David
Psalm 139
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
Scripture (KJV)
1O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Summary
Psalm 139 is one of the most searching and beloved psalms, a meditation on God’s intimate, inescapable knowledge of every person. David opens with the admission that God has searched and known him—every sitting down and rising up, every thought, every path, every word before it is spoken. Such knowledge is "too wonderful," beyond attainment. The psalm then explores the impossibility of fleeing from God: in heaven or Sheol, at the farthest sea or in deepest darkness, God is present, and His hand leads and holds. From omniscience and omnipresence the psalm turns to creation: God formed David in his mother’s womb, fearfully and wonderfully making him, writing his days in a book before any of them came to be. God’s thoughts toward His servant are precious, more numerous than the sand.
The closing section turns to a holy hatred of those who hate God, and then—strikingly—back to invitation: "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 the way everlasting." The major themes are God’s omniscience, omnipresence, creation, human dignity, and sanctification. Practically, the psalm teaches that we are fully known and fully formed, and that the proper response to such knowledge is not fear but invitation to be searched and led. The great lesson is that the God who knows us completely is the God we can trust to lead us in the way everlasting.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 139
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts from afar. Where can I go from Your Spirit, or flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell at the farthest sea, even there Your hand will lead me and Your right hand hold me. Thank You for forming me in my mother’s womb, fearfully and wonderfully. Your thoughts toward me are precious, more than the sand. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does it feel to be fully known by God—comforting, unsettling, or both?
- 2Where have I tried to flee from God’s presence, and what did I find there?
- 3What does it mean that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made"?
- 4What would it look like to pray verse 23-24 as a daily invitation?
Related Psalms
Psalm 8
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.”
Wonder at God’s majesty in creation and the dignity He has given humanity.
Read morePsalm 19
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
God revealed in creation and Scripture, ending in a prayer of surrender.
Read morePsalm 51
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
David’s great prayer of repentance; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.
Read morePsalm 90
“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.”
A prayer of Moses on life’s brevity, asking God to teach us to number our days.
Read morePsalm 121
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.”
Psalm 121 is one of the "Songs of Ascents" sung by pilgrims journeying up to Jerusalem.
Read moreSupport BookofPsalms.org
If you find BookofPsalms.org helpful and would like to support the website, you may make a voluntary contribution through PayPal. Your support helps pay for the operation, hosting, maintenance, development, content, security, and continued improvement of BookofPsalms.org.
Independent Website & Contribution Disclosure
BookofPsalms.org is an independently operated, privately owned website. BookofPsalms.org is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or operated by any church, denomination, ministry, religious organization, charity, or nonprofit organization.
All funds contributed through BookofPsalms.org are received by the privately owned company that operates the website. Funds may be used by the company to support website hosting, maintenance, development, content creation, administration, advertising, technology, and other business and operating expenses.
Contributions are voluntary and are NOT tax-deductible charitable donations. BookofPsalms.org does not represent contributions as charitable donations or contributions to a nonprofit, church, ministry, or tax-exempt religious organization.
Receive weekly Psalms and prayers
A gentle Psalm, an original prayer, and a short reflection—delivered once a week.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.