7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? When your world turns dark and your journey turns rugged, where do you turn for help? “The psalmist acknowledges that human creation, from its beginning, is a mystery and a wonder known only to God” (921). I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. This knowledge is firmly in view through the rest of this first strophe, where the reach of Yahweh’s knowledge extends to even the psalmists thoughts (v 4). Where can I flee from your presence?” (v. 7) he begins. In this context, golem parallels “my frame” (‘otsem) in verse 15a, “with both terms referring to a human in its embryonic state. In this genre, singers praise God for God’s goodness in delivering them from various life-threatening situations, such as illness, oppression, enemy attack, etc. The Psalm is a prayer and brings us right away to a contemplation of Psalm 139 reflects on the human condition, and specifically God’s interaction with the individual human experience. “Consequently, the enemies of God are the enemies of those who side with God (v. 22)” (924). At the start, they offer a unifying thread that serves as an interpretive key: As in Psalm 138, the writer of Psalm 139 announces the threats that befall him and pleads for God’s action (Ps 139:19–22). 13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb.I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! What does Psalm chapter 139 mean? Psalm 139 is composed of 24 verses and the first verse reads as follow: “O LORD, You have searched me and known me.” Sounds like a simple statement about God’s concern toward us, right? 1 Samuel 13:14 tells us that David was “a man after His own heart”.This means that David was a man after God’s own heart, which indicates that David was a believer. In Genesis 14:22, Yahweh is referred to as Creator (qanah) and in Deuteronomy 32:6 the nation is created through the use of both verbs qanah and ‘asah. Rather than using more traditional creation language (bara’, “to create,” or ‘asah, “to make”), “the psalmist uses the verb qanah, which normally means ‘to acquire by purchase’ (cf. His very presence casts out all darkness (John 1:5). Get updates from Zondervan Academic directly in your inbox. Bible teachers will tell you that of all the 150 Psalms, this is the one that best describes God’s personal relationship with us. The writer of Psalm 139 suggests that if he were in the darkness, the place of chaos and death, the place that is absent of light, then perhaps finally he would find a place apart from God. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. Yahweh is indeed close enough to bind him up (in support) but also ‘to lay siege’ to him, should doing so be warranted” (918). Long before God “fearfully and wonderfully made” you, he knew what you would be like and what you would do. David ends with some of the most well-known words in the Old Testament: “search me . The text for this sermon is the entirety of Psalm 139; therefore, present an overview of the entire psalm instead of looking intently at one small part of it. how I was sculpted from nothing into something. For Instructors and School Administrators. The supplicant David, then, blends wisdom themes with a complaint in offering his psalm of prayer and worship before the Lord. Read verse in The Message Bible has pastored on Capitol Hill and with the Evangelical Covenant Church in Michigan. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.You know my sitting down and my rising up;You understand my thought afar off.You comprehend my path and my lying down,And are acquainted with all my ways.For there is not a word on my tongue,But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.You have hedged me behind and before,And laid Your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;It is high, I cannot attain it.a. Tucker and Grant note several verses that seems to suggest the weightiness that comes with the nearness of God’s presence in offering comfort: Then there are the images of God’s hand that further illustrate this “flight and fascination” with God’s presence in the psalm: This tenuous balance between “flight and fascination” exists throughout Scripture. The final strophe abruptly shifts from hymnic language to more petitionary language. Therefore, Psalm 139:23-24 are verses for believers. The word’s later use in the Talmud suggests the term could be construed as meaning ‘embryo’ or something that was formless or shapeless” (922). We are content with having God near us, but preferably not too near” (927). You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. All Rights Reserved. . (920). Thank You that every day of my life was recorded in Your book and every moment of my life is laid out before You– praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise His holy name. Tucker and Davis offer an overview of these four movements: In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham’s obedience by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, his only son. (914). As the NIV’s translation suggests, Psalm 139 can be divided into four strophes: verses 1–6; 7–12; 13–18; and 19–24. You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit. Yet he has remained present with us (v. 18). If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! Please check errors and resubmit. and know me”—my heart and my anxious thoughts. This attribute is also referred to as omniscience. Psalm 139 is classified as an Individual Hymn of Thanksgiving. There has been considerable debate about the precise genre of this psalm. And by beginning he really means beginning—as in the embryo stage! “The verb ‘to search’ (haqar) can refer to searching out land (Judg 18:2) or searching out a city (2 Sam 10:3), but often, especially in the wisdom literature, the verb means ‘to search’ in the sense of ‘to examine’” (917). That is the message of the beautifully-crafted Psalm 139. Come. Similarly, the reference to Yahweh’s “grasp” of the psalmist in verse 