Psalm 139:1-24

Cross-references For Better Understanding a Related Topics b Additional Materials c

Summary

• Expressing total loyalty and devotion to God. Also, rejoicing in the fact that we cannot escape God's presence. (For a follower of God, this is a wonderful thing.)

Details and/or Comments

• "Omniscience" refers to the fact that God knows all things. "Omnipresence" refers to the fact that he is present in all places. "Omnipotence" refers to the fact that God is all-powerful.

In this psalm, we see that these concepts are much more than mere doctrines or teachings. Here, we see them applied to life. There is value in knowing that God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent.

• One aspect of total loyalty is that God's enemies are our enemies. Wickedness is utterly abhorrent to God; so it is utterly abhorrent to the person who has total loyalty and devotion to God.

We long for the repentance of the wicked (which would cause them to cease being enemies). But if they refuse, we must stand against them - though ultimately, we leave the act of judging to God. (When applicable, this would include judgment by his designated civil authorities.)

Scripture

Psalm 139:1-24

You know me perfectly and completely.

Scripture Passage

Comments and Links

Psa 139:1 Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me. Psa 139:2 You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar. Psa 139:3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Psa 139:4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether. Psa 139:5 You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me. Psa 139:6 This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.

You know the totality of me – what I do, what I think, where I am, etc. – even before it happens! Omniscience Here, the psalmist (David) acknowledges that all this is more than can he can comprehend. By v. 18, he is totally exhausted, just thinking about the wonders of God!

I cannot hide from you.

Scripture Passage

Comments and Links

Psa 139:7 Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea; Psa 139:10 Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me. Psa 139:11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;" Psa 139:12 even the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.

I cannot escape your presence – not in the most distant lands, or even in Sheol. Omnipresence Sheol - the place of the dead. Light or dark - it makes no difference to God. (People who do evil in the dark of the night aren't hiding anything from God!) Day and Night, Light and Dark Hidden Things, Secrets

You made me and planned my life; I am overwhelmed by the wonder of it all!

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 139:13 For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb. Psa 139:14 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. Psa 139:15 My frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth. Psa 139:16 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.	You made me and knew me even before I was born. The way you formed me - a demonstration of your providential power - is reason to give thanks. The power of God, his omnipotence, was at work in my life, even before I was born. Omnipotence The Value of Infants and the Unborn God and the Unborn Providence "In your book" - not the "Book of Life"; but a reference to what is described in some passages as "books of deeds," a record of what we do in life. Books of Deeds
Psa 139:17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Psa 139:18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.	In v. 2, the focus is on our thoughts - God knows them. Here in v. 17, the emphasis is on his thoughts about us - a fact that we should contemplate. How much does he think about us? His thoughts are expressed in his works - and they began even before we were born (vs. 13-16)! Attempting to contemplate the number of God's thoughts and works toward us would totally exhaust us. We could fall asleep trying, and then wake up, only to discover even more things to consider.

I am zealous for your righteous ways. Examine my heart to keep it pure.

Scripture Passage	Comments and Links
Psa 139:19 If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men! Psa 139:20 For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain. Psa 139:21 Yahweh, don't I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you? Psa 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.	Those who reject you and who despise your glory - they are repulsive to me. This desire for the destruction of the wicked demonstrates how great David's desire is for God to be honored - which is what all people should desire. Note that the passage doesn't say, "I'm going to kill them for you." Judgment is left in God's hands; it's not something that individuals take upon themselves to accomplish. The Judgment of the Wicked These are unrepentant wicked people who reject God. They hate him and take his name in vain (etc.)! (It would be more desirable that they repent and cease being God's enemies; but these people are unwilling to do so.) Commandment 3 - You must not use God's name in vain! There is a legitimate (and godly) form of hate. It's the same type of hate we are to have even for ourselves, when we are deciding whether or not to follow Jesus (Luke 14:26). It's a reflection of values: Any time we must choose between God and people (when we can't choose both), we must choose God. Hate Values Values Hierarchy
Psa 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. Psa 139:24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.	Examine me and make sure that I am not like them (the wicked)! Lead me in your way! We already know that God knows our thoughts (etc.); but we are affirming our desire or delight that it be that way. We are asking God to judge us - to evaluate our integrity. These two verses affirm that the hatred described in the previous verses is not the sinful kind!

Scripture Passages (Only books that have relevance to this study have active links. The others are in italics.) Genesis  •  Exodus  •  Leviticus  •  Numbers  •  Deuteronomy  •  Joshua  •  Judges  •  Ruth  •  1 Samuel  •  2 Samuel  •  1 Kings  •  2 Kings  •  1 Chronicles  •  2 Chronicles  •  Ezra  •  Nehemiah  •  Esther  •  Job  •  Psalms  •  Proverbs  •  Ecclesiastes  •  Song of Solomon  •  Isaiah  •  Jeremiah  •  Lamentations  •  Ezekiel  •  Daniel  •  Hosea  •  Joel  •  Amos  •  Obadiah  •  Jonah  •  Micah  •  Nahum  •  Habakkuk  •  Zephaniah  •  Haggai  •  Zechariah  •  Malachi Matthew  •  Mark  •  Luke  •  John  •  Acts  •  Romans  •  1 Corinthians  •  2 Corinthians  •  Galatians  •  Ephesians  •  Philippians  •  Colossians  •  1 Thessalonians  •  2 Thessalonians  •  1 Timothy  •  2 Timothy  •  Titus  •  Philemon  •  Hebrews  •  James  •  1 Peter  •  2 Peter  •  1 John  •  2 John  •  3 John  •  Jude  •  Revelation

—— To avoid any copyright issues, all Scripture is either from a public domain translation (such as the World English Bible), my own translation, or a combination of these. ——

The name "Yahweh," when present in an Old Testament passage, represents the Hebrew name for the God of the Bible.

Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.