Psalm 139:1-14--Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Psalm of David Declares God's Perfect Knowledge of Man
Psalm 139 opens with David directly addressing God in prayer. The first four verses give examples of the great depth of God's acquaintance with him:
"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." (Psalm 139:1-4)
God's Perfect Knowledge and Understanding of Man
David says God is aware and understands his every movement, thought and word. His claim regarding his "thought afar off" (v. 2) means God understands David's thoughts even better than David himself does. As soon as a word is on his tongue, God already "know(s) it altogether." (v. 4)
David is painting a picture of a God who is connected with him at every level, from the visible (his physical movement) to the mental (his thoughts and the formation of his words).
God's Perfect Protection of Man
David continues in verses 5-6:"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."
According to David's testimony, God protects him from all sides, ensuring his safety and sustaining him. The thought of God laying His hand on David is "too much" (v. 6) for him even to grasp. The wonder of such protection is beyond David's human comprehension.
God's Perfect Leading and Sustaining of Man
David continues: "Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall fall on me,' even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from you, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to you.” (vs. 7-12)
David's contends he cannot hide from God no matter where he goes, whether heaven or hell, but turns this observation into a positive by asserting that wherever he goes, God's hand will always lead him and will hold him, inferring God's hand will hold David up when he is most likely to fall.
His assertion is that God's intimate knowledge of him is beneficial, keeping him safe when darkness falls, because as David put it, "the darkness and the light are both alike" to God. (v. 12)
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
"For you formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." (vs. 13-14)
This is perhaps the high point of the psalm. David's praise is not self-congratulatory at all, but conversely, a celebration of God's power in creating David and sustaining him from his mother's womb on through his life.
Creation's Dependence on God
Even in attempts to flee from His presence, there is no escaping God's reach, no eluding His grasp.
He’ll go with through heaven and hell to protect His creation through every trial because His love is everlasting and unquenchable. Even when trying to lose Him in some distant corner of their hearts, still believers have to admit, His works are marvelous.
Quoted over and over, the most famous verse in Psalm 139 sets up a relationship in which creation acknowledges its dependence and affirms its own beauty, a beauty reflecting the love of the Creator.
Source:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Elijah Praises God's Knowledge in Psalm 139
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