PSALM 139 - Yielding to the LORD's Search of my Soul.
 
This psalm can be divided into four stanzas...
  1. The LORD's Knowledge of me. v.1-6
  2. The LORD's Presence around me. v.7-12
  3. The LORD's Purpose and Design for me. v.13-18
  4. The LORD's Judgment, and His everlasting Way. v.19-24
 
1. To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down,
and art acquainted [with] all my ways.
4 For [there is] not a word in my tongue,
[but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before,
and laid thine hand upon me.
6 [Such] knowledge [is] too wonderful for me;
it is high, I cannot [attain] unto it.
O LORD, thou hast searched {ie., examined minutely} me, and known {intimately} me.
The LORD knows you and me very thoroughly. His 'search' has always been complete, as indicated by the verb tense ('thou hast searched...'). A human 'searcher' is ignorant of your secrets, until he stumbles upon them. (eg., The TSA agent at the airport does not know what is in your suitcase, until it is opened and examined. But God knew the brand of your toothpaste, before you packed it.)
     It is amazing that the infinite God should consider the personal details of His finite creatures. But He does... and there is nothing that He does not know about you. Psa 11:4,5; Heb 4:13
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Nothing escapes His attention. He is aware of every movement of our bodies. He discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts, long before we conceive them (even thousands of years before, eg., Eze 38:10,11; Joh 2:24,25)
thou compassest my path and my lying down...
Waking or sleeping, at work or in bed, regardless of what we may do, everything is within the sphere of His knowledge. Whether I follow His ways, or plot my own rebellious route, He knows.
     The implication of the English word 'to compass' is that God surrounds or is all around me, and therefore sees what I do. But the Hebrew word {HB=zarah, to scatter, to winnow, to compass} opens a deeper meaning. Winnowing is the process of separating valuable grain from worthless chaff, by using the wind to drive the chaff away. Thus, God not only knows, but also discerns, differentiates and weighs my ways, against His Holy Spirit.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Even our unformed words are known to Him. Every aspect of their meaning is understood before we utter a single syllable. We may conceal our thoughts from other men, with deceptive words or inflections. But God knows the thoughts of your heart. He is not deceived by what you say. Psa 50:19-21; Mat 15:7,8; Heb 4:12,13
Thou hast beset {ie., confined} me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
The word for 'beset' is often translated 'bound' or 'besieged'. The expression has multiple implications:
  1. He closely guards and escorts His own.
  2. He has set limits beyond which the rebellious cannot proceed.
  3. He has 'concluded' (ie., confined, inclosed) all descendants of Adam in the same fallen condition, in order to offer His mercy toward everyone equally (Rom 11:32; 2Pet 3:9).
This word for 'hand' {HB=kaph} refers to the palm or the hollow of the hand. It is often used in reference to the work performed or the thing held by the hand. Again there are multiple implications:
  1. He keeps His own, in His hand (Joh 10:27-30).
  2. But, like it or not, rebels are also in His hands, and He will handle them appropriately (eg., Mat 3:11,12; Heb 10:29-31).
  3. His hand may be heavy upon a man to bring conviction and repentance of sin, so that He can apply His mercy (Psa 32:4,5, where 'hand' is HB=yad).
Such knowledge is too wonderful {lit., wonderfully wonderful} for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
The LORD's complete knowledge concerning me is beyond my comprehension and imagination. Even king David could not begin to explore its heights, although as a psalmist and prophet, his spiritual understanding was far above that of other men. Psa 40:5; Rom 11:32-34
7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit?
or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there].
9 [If] I take the wings of the morning,
[and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;
but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
As declared in the first stanza (v.1-6), there is nothing hidden from the LORD's omniscience. Likewise, there is no escape from His omnipresence. Jer 23:23,24
     In the light of those facts, our sin is a dreadful thing, for we offend the Holy One to His face, and commit acts of treason at the foot of His throne. Psa 90:8
     Yet, the same facts are a profound comfort, for the child of God, whose sin has been forgiven, and to whom the LORD imputes His righteousness. Psa 46:1; Heb 13:5,6
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
This is the only biblical occurrence of this word for 'ascend' {HB=nasaq, go up}. Of course, we would expect to find God in Heaven. But the meaning here is: 'If I go up into the heavens.' (David is imagining the possibility of air or space travel.) Wherever I might take flight, God is there. This is good news for those who God loves (Neh 1:9).
