Psalms139

Psalm 139 extols God's profound omniscience and omnipresence, revealing His intimate knowledge of David's every thought, action, and location. David marvels at being "fearfully and wonderfully made" by God in the womb, acknowledging His detailed involvement in his creation. The psalm concludes with David's plea for God to search his heart and lead him in the way everlasting, contrasting his devotion with the wicked.

God's Perfect Knowledge of Man (Omniscience)

1
For the leader. A psalm of David: ADONAI, you have probed me, and you know me. ​
2
You know when I sit and when I stand up, you discern my inclinations from afar, ​
3
you scrutinize my daily activities. You are so familiar with all my ways
4
that before I speak even a word, ADONAI, you know all about it already.
5
You have hemmed me in both behind and in front and laid your hand on me. ​
6
Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me, far too high for me to reach. ​

There Is No Escape from God's Presence (Omnipresence)

7
Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8
If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I lie down in Sh'ol, you are there. ​
9
If I fly away with the wings of the dawn and land beyond the sea,
10
even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would hold me fast. ​
11
If I say, "Let darkness surround me, let the light around me be night,"
12
even darkness like this is not too dark for you; rather, night is as clear as day, darkness and light are the same. ​

Wonderfully Made in the Womb (Divine Creation)

13
For you fashioned my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. ​
14
I thank you because I am awesomely made, wonderfully; your works are wonders -I know this very well. ​
15
My bones were not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ​
16
Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in your book all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed. ​
17
God, how I prize your thoughts! How many of them there are! ​
18
If I count them, there are more than grains of sand; if I finish the count, I am still with you.

Prayer Against the Wicked and Self-Examination

19
God, if only you would kill off the wicked! Men of blood, get away from me! ​
20
They invoke your name for their crafty schemes; yes, your enemies misuse it.
21
ADONAI, how I hate those who hate you! I feel such disgust with those who defy you!
22
I hate them with unlimited hatred! They have become my enemies too. ​
23
Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts. ​
24
See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way. ​

Study Notes for Psalms 139

Verse 1

This opening verse establishes the central theological theme: the personal, meticulous knowledge God possesses of David’s inner and outer life. The verb 'searched' implies a thorough, intimate investigation.

Verse 2

Knowing the 'downsitting and mine uprising' signifies God’s awareness of the totality of daily human action, both private repose and public activity. To 'understandest my thought afar off' means God knows the intention before it is fully formed or spoken.

Verse 5

To be 'beset me behind and before' suggests God protects and constrains the psalmist, like a surrounding wall. The laying of the hand signifies divine ownership, blessing, and sovereign control over David’s destiny.

Verse 6

The psalmist reacts to God’s incomprehensible knowledge with awe, acknowledging the limitations of human understanding before the divine intellect. This is a response of worship, not fear.

Verse 8

The contrast between 'heaven' (the heights) and 'hell' (Sheol, the grave/depths) is a merism, illustrating that God’s presence fills all possible cosmic locations, confirming His omnipresence.

Verse 10

'The wings of the morning' refers to the swiftness of the rising sun; the 'uttermost parts of the sea' refers to the distant West. Even in the most remote geographical extremes, God’s guiding and sustaining hand is present.

Verse 12

This verse confirms that for God, darkness (often associated with concealment) and light are functionally identical, reinforcing His ability to see everything regardless of physical conditions.

Verse 13

'Possessed my reins' (referring to the kidneys, considered the seat of deep emotion and inner life) signifies God's governance over the innermost being. He is the active agent in the formation of life in the womb.

Verse 14

To be 'fearfully and wonderfully made' expresses profound reverence for the complexity and intricate design of the human body and soul, attributing this marvelous creation entirely to God’s craftsmanship.

Verse 15

The phrase 'curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth' uses metaphorical language; the womb is likened to the hidden, deep places where complex and secret processes occur, emphasizing the mysterious nature of creation.

Verse 16

The image of God having a 'book' where the psalmist's 'members were written' before they were formed highlights divine foreknowledge and the meticulous planning of individual life and destiny.

Verse 17

Shifting focus, the psalmist marvels at the sheer volume and value of God's thoughts concerning humanity, confirming God's constant, profound, and loving engagement with His creation.

Verse 19

The tone abruptly shifts to an imprecation (a curse or prayer for judgment). This reflects David’s righteous indignation against those who actively oppose God’s moral order.

Verse 22

This 'perfect hatred' is not personal vendetta but zealous alignment with God's judgment against His spiritual enemies. David sees those who hate God as his own enemies because they defy the divine order.

Verse 23

The psalmist moves from meditating on God's omniscience to inviting it into his own life, submitting his heart for divine scrutiny. This is the practical application of the theological truths established earlier.

Verse 24

This concluding petition asks God to expose any potential sinful path ('wicked way') and instead guide him onto the 'way everlasting,' the path of righteousness that leads to eternal life.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options