Psalm 139—God’s Omniscience (1)

To the Chief Muscian, a psalm of David

Apsalm of David—a psalm written down by the man after God’s heart, enlightened by God’s Spirit. To the Chief Musician—over the centuries this song has often been sung by the temple choirs, listened to by the assembled people. Many have loved it though they were spiritually deaf ones. At the same time, there has always been a remnant according to the election of grace that in principle could hear and understand this preaching. This psalm will sound from generation to generation until the end of time. There will always be spiritual singers who sing by courses (Ezra 3:11).

Do you know of the song of faith from the ministry of Christ, in communion with Him and sanctified in Him? The great Chief Musician sang a hymn of praise in the night in which He was betrayed—thanking the Father for the redemption of Zion with judgment, thanking Him for the way opened in the blood. Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound!

The main content of this psalm is the knowledge of grace that David confessed in the first line: O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou hast searched me— seen through me to the very bottom of my existence. Thou knowest me—so completely that nothing of me is hidden from Thee.

My downsitting and mine uprising and my thought

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising— whatever I do or do not do, consciously or unconsciously, it is known to Thee. If the people watch me, they can check what I do, but what do they know about it compared to Thee? Thou alone always knows everything of my downsitting and uprising, wherever I am.

Thou dost not only search and know the outside of my life but also my heart. Who among men is able to read my heart? Thou, Lord, knowest my thought—not only all my thoughts but every one, no matter how small or vague it may be. Nor dost Thou have to wonder what all those different thoughts imply and mean. Lord, would I even know them myself? But Thou understandest them. There is not one for Thee to guess at; Thou understandest them even afar off. When they come into my mind (Ezekiel 11:5b), they are often obscure to me though I think them myself, but to Thee they are naked and open. They do not need to come closer to Thee; to Thee they are never unclear or vague.

My path and my lying down and my ways

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me, Thou knowest and understandest all about me; yea, Thou compassest my path and my lying down. Thou art always around me. Thou compassest me wherever I go, wherever I am. Thou compassest me as a fanner who separates the wheat from the chaff and straw on the threshing floor. Thou continually tries and examines all my doings to the utmost.

Would there be anything about me or in me of which Thou would say, “That is unknown to Me”? Some people are acquainted with some of my ways; few people are acquainted with many of my ways. Yet, they sometimes are amazed at what I say and do. How could they know what Thou knowest for Thou art acquainted with all my ways. All that hides me from men does not hide me from Thee. Shall there then be one way of mine which is at all strange to Thee?

Thou knowest it all

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether. How perfect is Thy omniscience. Thou hast beset me behind and before—all around, from all sides. Thou art ever with me. Could anything of me escape or fail Thee? Thou art the all-knowing God who laid Thine hand upon me—Thy almighty hand that encompasses, holds, encloses, guides, and governs me.

“O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.” How high is the height of Thy knowledge of me. The more effort I take to determine that height, the less I can comprehend it. It is far beyond my comprehension. It is wonderful, it is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

O LORD, nothing of me is hidden from Thee. If I ponder that Thou knowest me a thousand times better than I know myself, then Thou understandest this thought from afar also. Thou hast always known what Thou knowest of me. Thy omniscient knowledge is too wonderful for me. My heart is filled with deep awe for Thee.

In my own eyes I am nothing before Thy holy eyes. I confess with Elihu, “Behold, God is great, and we know Him not” (Job 36:26a). This knowledge is too wonderful for me, and with Job I reverently cry out, “Lo, these are parts of His ways: but how little a portion is heard of Him?” (Job 26:14a).

(To be continued)

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