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psalm 139 summary |
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| Psalm 139 is attributed to King David, and according to the Jewish tradition, belongs to the fifth book of the psalms (the fifth book is the last forty-four psalms up to psalm 150). This scripture is often used to validate God's omnipresence, e.g. that He is everywhere present (verses 7 -12). The scripture is also indicative of God's knowledge, as it appears that David believes that the Lord knows everything about him (verses 1 -6), and that God is creator - not only of the heavens and earth that we read about in Genesis 1, but the Lord also appears to have crafted David together when he grew as a baby inside his mother's womb. (verses 13 -16). This concurs with Genesis 2 - the Lord is the designer and maker behind humanity. |
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The ominscent (all-knowing) and ominpresent nature of God are
further developed in verses 17 to 18. In verse 17, David likens the thoughts of God to the grains of sand on the seashore - so many to be beyond counting. And in verse 18, God has not abandoned him. This foreshadows Christ in the New Testament. After the resurrection, Jesus commissions his followers to make disciples of all nations, adding "I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28, verse 20).
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| How can we respond to this psalm? |
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1. David is in awe of God's handiwork. He marvels at how he has been created in his mother's womb. What does this mean for how we are to perceive others? Regardless of disablility, belief, skin colour or ethnic group, the Lord has been at work in each of our "creations" in the womb. And on a personal level, belief that God has fashioned us into something that is wonderful can not help but deeply impact the way we perceive ourselves and our own sense of self-worth.
2. How do we respond to David's assertion that God is everywhere, and that he knows everything about us?
At the end of Psalm 139, David soberly assesses himself before God, inviting the Lord to "cross examine and test me" (Psalm 139 verses 23-24, The Message). We remind ourselves that God is love, he is our heavenly father who ultimately desires the very best for us. So as we allow God into every corner of our lives, we can trust in Him to lead us in the "everlasting way" (verse 24).
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Psalm 139 |
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For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
1 Yahweh, you have searched me,
And you know me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up.
You perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out 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, Yahweh, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in behind and before.
You laid your hand on me.
6 This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.
7 Where could I go from your Spirit?
Or where could I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there.
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
And settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there your hand will lead me,
And your right hand will hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me;
The light around me will be night;”
12 Even the darkness doesn’t hide from you,
But the night shines as the day.
The darkness is like light to you.
13 For you formed my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to you,
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful.
My soul knows that very well.
15 My frame wasn’t hidden from you,
When I was made in secret,
Woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my body.
In your book they were all written,
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand.
When I wake up, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would kill the wicked.
Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 For they speak against you wickedly.
Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Yahweh, don’t I hate those who hate you?
Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred.
They have become my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart.
Try me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
(World English Bible)
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