FRAMEWORKS:
Psalm 139: God who sees and knows everything
For
the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
[Preliminary
Comments: In this remarkable second of eight psalms
by David at this point, we have the greatest ‘insight psalm' in
the Bible where David recognises just how the Lord knows and sees
everything about him. The Lord knows all his activity [v.1-5]
and that in itself almost seems too much for him [v.6], but then
he realises that not only does the Lord see his activity, He goes
before him and behind him so that, in fact, there is nowhere on
earth David could go where God's presence wasn't [v.7-12]. But
then, as he thinks on, he realises that the Lord has known him,
been involved with him, and watched over him from the moment of
conception onwards [v.13-16] and as he speculates on God's ‘thoughts'
he realises that God knows absolutely everything and that too
is almost too incredible to comprehend [v.17,18]. But then he
looks out from himself and is aware of those around him who were
unrighteous [v.19-22] and has to conclude by asking the Lord to
search him through and through so he can avoid being like them
[v.23,24]. This is a psalm that is not only about the greatness
of the Lord but also of David's insights into how that greatness
relates to him.]
v.1-5
The first group of things listing what the Lord knows about him
v.1
You
have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
v.2 You
know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
v.3 You
discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
v.4 Before
a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
v.5 You
hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
v.6
He feels this is almost too much to take in
v.6
Such
knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
v.7-12
He realises there is absolutely nowhere he could go to escape
the Lord
v.7
Where
can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
v.8 If
I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are
there.
v.9 If
I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
v.10
even
there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
v.11
If
I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,'
v.12
even
the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
v.13-16
He realises God was involved with him from conception
v.13
For
you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
v.14
I
praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
v.15
My
frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths
of the earth.
v.16
Your
eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written
in your book
before one of them came to be.
v.17,18
he is amazed by what he knows of the Lord
v.17
How
precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
v.18
Were
I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand –
when I awake, I am still with you.
v.19-22
His only anxiety is over the unrighteous
v.19
If
only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
v.20
They
speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
v.21
Do
I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against
you?
v.22
I
have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
v.23,24
He ask the Lord to search him and lead him in righteousness
v.23
Search
me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
v.24
See
if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
[Additional
Comments: Our response to this psalm must surely be
to recognise that all these things are equally true of us. In
the light of this, we must recognise that we can only stand secure
before this Holy God, who sees and knows everything about us,
in the light of His Son having died for us and thus to take and
deal with all those things about us that make us less than perfect.]
Continue
to Psa 140