By Toni Ford
Psalm 139, written by King David, is by far one of my favorites psalms. David knew God intimately, and this psalm is a beautiful picture of their relationship. The psalm gives us a glimpse of the amazing benefits that come from being in right relationship, a relationship of intimacy and transparency with Jehovah, our God.
How we think about God and our relationship with Him determines what we think about everything else that makes up our busy world – other people, the world in which we live, God’s Word and God’s principles of life such as sin, faith and obedience. Wrong ideas about God will ultimately lead to wrong ideas about who we are, which ultimately leads us down a wrong path of destiny for our lives. The right knowledge of God is essential and paramount to a fulfilled life in this world! Deep in his soul, David understood the importance in having a right relationship with God, and here we find some of those important truths.
The truth – God knows us intimately. Within the first six verses of Psalm 139, David describes the depth and level of intimacy to which our Lord knows us. He knows our actions, our locations, our thoughts, our words, our motives and our ways. He also knows what is best for us and does all He can to guide us that way. God’s knowledge and guidance are for our protection, which should lead us to an overwhelming thankfulness that He knows us so perfectly and desires to know us at such an intimate level. Psalm 139: 5-6 says, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand.”
The truth – God is always with us. Psalm 139 verses 7-12 describe the nearness of God, how He is always with us and that we can never escape from His presence. Scripture tells us that for those who tried to escape from His presence, (i.e., Adam and Eve and Jonah), it did not end so well for them. Plus, God wants to walk with us and guide us since His plans for us are good and perfect. He is a good Father, and we need God’s presence with us!
The truth – God made us wonderfully. Psalm 139:13-14 says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous, how well I know it.” These two verses, along with verses 15-18, tell us that God is present at conception and birth, and because we are made in God’s image, He has a special plan for each person who is born. Have you ever thought of your being and your creation as a marvelous workmanship? This is how God thinks of you, because He made you and does not make junk! God makes all things beautiful and in His image! God has given to us and designed for us a marvelous body and planned for us to have a wonderful life. Our responsibility is to yield ourselves to Him daily, obey His Word and walk in the Spirit.
The truth – God judges righteously. In Psalm 139: 19-24, David recognized those who opposed God and disputed His Word. He called them liars and violent and and wicked people. David grieved because of them, yet he ends this psalm by asking God to examine his own life. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” David understood the importance of making sure our own hearts are pure before the Lord so that nothing stands in the way of our intimacy with Him. Our Father is a righteous judge, so we need to leave that part up to Him. For our part, we need to be mindful of our own hearts and motives, allowing Him to search us and speak to us, for it is then that we discover the truth and live in right standing with Him.
Father, today we thank You for the truths of Your Word. Thank You for the way in which You love each of us, care for us and long to walk intimately with us. Keep the truths of Your Word and who You are ever present in our hearts and minds today. We love You!
If you would like continued prayer, feel free to email me at tonif77@gmail.com. I would love to pray for you!