10b leaves open whether this action is positive or negative, a comfort or cause for fear. I worship in adoration—what a creation!You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body;You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you,The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. Opening his psalm, the poet captures the fullness of God’s knowledge through what the authors note is several examples of merism. see how I loathe all this godless arrogance; I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred. It has the characteristics of both the didactic psalm and the wisdom psalm. In the first strophe "you" serves as the subject of nearly all the verbs, while in the second strophe, "I" dominates throughout. Since we cannot escape from this all-knowing, all-present, all-wise Creator, we cannot escape from the need for holiness. If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. (916-17). The first thing we learn from Psalm 139, is that. Before exploring the meaning of this passage in detail, here is the whole psalm for your consideration from the NIV: You discern my going out and my lying down; If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. The darkness quickly ceases to be darkness because of the radiant light of God. “The hymnic nature of the first eighteen verses seems to support the claims of Hermann Gunkel and Claus Westermann” (915). He simply understands that even God’s corrective action is expressive of his pervasive presence. This extends to everything a person does, thinks, and says, even before those actions occur. YOUNG, Ph.D. Psalm 139 is one of the grandest of all the Psalms, for it brings us face to face with the majesty and power of God. Pursue a deeper knowledge of God through self-paced college- and seminary-level online courses in Old and New Testament studies, theology, biblical Greek, and more. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! To modern readers, this pa... Shout. the idea that God is not far off, but is near to each of us. Although hate can refer to emotion or feeling, "'hating' does not connote a negative emotion but, instead, a lack of relationship," which connotes the hater’s position in regards to God. After presenting the sublime doctrines of God's omnipresence and omniscience, the Psalmist appeals to Him, avowing his innocence, his abhorrence of the wicked, and his ready submission to the closest scrutiny. Add Psalms, Volume 2 to your library today and you will grasp the original meaning, exegetical context, and contemporary significance of these precious biblical poems, hymns, and prayers. Body and soul, I am marvelously made! Regardless of where he flees—going up to heaven or down into the depths, traveling east or west—“he can escape neither the grasp nor the notice of Israel’s God” (920). Keep reading for an insightful portrait of this powerful psalm. Others still highlight the wisdom themes present and prefer a “meditation” or “wisdom meditation” label. We should protect all human life in the womb, because every unborn child is a special creation of God. A David Psalm GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. This “I-Thou” relationship serves as the “unifying thread” throughout the psalm. No reason is provided or justification offered for the divine hand that has befallen the psalmist. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you. Yet as the poem draws to a close, it is the psalmist’s nearness to God (v. 18b) that gives him cause for hope even in the face of impending threats. Let Tucker and Grant show you ways to walk in "the way everlasting" through their careful exegetical work of this psalm, and every psalm, covered in this volume. And they note that this presence and knowledge seems to evoke both “flight and fascination” in the psalmist, both comfort and fear. (It is) a psalm of David. Enhance your school’s traditional and online education programs by easily integrating online courses developed from the scholars and textbooks you trust. At night I’m immersed in the light!”It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you. Immediately it exalts God as all knowing and omnipresent, and clearly shows that all of man's life is in God's hands. Nevertheless, there arecountless challenges that the psalm raises which also warrant a detailed study.The psalmist was apparently a very skilled writer, using complex sentencestructures and very rare words. You have searched me and known me: David prayed to Yahweh, understandin… The authors don’t believe a dichotomy of meaning is warranted. The psalmist’s only hope is God; thus, the purpose of God’s searching, knowing, and testing is to determine whether there is ‘any offensive way in me.’” Why? Psalm 121 encourages us i... Get expert commentary on biblical languages, fresh explorations in theology, hand-picked book excerpts, author videos, and info on limited-time sales. Thebeauty of its content alone is enough to inspire fascination. Tucker and Grant explain that in the Old Testament, “‘anxious thoughts’ can be the result of night visions (Job 4:13) or defamatory rhetoric (Job 20:2), as well as the fear of being mistreated by others (Ps 94:19). The emphasis here is not on workmanship, but on the mystery of creation itself. A key thought in the Old Testament is the idea of knowing God. Psalm 139 is called a psalm of David and is generally thought to be written by King David himself. Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Explanation and Commentary of Psalm 139:16. 3 You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. This leads to difficulty in translation.Furthermore, just about any Christian who is allured by the b… “Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord?” the Psalmist asks. This psalm speaks of the pervasive presence of God, and his intimate knowledge of us, which offer us an outsized measure of hope and comfort in the face of adversity and trial. