Psalms Chapter 139 — The All-Knowing and Present God
David describes the infinite knowledge and presence of God, who knows his thoughts, surrounds his path, and formed him in the womb.
1LORD, you have searched me,
2You know my sitting down and my rising up.
3You search out my path and my lying down,
4For there is not a word on my tongue,
5You hem me in behind and before.
6This knowledge is beyond me.
7Where could I go from your Spirit?
8If I ascend up into heaven, you are there.
9If I take the wings of the dawn,
10even there your hand will lead me,
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me.
12even the darkness doesn’t hide from you,
13For you formed my inmost being.
14I will give thanks to you,
15My frame wasn’t hidden from you,
16Your eyes saw my body.
17How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
18If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand.
19If only you, God, would kill the wicked.
20For they speak against you wickedly.
21LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you?
22I hate them with perfect hatred.
23Search me, God, and know my heart.
24See if there is any wicked way in me,
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalm 139:1-2
“LORD, you have searched me, and you know me. You know my sitting down and my rising up.”
These opening lines establish the central theme of God's complete and intimate knowledge of the individual.
Psalm 139:7
“Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?”
This verse introduces the concept of God's omnipresence, emphasizing that He is present everywhere in the universe.
Psalm 139:13
“For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
This verse highlights God's active and personal role in the miraculous creation of human life.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 139 is a personal hymn attributed to David that focuses on the intimate relationship between the Creator and the individual. The chapter begins with the psalmist acknowledging that God has searched him and knows his every action and thought before they are even spoken. David reflects on God's omnipresence, noting that there is nowhere one can go to escape God's Spirit—neither the heights of heaven nor the depths of the grave. The text then transitions to God's role in creation, detailing how God intricately formed the speaker's physical frame and saw his unformed body. Toward the end, the tone shifts as the psalmist expresses a desire for God to deal with the wicked and preserve righteousness. The chapter concludes with a humble request for God to search the speaker's own heart and lead him in an everlasting way.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main message is that God is both all-knowing and ever-present. The psalmist expresses awe that God understands every thought and action, and that there is no place in existence where one is hidden from God's care or observation.
The chapter describes God as a craftsman who 'knit' the person together in the womb. It states that God saw the person's 'unformed body' and that all the days of their life were known before they ever began.
After reflecting on God's perfect knowledge, the psalmist invites God to examine his internal motives and character. He asks God to identify any 'wicked way' and lead him toward an everlasting and righteous path.
Study Note
The structure of this psalm is often noted for its shift from contemplative awe regarding God's attributes to a plea for personal sanctification.
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