[Biblemat] S) PSALM 139

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my files.
Use to the glory of God.

PSALM 139

       Moments of quiet meditation can serve to give us greater
understanding and insight into the awesome character of Jehov-
ah.  The meditations of a mature spiritual mind delve even more
deeply, basking in the revealed truths, all the while realizing that
"such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot
attain to it" (vs. 6).  Psalm 139 appears to contain the ruminat-
ions of a deeply reflective mind, and if I were to seek to describe
the results of his contemplations in one word, it would be "com-
fort."

His Omniscience: -- The psalm begins with both a realization and a 
celebration of the glorious omniscience of God.  Even as
thoughts and ideas begin to formulate in our minds, even before
they have found full expression, God knows them.  The psalmist
calls to mind, in his meditation, the action of winnowing of wheat
and he sees in it God's scrutiny of his ways.  Every life has good
and bad, wheat and chaff, and God knows it all.  God surrounds
him and yet he has freedom to act as he desires with the know-
ledge that God knows.  His omniscience is beyond his ability to
grasp and leads the psalmist to consider another aspect of God.

His Omnipresence: -- "Where can I go from Thy Spirit?  Or where
can I flee from Thy presence?" (vs. 7).  What a comforting thought to the 
mature saint!  He is never alone.

       Who among us has not felt alone at times or spent a seemin-
gly endless night in turmoil while awaiting the relief offered by the first 
ray of sunlight?  It is certain that David felt that way at
several points in his life (e.g., Psa. 22:1).  For David, the meditat-
ion of quieter and calmer moments helped him understand that
he was never alone.  God is everywhere.  He fills the heavens
above and the realms below.  Escape from His presence is not
possible.  Perhaps for the enemy of God such a thought is dread-
ful and terrible, but not for God's child.  He can know that where-
ever he is, God's guiding hand is there to direct his steps.

His Creativity: -- Even before the psalmist knew anything of this
world, or anything fo God, God knew him.  As he developed with-
in the womb, God was there.  The words that describe God's in-
volvement with him in his earliest stages help us to understand
how he could but burst forth with the words, "I will give thanks
to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are 
Thy works, and my soul knows it very well" (vs. 14).

       Consider the word "weave" in verse 13.  Properly, it means to knit 
together and in a wonderful sense describes the weaving
together of the bones, sinews, and all such things that  make up
a human being.  In verse 16, one word is translated as "my unfor-
med substance."  It means that whcih is rolled or wrapped toget-
her -- what an intriguing way to describe an embryo!  Everything
is folded up, so to speak, and as the child develops within its
mother, God oversees the unfolding of all of its parts.  Indeed, 
God knows the beginning, the development, and the ending of
all things.  Does this preclude free will, or remove all matter of 
choice?  No, it simply emphasizes once again the magnitude of
the omniscience and omnipresence of God.

       At what point could the psalmist exhaust the thoughts of 
God and thereby have no more reason to meditate upon them?
They are inexhaustible and as numberless as the sand of the 
sea.  As he closes his eyes at night, his final thoughts are of 
God's ways.  When he awakens in the morning he recognizes
that he is in the presence of God and occupies himself with medi-
tation of Him.

What About The Wicked?: -- As the psalmist considers yet again
the omniscience and omnipresence of God, the idea of the wick-
ed comes to mind.  God knows their evil words and ungodly acts.  In his 
contemplation of Heavenly wonders, the actions of
the wicked are repulsive to the psalmist.  In other psalms David
had often expressed his need for God to sustain him in the face
of persecution and abuse at the hands of those who did not love
God.  What a comfort to be assured in the quiet moments of med-
itation that both the godly and the ungodly will be properly rewa-
rded.

       As this great psalm comes to a close, the author embraces
the presence of God.  He wants any wavering way pointed out
and corrected.  He understand that living his life according to
God's statutes now is to live in the everlasting way -- the way to
eternal life.  His prayer is that God would lead him in that path.
-------------- Greg Litmer in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 1, Jan. 2008.   </HTML>
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