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me. Where can I flee from your presence? You hold me safe in your hand. Your enemies are my enemies! If I ascend up … The image of God’s “heavy hand” suggests God’s complete awareness of the life of the psalmist. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214 USA) providing information about products and services of HCCP and its affiliates. 139 1 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. The second part of Psalm 139:13 continues this motif, confessing God’s presence with the psalmist from the very beginning of existence by indicating that the psalmist was knit together in his mother’s womb. 23–24).” (927). What is your source for the confidence you need to face the headwinds of life? The God who calls David from the fields to be his anointed king is the same God who chastens David for his pursuit of Bathsheba” (926). “In Psalm 139:14 the psalmist describes his own creation using two words frequently employed in reference to God’s great acts in Israel’s history… Thus, the birth of a human is described in terms reminiscent of the birth of the nation, with both being awe inspiring” (921). They apply to all human beings, at all times and in all places. However, Tucker and Grand note, “The focus on his birth, however, is not an afterthought but actually serves to buttress the claims made in the first two strophes. . He founded THEOKLESIA, which connects the 21st century Church to the vintage Christian faith; holds a Master of Theology in historical theology; and makes the vintage faith relevant at. Although some readers who come to psalm 139 often infer propositions of God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, Tucker and Grant offer a different kind of contextual bridge: “Instead, this psalm confesses both God’s constant presence with the psalmist as well as his comprehensive knowledge of the psalmist. As stated elsewhere in the Bible, God's mind is inexpressibly beyond that of any person (Isaiah 55:8–9). In Psalm 139 the psalmist’s anxieties are due to the threat posed by the enemies mentioned in verses 19–22. It clearly divides into 4 stanzas of 6 verses each in our English text. even the darkness will not be dark to you; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. This connects well with the rest of v. 15, where the “secret” place and “depths of the earth” likely refers to the depths his mother’s womb. For that reason,it is one of the most beloved psalms in the psalter. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. A. Psalm 139 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. The final strophe, however, shifts both in focus and tenor. any more than I could count the sand of the sea. Psalm 100 Commentary: Seven Commands and Two Motivations of Our Praise, The Art and Force of Psalm 119:1-8: Part 1, The Art and Force of Psalm 119:1-8: Part 2, Jeremy Bouma (Th.M.) They offer a few examples of merism: “when I sit” and “when I rise” (v. 2a), “my going out and my lying down” (v. 3a), and “behind and before” (v. 5a). The Message; Psalm 139 Psalm 139. Verse 7-9 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? He knitted each of us “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. Instead, they point to Goldingay here: “‘the person who has nothing to hide has nothing to fear of Yhwh’s binding or the touch of Yhwh’s hand’ [Psalms 3, 630]. Psalm 139 God knows all about me – what is our response? 19–22). Upgrade to Bible Gateway Plus, and access the, The Message, Large Print, Brown Trio Leather-Look, NIV and The Message Side-by-Side Bible, Two Bible Versions Together for Study and Comparison, Large Print, The Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible (NKJV/ESV/NLT/, Message Slimline Bible--soft leather-look, black/spring wildflowers, The Message Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, crosshatch denim. As the psalmist was given pause by the thought of God’s pervasive presence, we too should be inspired and taken aback. PSALM 139 Ps 139:1-24. Tucker and Davis offer an overview of these four movements: The language adopted in the first two strophes underscores the dominance of the “I-Thou” relationship in the poem. to be out of your sight?If I climb to the sky, you’re there! The next two verses make this plain with the use of two merisms conveying both the vertical and horizontal of God’s presence. 17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful! Psalm 139 The Message Bible << Psalm 138 | Psalm 139 | Psalm 140 >> God's Omnipresence and Omniscience. night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you. If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. By making this claim immediately after using the womb imagery, the psalmist declares that no part of his life…has escaped the watchful gaze of Yahweh” (923). The God who appears to Israel on Mount Sinai in a theophany is the same God who exacts judgment moments later at the base of that very mountain. In verses 13 and 15, the poet invokes images of knitting and weaving to explain the care with which God created him. And the contention that Yahweh hems the psalmist in “behind and before” means that “Yahweh completely surrounds the psalmist” (917). Psalm 139:8 "If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art … Each person has existed in the mind of God eternally. That says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in … or whither shall I flee from thy presence?. But these words do not apply to David alone. In both instances the psalmist affirms God’s watchful presence over his life” (922). Psalm 139 reflects on the human condition, and specifically God’s interaction with the individual human experience. 5 You are all around me, behind me and in front of me. The first three strophes praise God for his comprehensive knowledge of the psalmist, the fullness of his presence in the world, and his power as Creator. The authors also note the unusual use of “created.”. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!And you murderers—out of here!