blooming with Brooke

In my Sunday school class, our teacher has been going through the book of Psalms. I think this has been an interesting study because how often do we actually investigate the Psalms and look into their deeper meanings? I think most often we read them daily as “encouragement” and move on rather quickly.

A few weeks ago, he had everyone in the class turn in their favorite Psalm to him with a few reasons why you like it. My favorite was easy to pick…Psalm 139. I have loved this Psalm since I was just a young girl in elementary school. I have always severely struggled with self-worth and confidence, and I remember that this Psalm just really laid into all the broken places in my heart. Let’s dive in!

Psalm 139

A quick break down of the Psalm as I see it:

Verses 1-6: He intimately knows me.

Verses 7-12: He is omnipresent.

Verses 13-16: He is my designer.

Verses 17-18: He is omniscient.

Verses 19-22: He is merciful.

Verses 23-24: He is welcomed.

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
    it is high; I cannot attain it.”

Psalm 139: 1-6 ESV

These first six verses really hit home on how involved God is with us. God knows everything we do and think…sit down, stand up, and He knows all of my thoughts (boy, that is a scary fact!), and I love verse 5 when it says that He hems us in. I love the image of being pulled closer to God and kind of held there by Him. He is acquainted with all my ways, and I am intimately known by Him.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, 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 cover me,
    and the light about me be night,”
 even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.”

Psalm 139: 7-12 ESV

This next set of verses speaks to God’s omnipresence, which means He is everywhere. This helps me to understand that I’m not alone. I cannot go anywhere that God will not be. He’s with me even if darkness covers me, and I lack light. He will still be there; darkness is not too dark for him.

“For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.”

Psalm 139: 13-16 ESV

This group is probably my favorite, and it is always likely the most well-known portion of this Psalm. There is something about these verses…when you really comprehend that He knitted you together in your mother’s womb, designed you entirely with your facial features, your personality, and the color of your skin. He saw us when we were just an unformed substance, and even then…He knew what all of our days would hold! I cannot think of something more comforting. God has held our days since before we existed.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    I awake, and I am still with you.”

Psalm 139: 17-18 ESV

These two verses hit on God’s omniscience, which means that He is all knowing. David remarks that he wishes he could count the thoughts of God, but they would number more than all the grains of sand.

“Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
    O men of blood, depart from me!
They speak against you with malicious intent;
    your enemies take your name in vain.
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
    And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with complete hatred;
    I count them my enemies.”

Psalm 139: 19-22 ESV

This section reflects on the mercy of God. David brings up that he basically doesn’t understand why God doesn’t slay the wicked (those who are against Him). David makes it known that he hates those who hate God. He sees them as his enemies.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Psalm 139: 23-24 ESV

The end of this Psalm is likely another well known part. David welcomes God into his heart and mind. He wants to know if there are any bad ways within him, and he asks God to lead him in the way of eternity.

I pray that this weekend you meditate on this Psalm and thank God for who is He is and for what He has done for you. You are intimately known and truly loved by the Creator of the universe. Let that truth wash over you today.