Psalm 139
The Bible tells us that God is omniscient, that He knows everything there is to know and sees everything there is to see. But there's a conclusion we can draw about His omniscience that we don't usually think about: He not only knows everything, but He knows US. David was thinking about that conclusion when he wrote this song, and he wanted the people to become more aware of it by singing it in the morning on Mount Zion. Each person, as he sang, would hopefully begin to realize just how deeply and how intimately God knew him.
And it isn't merely that God knows the things each person does, but God also knows even the thoughts of his mind, the things considered in his heart and soul! The people sing, "You understand my thought afar off!" That just means He knows the thoughts even long before they even become conscious thoughts! As they sang, the people were confessing that God knew even all their future thoughts, the thoughts they themselves didn't even know about yet!
Then, as David continued to consider that amazing fact, he also realized that no one could ever hide anything from God – whether physical or mental. He says, "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?" He thinks of the most unlikely places, but he realizes that God knows those places too.
How can God know all these things? He knows them because He's the Maker of light and darkness, of sun, moon, and stars, - and every cell of our bodies and brains! David confesses it. He says, "For You formed my inward parts, You covered me in my mother's womb." How can we adequately emphasize it – He KNOWS us! We are the marvelous, wise, intricate works of His own hands! And He had total knowledge of us from before the foundation of the world! As David says, "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!" Simply yet profoundly put, God has known every aspect of our lives - eternally!
At this point David begins to draw some very important conclusions. He says, "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand!" He just means that if God is SO all knowing, if God is SO wise, then His thoughts – His Word – must also be full of infinite wisdom! To know that Word, then, is "precious" – it's a kind of wisdom to be intensely sought after.
Another conclusion David draws is that the foolishness of the wicked – of those who don't acknowledge God – must be extremely great and ought to be despised. David sings as if he himself were speaking to such benighted souls. He says, "Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men! For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your Name in vain! Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?" David wants nothing to do with such overwhelming foolishness.
His final conclusion is that he wants to totally entrust himself into the hands of the all-knowing God. He says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Knowing at least a little of the wisdom and omniscience of God, he wants to leave himself entirely to that wonderful wisdom.
How about you? Are you aware that He knows YOU? Do you realize that if He knows you as well as He does, then you might as well completely confide in Him? Do you, in fact, realize that it is for your everlasting GOOD to completely confide in Him? Oh rest in the all-knowing GOD!
Pastor thank-you.
I am in a position at the moment where I cannot run and am having to take things very easy for a while on medical instruction...
I am aware of His nearness and I find myself quoting parts of this psalm to myself quite often these days. It is a comfort to me.
God bless you.
Jenny.
Thanks for commenting Jenny. I'm always so glad when anyone comments and tells me that the psalms are doing them good.
Hi.
I have been thinking about this Psalm over the last few days. Recalling that God formed me in my mother's womb. He even knew that something was wrong with the bones in my ears ...He didn t form them that way...the sins of the fathers caused it in some way., or the fact that a bomb dropped very nearby as I was being born. He did arrange for surgery many years later. Sadly things are going wrong with the prosthesis and I am calling on the Lord for a miracle....He can touch me. he has done it before, He can do it again.
This is the Psalm for me at the moment...I thought I would pop in to remind me of your comments.
Off now to re-read Ps 139 over a cup of de-caff tea...in my little garden. Got a new table, chairs and sunshade.
God bless Pastor.
Jenny.