— all the men and women who belittle you, God, infatuated with cheap god-imitations.See how I hate those who hate you, God, see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred. See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—. 1, 2, 4, 6, 14, 23 [2x]), thereby repeatedly reinforcing the “I-Thou” relationship between the psalmist and God. Psalm 139 is a most beautiful sacred song, which brings our rapt attention to the hallowed essence of the child in utero, and of God's sovereign role in each little life. In Psalm 139 David marvels at God's wisdom and power, which is at work for us, his creatures. Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson, The Message (MSG). Although “he cannot know the vast sum of God’s thoughts, he does know that God is with him, whether at the end of his inquiry or the end of his life” (923). 2) Psalm 139 was penned by King David. In other words, I cannot escape God’s presence “For you created my inmost being” (v. 13). As the authors note, “Because God is pervasively present, the comfort of his presence is juxtaposed with the very threat of the same. W. Dennis Tucker and Jamie A. As they explain: A merism is a poetic technique that expresses a totality by mentioning two parts, typically polar opposites … Poetically speaking, a merism provides vivid images that are meant to replace more abstract concepts such as “all,” “every,” or “always.” Given this intended usage, a merism is meant to be understood figuratively or metaphorically, but not literally. And because God has known us, fully known us, we should be compelled to ask God to search us to see whether there is any offensive way in us (vv. However, “Rarely do hymns remind us of the kind of pervasive presence of God in our lives that might prompt a sense of holy fear. To know we are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Lord, we need to understand the smallest details of our lives occur according to the plan of the Lord (Ephesians 1:11). If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. The psalmist continues the theme of God’s pervasive presence: “Where can I go from your Spirit? That’s great! It’s not a generic psalm; it’s intensely personal, between David and God (note the frequent “I” & “me”). That’s worrying, frightening even! Know. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. Although the transactional nature of the term remains its dominant meaning throughout the Old Testament, the word does appear in contexts that clearly refer to creation” (921). God is always with us. It helps bring both halves of the interpretive task together—the passage’s original meaning and contemporary application—explaining not only what the Psalms meant but also how they speak powerfully today. then guide me on the road to eternal life. He has seen our comings and goings, our faithfulness and faithlessness. Earlier in the poem the hand of God is said to guide the psalmist (v. 10a), thereby suggesting once more the formative work of God in his life. v1 *LORD, when you look at me you know all about me. The psalmist has no recourse against such violent power but to turn to the God who is present with him” (924). Psalm 139 is a psalm of David. “Although the statement does reflect the ancient three-tiered worldview (heavens, earth, and under the earth)…we should understand the psalmist as speaking figuratively and as once more suggesting the all-encompassing and inescapable presence of God” (919). "I am fearfully and wonderfully made” he declares. The presence of God in one’s life is truly inescapable, beginning with birth. Here’s why: The God who has known us from our very beginnings is the God who has watched us all along. Thank You Father that You saw me before I was born. A David Psalm 1-6GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. And there is the “challenge,” so to speak, of worshiping a God who is intimately personal with his creation. (914–15). There is a better way. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! all the days ordained for me were written in your book. The psalmist quickly recognizes the fault in his own logic, however, because “even the darkness will not be dark to [God]” (v. 12). You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! And he marvels at this, confessing a sense of awe at the vastness of God’s thoughts about him. What’s more, the psalmist uses four verbs of perception, reflecting Yahweh’s attentiveness to the fullness of the psalmist’s life: “to know” (yada‘); “to perceive” (bin); “to discern” (zarah); and “to be familiar with” (sakan). And he knows all our days. If I ascend … This “I-Thou” relationship, and the accompanying pervasive, intimate presence of God, roots the psalmist's hope and comfort—as well as our own. 139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 139 1-6 God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight.You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence.I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going.This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in! Even there, God is present in his life. Let's join David and exclaim: How wonderfully our God works! There is a better way. Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! In Psalm 139:13-16 David praises God as he reflects on God’s special role in David’s own creation even in his mother’s womb. THE BACKGROUND OF PSALM 139 E. J. Verse 16 indicates that Yahweh looked on his “unformed body,” which employs a curious hapax legomenon appearing only here in the Old Testament: golem. (916). Admonition to the wicked and comfort to the pious are alike implied inferences from these doctrines. Occurs seven times in the Old Testament is the God who is intimately personal as! Remained present with him ” ( 915 ) God near us, but preferably not too ”! Jer 32:7 ) and faithlessness not be dark to you ; you knit together. Both instances the psalmist continues the theme of God ’ s life is truly inescapable, beginning with birth was. 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