     On the other extreme, 'Behold (ie., this may surprise you), He will also find me in hell' {HB=sheol, the grave, the place of the dead awaiting final judgment}. Death does not provide an escape from God's judgment. Amos 9:2-4
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
At the break of day, light 'flies in' and floods the dark world. If I could travel at the speed of light, to the farthest, most obscure and hidden location, even there...
The Light of His Presence comforts His own... and uncovers those who hide in darkness...
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not {lit., darkens not} from thee; but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
How foolish men are: to 'love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil' (Joh 3:19). Nothing is hidden from Him (Dan 2:22; Isa 29:15; Psa 94:9; Heb 4:13). Yet, for those who come to the Light, there is joy in the Light of His Presence (1Joh 1:4-7).
13 For thou hast possessed my reins:
thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee;
for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made:
marvellous [are] thy works;
and [that] my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee,
when I was made in secret,
[and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
and in thy book all [my members] were written,
[which] in continuance were fashioned,
when [as yet there was] none of them.
17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
how great is the sum of them!
18 [If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with thee.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
Here is a further explanation of how the LORD knows me so completely. He is not only omniscient and omnipresent, but He is also my Creator.
     The word 'possessed' {HB=qanah, create, possess, procure, purchase} refers to God's ownership of that which He has made. (See this word in Gen 14:19,22; Deu 32:6, where it is translated 'bought'.)
     His ownership extends to my 'reins' {HB=kilyah, 'innermost being', the seat of desires and longings}, which He 'covered' {HB=sakak, entwined, fenced, knit} as I was being formed in my mother's womb.
     He is intimately familiar with the way I am put together. He knew all about me, even before I was born, long before I had any understanding of myself.
...I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy works... (v.14)
The way the LORD has made me is cause for 'fear' {reverence, worship}. The two similar words, 'wonderfully made' {HB=pala} and 'marvellous' {HB=palah}, acknowledge that God's creative work is far beyond man's ability to design or duplicate. (cp. 'marvellous' in Psa 118:23; 'wonders' in Ex 3:20)
     'I will praise thee...' Why? Because 'my soul is very well aware' of my Creator's supernatural power, as I consider the intricate design of my own body. The detail and precision of individual body parts (eg., the eye, the ear, the hand, the digestive system...) is beyond imagination. Yet, the marvel is compounded, by a multitude of marvellous parts which work together in seamless interdependence within each human body. The evidence that God is the Creator of human beings is plainly displayed 'in them' (Rom 1:19,20).
my substance {HB='otsem, strength, power}... (v.15)
Having no life or strength in ourselves, we could not bring ourselves into existence. We understand neither how we were formed, nor the essence of our own beings. But that which is a mystery to me "was not hid from Thee."
     He formed each of us 'privately' and 'intricately' {elsewhere, the phrase 'curiously wrought' refers to fine embroidery and needlework}.
     The place where this 'curious work' occurred is described as 'the lowest parts of the earth.' However, according to v.13, the work was accomplished in the womb. Thus, the phrase does not identify a place, but rather serves to emphasize that the process is beyond the reach of human comprehension.
     But the LORD saw and oversaw the development of my 'unperfect' {ie., unformed} embryo... even before my conception.
...in thy book all... were written... in continuance were fashioned, when... none of them.
(The above line, from v.16, omits the bracketed words.)
Every detail about my body was 'written' {recorded, described, prescribed} before anything began to form. Concerning our physical beings, this is an accurate description of the unique DNA sequence in which instructions are encoded for the formation of each human body. Those instructions direct the 'continuance' of the gestation process. The phrase 'in continuance were fashioned' is centered around the Hebrew word for 'day' {HB=yom}. The process continues day by day according to the pre-determined schedule. But the phrase can also mean that the day for the process to begin and the day of its completion are pre-determined.
     God's 'book' pre-records much more than my physical characteristics. In addition to my bodily strengths and weaknesses (including birth 'defects'), He determined the generation in which I would live, and the circumstances which would challenge me.
     [Note: The scriptures refer to different 'books' which have specific purposes (eg., Psa 56:8; 69:28; Mal 3:16; Rev 20:12-15). The book, in this psalm, is focused on God's design and purpose for the life of an individual person. He has a volume about you.]
How precious {ie., valuable} also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
how great {HB='atsam, strong, mighty} is the sum of them!
The LORD's thoughts concerning me are of great value, not because they are scarce, but rather, because they are essential for my well-being. Psa 40:5; Jer 29:11
     The LORD's thoughts are not only great in number, but also great in power (Isa 55:8-11). Note that the word for 'great' (in v.17) is related to the word for 'substance' (in v.15). He alone is the Mighty One, the giver of life and strength. If He had not thought of me, I would not exist.
