Monday, August 26 – Psalms 138, 139
1. How does the Lord regard the humble and the proud? Psalm 138:6
2. In what tender way does David ask God not to forsake him? Psalm 138:8
3. What knowledge is too wonderful for the psalmist? Psalm 139:1-6
4. Since when does the Lord know us? Psalm 139:16
Commentary and Reflection:
Regarding Psalm 138, the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary states:
“Psalm 138 is a psalm of gratitude. The psalmist exhibits courage, fortitude, and fidelity and pledges to acknowledge his Lord before all the gods of the heathen or before kings and rulers in authority. ” —SDA Bible Commentary, Introduction to Psalm 138.
Verse 8 declares, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” This is a statement of faith. God’s purpose does not depend on us, who are weak and sinful, but on Him, who is almighty. This aligns with Paul’s thought in Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” It also means that David values and desires God’s purpose above his plans, knowing God knows best. It is a statement of hope and confidence; his calling is secure because God will fulfill it. In the same spirit as David, let us say today, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.”
Psalm 139 is a poetic gem with profound truths about our Creator and Father. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary says,
“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. 1 3—1 8) gives the reason for the profound conviction of these truths of which tire 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.” SDA Bible Commentary, Introduction to Psalm 139.
Some gems of thought in this psalm:
- The Lord knows you intimately and deeply. Verses 1-4.
- He surrounds you and lays His hand upon you. Verse 5. How tender is this expression, as a father does with his child.
- There is nowhere you can escape His presence. Verses 7-12. This portion reminds us of Jonah trying to flee from God’s presence. Even in the belly of the great fish, the Lord found him.
- Just as He formed Adam with His hands, the Lord took personal care to form you in your mother’s womb. You are His direct handiwork, created with an eternal purpose. Verses 13-17.
- In God’s book, you existed before you were conceived; He knew you thoroughly from then—verse 16.
This beautiful psalm concludes with a prayer we should make our own. It is an invitation for God to examine us, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24.
“The great mystical work of the Holy Spirit is in the dim regions of our personality which we cannot get at. Read the 139th Psalm; the Psalmist implies – ‘Thou art the God of the early mornings, the God of the late at nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea; but, my God, my soul has further horizons than the early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, greater depths than any sea in nature – Thou Who art the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot trace, dreams I cannot get at – my God, search me out.'” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
Would you like to repeat this prayer, lifting your thoughts to the Lord? “Search me, O God…”