hidden moments of life.
Psalm 139:13-16 (NKJV)
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
Here, David praises God for His creation and design. God’s involvement in his life began even before birth, with God forming him in his mother’s womb. David marvels at the intricate care with which God made him, declaring himself fearfully and wonderfully made. God knew David even before his body was fully formed, and had already planned out the days of his life. This shows God’s intimate involvement in every aspect of life, even from conception.
Psalm 139:17-18 (NKJV)
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.
David reflects on how precious and vast God’s thoughts toward him are. He expresses a sense of awe and wonder at the countless thoughts that God has concerning him. This recognition of God’s continual care and presence fills David with peace, knowing that even when he wakes up, God is still with him.
Psalm 139:19-22 (NKJV)
19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.
David expresses his desire for God to judge the wicked, distancing himself from those who oppose God. He declares that those who hate God are also his enemies. This intense emotional response shows David's loyalty to God and his desire for justice against those who blaspheme and oppose the Lord.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NKJV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
David closes with a prayer for personal examination. He invites God to search his heart, to reveal any wickedness, and to lead him in the way that leads to eternal life. This humble request demonstrates David’s desire to align himself fully with God, seeking His guidance and correction to remain in the path of righteousness.