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with thee.
The LORD's thoughts concerning us are not only innumerable, but also beyond our comprehension. If you could count all the grains of sand on the seashore, you would still be ignorant of the distinguishing characteristics of each grain (eg., its size, shape, mineral content, etc.). The LORD's thoughts are far more complex than grains of sand. There is no searching of His understanding (Isa 40:28).
     It is no wonder that a man, who seeks to know God, meditates on His Word day and night (Psa 1:2). My meditation on Him may be interrupted by sleep, but there is no interruption of His Presence (Psa 63:6,7). Even the sleep of death cannot separate me from Him (Psa 17:15; Dan 12:2; 1The 5:9,10).
     However, the unrepentant sinner will be permanently cut off from Him, in due time...
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:
depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly,
[and] thine enemies take [thy name] in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee?
and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred:
I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart:
try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if [there be any] wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God...
The LORD judges everyone with perfect righteousness, for He knows everything about every person's heart, and He observes every thought, word and deed (Isa 11:4).
He will slay the wicked because the penalty for sin is death. Eze 18:4
Sin manifests itself in various ways, several of which are mentioned in v.19-21.
  • the wicked {HB=rasha, the morally wrong, the ungodly}.
  • bloody men - The term 'bloody' is applied to those who shed innocent blood,
    and is associated with violence and murder (Eze 7:23).
    It is sometimes translated 'bloodguiltiness' (eg., Psa 51:14).
  • those that speak against the LORD wickedly {HB=mezimmah, with malicious or evil intent}.
    Such men are boastful of their disregard for God's Word,
    and blatant in their blasphemy against Him. eg., Psa 73:8,9; 74:18,22,23; Job 21:14,15
  • enemies that take God's name in vain {HB=shav, falsely, deceptively, ruinously}-
    False religionists pretend to serve and speak for God,
    but by misleading their hearers, prove to be their enemies. Ex 20:7; Eze 13:7; Mat 7:15
  • those that hate {ie., inwardly detest} the LORD and His ways.
  • those that rise up against Him {ie., to actively oppose His purposes}.
...depart from me therefore, ye bloody men...-
The ungodly are unfit companions for those who would walk with God (Psa 1:1).
The righteous seek separation from ungodly influences. Psa 26:9-11; 119:115; 2Cor 6:14-18
Such separation is right...
  • For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
    They speak against my Lord, therefore, they are my enemies.
    They speak falsely, therefore, they hinder my pursuit of God's Truth.
  • I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee... I am grieved with {ie., detest} those that rise up against thee.
    My undivided loyalty belongs to my Creator and Redeemer.
    I belong to Him 'who loved me and gave Himself for me' (1Cor 6:20; Titus 2:11-14; Rev 1:5).
    Those, who despise Him, deserve their reward (1Cor 16:22).
  • I hate them with a perfect {complete} hatred, I count them mine enemies.
    There is no room for a neutral position. There can be no compromise with evil and those who promote it. Rather, God's people are to contend for the Truth, against those who contend with God. Mat 10:36-39; Eph 5:11; Jude 1:3
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts...
The LORD has always had perfect knowledge of my heart. He has already searched me thoroughly (v.1). Even so, the person who desires to be right with Him, invites God to renew His search and to try {ie., test, prove} his thoughts.
     A miner sifts through the dark hidden depths in search of silver and gold, and then assays what he discovers (eg., Job 28:1-3; Prov 17:3). Similarly, my desire is that the LORD would leave no stone unturned and spare no trial, to ensure (a) that my heart harbors no trace of fellowship with ungodliness and (b) that it is purged of all impurity.
     Apart from Him, I could never know my heart as the LORD knows it (Jer 17:9,10). But the deceitful wickedness of my heart must be identified and removed, if I am to know Him.
And see if there be any wicked {ie., grievous} way in me,
As I hate the wicked in their way, so would I hate every wicked way in myself. Therefore, whatever grieves You within me... take me away from it... take it away from me. Not some, but all and 'any' evil that You see, regardless of how dear it is to me. Deliver me completely from all unrighteousness.
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Only God's way is everlasting. Only those who walk with Him, in His way, will live forever with Him. Psa 143:8-10; Mat 7:13,14; Joh 14:6; Col 2:6

This Concludes the study in Psalm 139.
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