PSALM CXXXIX
A fine account of the omniscience of God, 1-6;
of his omnipresence, 7-12;
of his power and providence, 13-16.
The excellence of his purposes, 17, 18.
His opposition to the wicked, 19, 20;
with whom the godly can have no fellowship, 21, 22.
NOTES ON PSALM CXXXIX
The title of this Psalm in the Hebrew is, To the chief Musician,
or, To the Conqueror, A Psalm of David. The Versions in general
follow the Hebrew. And yet, notwithstanding these testimonies,
there appears internal evidence that the Psalm was not written by
David, but during or after the time of the captivity, as there
are several Chaldaisms in it. See Ps 139:2, 3, 7, 9, 19, 20,
collated with Da 2:29, 30; 4:16; 7:28; some of these shall be
noticed in their proper places.
As to the author, he is unknown; for it does not appear to have
been the work of David. The composition is worthy of him, but the
language appears to be lower than his time.
Concerning the occasion, there are many conjectures which I need
not repeat, because I believe them unfounded. It is most probable
that it was written on no particular occasion, but is a moral
lesson on the wisdom, presence, providence, and justice of God,
without any reference to any circumstance in the life of David, or
in the history of the Jews.
The Psalm is very sublime; the sentiments are grand, the style
in general highly elevated, and the images various and impressive.
The first part especially, that contains so fine a description of
the wisdom and knowledge of God, is inimitable.
Bishop Horsley's account of this Psalm is as follows:-
"In the first twelve verses of this Psalm the author celebrates
God's perfect knowledge of man's thoughts and actions; and the
reason of this wonderful knowledge, viz., that God is the Maker of
man. Hence the psalmist proceeds, in the four following verses,
Ps 139:13-16, to magnify God as ordaining and superintending
the formation of his body in the womb. In the 17th and 18th
Ps 139:17, 18 he acknowledges God's providential care of him
in every moment of his life; and in the remainder of the Psalm
implores God's aid against impious and cruel enemies, professing
his own attachment to God's service, that is, to the true
religion, and appealing to the Searcher of hearts himself for the
truth of his professions.
The composition, for the purity and justness of religious
sentiment, and for the force and beauty of the images, is
certainly in the very first and best style. And yet the frequent
Chaldaisms of the diction argue no very high antiquity.
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