Text: Psalm 139:1-24
In this 2-week reading plan, we are assuming a posture of thanksgiving before the Lord by meditating on ten Psalms of Gratitude. Rather than provide a written response to each Psalm, we have offered a simple yet meaningful activity designed to help us recall God’s mercies to us and through time. So grab a journal, and let’s create our own songs of thanksgiving to God.
Psalm 139
The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God
For the choir director. A Davidic psalm.
Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away.
You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue,
You know all about it, Lord.
You have encircled me;
You have placed Your hand on me.
This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your presence?
If I go up to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
If I live at the eastern horizon
or settle at the western limits,
even there Your hand will lead me;
Your right hand will hold on to me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will be night”—
even the darkness is not dark to You.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to You.
For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.
My bones were not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began.
God, how difficult Your thoughts are
for me to comprehend;
how vast their sum is!
If I counted them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;
when I wake up, I am still with You.
God, if only You would kill the wicked—
you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me—
who invoke You deceitfully.
Your enemies swear by You falsely.
Lord, don’t I hate those who hate You,
and detest those who rebel against You?
I hate them with extreme hatred;
I consider them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.
Dig Deeper:
What a privilege to know the God who knows us! Use the questions below to meditate on Psalm 139, giving thanks for the Almighty God who knows His children through and through.
1. How does God know us? (verses 1-6)
2. How does God go with us? (verses 7-12)
3. How does God create us? (verses 13-16)
4. Does God’s knowledge of us require any action on our part? (verses 17-24)
5. What does this teach me about the character of God?
6. Notice how verse 23 parallels verse 1. Why does David ask God to do what he knows God has already done?
1. God knows us COMPLETELY
2. God goes with us UNCONDITIONALLY; regardless of where we are, or where we find ourselves, or if it’s terrible or wonderful place, God is present. There is no hiding from God.
3. God creates us intricately, fearfully, wonderfully. Though the creation of a new baby is in secret to all others, it is not secret for God. He also creates us purposefully, planning each of our days before one of them passes.
4. No, but if we want his knowledge to be cleansing for us, we must welcome it, invite his gaze to point out any grievous way in us and allow him to remove it. God’s relentless knowledge is not always pleasant but it is for our good. God, help me welcome your complete knowledge of me, and may I welcome you as you point out the grievous ways still in me.
This last verse assumes that when God points out our grievous ways, it’s time to repent of it. God, help me repent at the first sight of my sin.
5. That he does not force sanctification on me; I must welcome it. He doesn’t force himself upon us. But he must change my heart to desire his penetrating gaze. This tells me how loving God is. That he would go to such lengths to cleanse me from my sin.
6. The first verse is an acknowledgment that God already knows everything about him; the last verse is a welcoming of that all knowing God to point out and reveal David’s sin for the sake of repentance. The first is a statement of what is true about God; the second is a surrender to that God.
The God who sees me
He knows everything about me and yet He still loves me.
Search me today Lord.
Lead in the way everlasting!
I am here. He and I are one. He will not settle for less. He searches and clears out the unnecessary. He made me and planned my days!!
Lord, you know my inner most thoughts, and all my secrets. You crafted the beauty of this world for me- from the tallest mountains, to the darkest depths of the sea- and I still don’t give you the glory you deserve. Every day, I sin against you, and against your word. Instead of using every breath I have to praise your name, I spend my time focussing on petty things and material wealth. I don’t deserve your love and forgiveness, yet you pour it out to me without hesitation. Please help me to be the woman that you have created me to be, and shine your light everywhere. I want my life to be a love letter to you. I want to show people what it means to be your daughter, and inspire them to lead a life in Christ. I know that through this I’ll tumble and fall, but I pray that you will be there for me, like you always have, to pick me up again.
Help me surrender to you, so that you can root your spirit to mine.
Amen
Awesome prayer❤️These words spoke to my heart.
Dear Lord, my one desire is to be more like you. I don’t care if my life on Earth gets turrets turned upside down as long as I am close to you everything will be okay and I know that. Please help me to be a better, stronger woman of God so that I can live for you. In everything I want to think what would Jesus do and turn to you when I’m struggling in hard, tempting situations. Just build me up in my faith and spirit Lord so that I’m the best follower of you that I can be. Amen❤️