Reflection on Psalm 139

Psalm 139

This psalm is wonderful and tells of the omniscience (all-knowing) and omnipresence (everywhere) of God as well as His loving care.  Much gold to be found here but let's highlight verse 5 where it sits in this section from verses 1-10.

Verses 1-10

“1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139:1–10, ESV)

Reflections on verse 5

Here is such high and wonderful statement that Davis goes on in verse 6 to say that it is too high for him.  David says this truth is too incredible to comprehend correctly.  We cannot possibly understand this and yet continue to have one ounce of worry or fear or distress in our souls.  We err when we fail to see the strength in our position in God's grace, but of course, this is human.

Prayer- 

Lord God in heaven.  Help me to know that you hem me in.  Help me to know that you are holding me with your gentle and strong hand exactly where you have me and exactly where you want me.  Your protection and your guidance and your power beset me.  I am unable to escape and no power can stop your hand that keeps me.  I am fixed in such a way that there is no chance of failure.  Lord you hold me from each side altogether even knowing my failures and my weaknesses and my faults.  You know everything about me and then you tell me that you hem me in.  Thank you for such a confidence when I consider how much you know of me.  Thank you that my own insufficient knowledge of myself that would already damn me and put me to shame is not the glue that holds me.  It is you who hem me in by your strong hand and it is you who go before and come behind me.  You are the God of my past and my future.  You are the king of my present and my strength.  Let my mind not lose sight of this O God and let me understand more and more the truth of this wonderful psalm and let me rejoice in my standing.  Let me not be proud when I am on the mountain, but let me trust in your hand alone.  Let me always see your hand as generous an merciful and gracious and never as impinging upon my rights or my freedoms.  Let such lies be far from me and let he be humble and contrite before you that I would tremble at your Word O Lord.  I thank you for thy love and care in the name of your holy Son- Amen!

Charles Spurgeon's comments-

From the Treasury of David, C.H. Spurgeon's commentary on the Psalms: 

“Thou hast beset me behind and before.” As though we were caught in an ambush, or besieged by an army which has wholly beleaguered the city walls, we are surrounded by the Lord. God has set us where we be, and beset us wherever we be. Behind us there is God recording our sins, or in grace blotting out the remembrance of them; and before us there is God foreknowing all our deeds, and providing for all our wants. We cannot turn back and so escape him, for he is behind; we cannot go forward and outmarch him, for he is before. He not only beholds us, but he besets us; and lest there should seem any chance of escape, or lest we should imagine that the surrounding presence is yet a distant one, it is added,—“And laid thine hand upon me.” The prisoner marches along surrounded by a guard, and gripped by an officer. God is very near; we are wholly in his power; from that power there is no escape. It is not said that God will thus beset us and arrest us, but it is done—“Thou hast beset me.” Shall we not alter the figure, and say that our heavenly Father has folded his arms around us, and caressed us with his hand? It is even so with those who are by faith the children of the Most High.

Our good shepherd knows us intimately and keeps His guiding hand upon us!

Soli Deo Gloria!