Search Me

Introduction

This psalm is one that is well loved and appreciated. There is much in this psalm that allows us to focus on God and our relationship with him. Let’s begin first though by reminding ourselves that when we read the psalms we must be careful not to read them in the same way that we might read one of Paul’s letters. The authors of the psalms are writing words to music. It is poetry. And with poetry there are certain liberties taken to convey thoughts and emotions. We would not take the works of a poet and try to read them literally. Instead we would read the words understanding that through image and thought the author is trying to convey an idea. Such is the case with the psalms.

So when we come to the psalms we must carefully consider the images used to convey the thoughts. Such is the case with Psalm 139. The author is conveying a series of thoughts about God’s presence, knowledge, and planning. The writer is saying something about his relationship with God. It is a beautiful poetic song. And with equally beautiful words, the writer conveys thoughts about God which all of us can understand and feel.

God’s Knowledge (1-6)

This psalm is divided into four paragraphs of six verses each. The first paragraph praises God for his knowledge; the second for his presence; the third for planning; the fourth for his judgment. In this first section, the psalmist describes the depth of God’s knowledge. God knows our every thought, every movement, every way, and every word. The words describe not only the depth of knowledge God has about someone, but the intimacy of that knowledge. God’s knowledge doesn’t frighten. Instead he is filled with awe, praise, and adoration for that knowledge.

God knows us better than we know ourselves. There is nothing about us that God doesn’t know. The psalmist is not intimidated but such knowledge but instead is glad for God’s knowledge. Any comparison made would fall short of reality, but in some ways parents with children understand a bit of this knowledge. While we will not know every word before it is said or every thought before it is conceived, we do know our children with such familiarity that we serve, protect, and shield them. There is nothing in our lives which God doesn’t know about. God is omniscient or all-knowing.

God knows our day to day activities. He knows our thoughts even before we know them. He knows our words even before we speak them. God knows us better than we know ourselves. The truth is he knows every person in this way. He knows the number of hairs on our head and the beating of our heart. Knowing us as he does, he longs for us to be near to him. And we, too, should not fear such intimacy but give thanks and praise for God’s knowledge.

God’s Presence (7-12)

On first reading one might get the impression that the psalmist is trying to get away from God; that he doesn’t want God to be near to him. But that is not the intent of the author. God is everywhere. He is omnipresent. Anywhere a person may go, God is there. The point is one of comfort not terror.

This passage is filled with opposites which carry the idea of God’s presence. Heavens and depths or Sheol are two extremes. Heavens would be up and Sheol would be down. As far as one can go upwards or downwards, God is there. Rise on the wings of the dawn is poetically the east. Settle on the far side of the sea is the Mediterranean Sea and denotes the west. So as far as one may go to the east or to the west, God is there. Verse 11 and 12, day or night, God is there. Wherever there is space and time, God is present.

There are times when a person might say that they do not feel close to God. They are not sure that God is near. The psalmist’s point is that such things as near or far do not exist for God. God is never near or far. God is always present. Our language tries to make us feel better about our relationship with God. We will talk about being close to God as a way to describe our emotional attachment to God. But God is not bound by such feelings. He is always present. He never goes anywhere. He never wanders. He constantly is here with us. Our feelings may fluctuate based upon circumstances. There may be times when we are not sure of God’s presence. There may be times when we don’t feel very close to God, but God is always present.

God’s Planning (13-18)

God’s knowledge and presence are seen in the creation of life. The psalmist paints an intimate picture of God as forming him and carefully making him within his mother’s womb. This text is used to demonstrate that God is against abortion and that is a good use of the text. However, the psalmist doesn’t have this in mind. His sole reason for these images is to carry the thought that God has carefully crafted and planned for the psalmist to be a part of this world. We mustn’t take verse 16 and make it a doctrinal statement that God plans for the full number of days that one is to live. The Bible is clear that man can alter the length of his life by his conduct (Deut. 5:16; Eph. 6:2-3; Prov. 3:1-2, 13-16; 4:10; 9:10-11; 10:27).

Again this is poetry. The psalmist is trying to convey thoughts using images and word pictures. God is all knowing. He is always present. And he is always planning. That is the point. God’s thoughts and plans are too numerous to count. One cannot fully appreciate or comprehend God’s constant and consistent planning. The idea is that God with his knowledge and presence is carefully crafting plans. No one escapes his planning. God’s ability to plan speaks of his power and sovereignty in this world. No person escapes God’s attention.

Verses 17 and 18 gives us a view of God which we do not think about very often. It is the idea that God is thinking about us when we are not even thinking about him. It is the picture of a person who has gone to sleep and while sleeping no longer thinks of God, but when he awakens he becomes aware that God never quit thinking of him. Perhaps you have taken care of someone ill during the night. They slept while you watched over them. Your thoughts never turned from them. God constantly thinks about us. He never quits thinking about us. When we sleep, God is still thinking about us and working in his own way to bring about what is best for us.

God’s Judgment (19-24)

This final section seems to imply that the psalmist is in a difficult situation with enemies. But this is not certain. The point seems to be that the psalmist is against those who are against God. Considering that the psalmist has praised God for his knowledge, presence, and planning, he is hard pressed to understand how anyone could go against God. How could anyone use God’s name in vain? How could anyone speak against God? Anyone who would oppose God is the psalmist’s enemy. This is a strong statement of loyalty.

But the psalmist recognizes that he too is not always in harmony with God. Thus he ends this song with a request for God to search him and to know him and to test him and to lead him. It is a prayerful request to be completely what he needs to be in walking with God. Even as God’s judgment is sought against the wicked, so God’s judgment is sought to alter the psalmist’s life. Such a prayer is still valid for us, isn’t it? Do you pray that God would change you into one who walks even more with him? God is all knowing, always present, constantly planning, and righteously judging. Give your life to him.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.