Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 139

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 139 David says the Lord knows all man's thoughts and doings—He asks: Whither shall man go to escape from the spirit and presence of the Lord?—Man is fearfully and wonderfully made.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 O LORD, thou hast ^asearched me, and ^bknown me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my ^athought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art ^aacquainted 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^a. 6 Such ^aknowledge is too ^bwonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.	5^a Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me God is over all things, his hand is in all that is done. Nothing occurs but by the hand of God. This concept is true but needs to be further understood. Yes there is agency and man is free to choose. But the choice is not to choose without the consequence of that realm and structure within which God does rule over all things. While God does not will man to suffer various tragedies, it is in the works of that which has been established and will always remain within that bound which God has set. When we come to understand that God is over all things, we may begin to understand the importance of doing the mind and will of God for therein may God so bless us with his blessings according to that law which God has established. Still God is over all and what is done is the mind and will of God. His law and construct does govern past, present and future and the effects of his law is ever upon us as his hand upon our lives. May we live as God would have us live that we may be blessed according as God would bless us.
7 Whither shall I go from thy ^aspirit? or whither shall I flee from thy ^bpresence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in ^ahell, 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.
13 For thou hast ^apossessed my reins: thou hast ^bcovered 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 ^abook all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy ^athoughts 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.
19 Surely thou wilt ^aslay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 20 For they ^aspeak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in ^bvain. 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: ^atry me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.