Love Jesus 13

Yes.

By Adolfo TM

Psalm 139, For the choir director: A psalm of David

This post is divided into 2 parts: The Word of God in Psalm 139, and my personal reflections written during early morning devotion.

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.

2  You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.

5 You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave,[a] you are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.

11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—

12     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

My Personal Reflections (not AI generated)

To us, God often feels far away yet the Psalmist declares plainly that God is everywhere—and not just everywhere, but active. If you’re in the most non-religious environment, far from a church or Christian bookstore, or anything that remotely points to God, God is there, says the Psalmist. We need spiritual eyes to recognize this reality, or we will not see it. We might erroneously think God is in this space, but not that space. God, however, does not dwell in buildings made by men–God created Heaven and Earth and everything in it (Acts 17:24). The Spirit of God sees everything and we cannot avoid or hide from Him. In fact, there’s nothing the Psalmist can say that will surprise God, for before he speaks, God knows what’s going to come out of his mouth. Further, God protects us. The Psalmist says God goes before me and ahead of me. We might confuse this to mean that we won’t ever suffer (the Psalmist never says that, however). Because God is behind us and ahead of us (in our past, present and future). God’s presence is working His purpose in our lives for His glory. When that purpose involves suffering, He is truthworthy still. No, more than that. He is the most trustworthy. 

In some ways, the Psalmist knows more than us, or believes more confidently than we do especially if we struggle with trusting God. Do we have trouble believing that God is truly for us, His own children?

On the other hand, we know more than the Psalmist because we have the revelation of Jesus Christ! Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins cements His love for us, and vindicates everything praiseworthy said by the Psalmist in this passage. Jesus is ALIVE. And He LOVES sinners. And He shed His blood only for the unrighteousness. He never shed his blood for the righteous. For these reasons, we can confidently cast all our anxiety before Him “for He cares for you.” Words to pause and meditate on.

Seek the Lord daily. Feed your spirit by His Spirit, drink in the riches of His Word, pray the Psalms, feast on Christ, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, who goes behind us and ahead of us; and who reigns supreme as the right and proper King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Amen.