Psalm 139

Introduction.—The theme of Ps. 139 is God’s omniscience and omnipresence. The psalmist recognizes God as present everywhere, One who is not only all-powerful, but also all-knowing, One who has formed man from the womb, and One whose presence man cannot escape. The language of this psalm resembles closely that of the book of Job. The rhythmical structure is regular. There are four strophes, each consisting of six verses. The first section (vs. 1–6) dwells upon the omniscience of God; the second (vs. 7–12), on His omnipresence. The third (vs. 13–18) gives the reason for the profound conviction of these truths of which the poet’s heart is full. In the last strophe (vs. 19–24) the psalmist changes his theme and expresses his dislike for wicked men. He then closes with a prayer that his own heart may be right with God, and that he may be led by Him in the way everlasting.

On the authorship of the psalm see 2T 536; 6T 375; on the superscription see pp. 616, 627.

1. Searched. The Lord searches the heart of all (Jer. 17:10), and alone knows what is in it. Man is often ignorant of his true condition.

4. Not a word. The Hebrew of this clause may be understood as implying that before the thought has been formed into words, the Lord knows it. Everything is open and transparent before God.

5. Beset me. The Lord encircles us on every side, to that there is no possibility of escaping from His presence.

6. Too wonderful. God’s knowledge is beyond the grasp of the finite mind.

7. From thy spirit. The psalmist does not imply in his question that he desires to escape from the Spirit of God, but rather that there is no place in the vast universe where the Spirit’s presence is not felt.

8. Heaven. Compare Amos 9:2.

Hell. Heb.sheХol (see on Prov. 15:11).

9. Wings of the morning. Compare Ps. 18:10; Mal. 4:2). The dawn swiftly spreading over the sky is represented as having wings.

10. Hold me. God’s powerful “right hand” accompanies His children in all their journeyings. The missionary in his faraway, lonely station may claim the comfort of this promise.

11. Shall be light. It is impossible to hide from God in the darkness. Those who think they can carry on their nefarious work at night without the all-seeing eye of God beholding them are mistaken. Night may conceal from men, but not from God.

13. Hast possessed. Heb. qanah, here thought to mean “create,” as probably also in Gen. 14:19, 22; Ex. 15:16; Deut. 32:6.

Reins. Literally, “kidneys,” here probably used for the internal organs in general.

Hast covered. Heb. sakak, which according to some authorities means “to knit together,” “to weave,” “to plait”; according to others, “to keep hidden.”

14. Wonderfully made. There is considerable uncertainty as to the exact translation of this verse. The LXX reads, “I will give thee thanks; for thou art fearfully wondrous.” The other ancient versions support this reading. The Hebrew tends to support the translation of the KJV. According to this, the psalmist is extolling the wonders of the human frame (see Ed 201; 6T 375, 376). The great advance in medical knowledge since this was written has revealed hitherto unknown marvels in the human mechanism.

15. In secret. Like a great artist who does not exhibit his picture till it is complete, God does not lift the veil of human existence till the new life is perfect in symmetry and beautiful in form.

Curiously wrought. Literally, “woven.”

Lowest parts of the earth. A figurative allusion to the womb.

16. Were written. As an architect draws out his plan and prepares his specifications for a new dwelling, so God plans what each individual will be, even before that soul is born into the world. It is for the individual to decide whether he will follow the divine blueprint or not.

19. Depart from me. A sudden transition. The psalmist turns his attention to the presence of evil in the world. To him sin was closely bound up with the sinner, so that his prayer for wickedness to cease was framed in words denunciatory of the sinner.

21. Am I not grieved? Literally, “do I not loathe?” (see on Ps. 119:158).

22. Perfect hatred. A reflection of a deep sense of righteous indignation against evil. Those who love God should be as wholehearted in their hatred of wickedness as they are in their love of goodness and truth.

23. Know my thoughts. Again the heart is laid open before the eye of a merciful God (see v. 1).

24. Lead me. Only God, who knows our inmost thoughts, can lead us safely. We all need an infallible Guide.

Ellen G. White comments

1–3TM 439

1–6MH 433; 8T 282

2–6Ed 133

7–10Ed 132

12 GC 346

14 CD 17, 20; CG 104; CH 38, 41, 390, 504; Ed 201; ML 127; MM 80; Te 11, 213, 215; 1T 487; 2T 536; 3T 136; 6T 375; 8T 260

14, 15 CG 360; FE 426; 8T 264

16 MH 415

17, 18 LS 339

23, 24 SC 39; 5T 333