Psalm 139:23 Investigate me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. Psalm 139:24 See if there is any offensive road in me; guide me toward the permanent road.
offensive road
I have traveled to several countries. There are some offensive roads out there. Dirty, deceptive, and dangerous.
The psalmist asks God to investigate him, and all the roads in his life. He wants to be guided toward God’s permanent road — the one that leads to his will. That’s a good prayer for us as we begin this new year.
Psalm 139:17 God, how valuable your thoughts are to me; how immense their sum is! Psalm 139:18 If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you. Psalm 139:19 God, if only you would kill the wicked — you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me — Psalm 139:20 who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely. Psalm 139:21 Yahveh, don’t I hate those who hate you, and detest those who rebel against you? Psalm 139:22 I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies.
God has enemies
It would be nice to live in a world where everyone is honest, and all those who claim to love God really do. The psalmist does not live in such a world, and neither do you and I. God has enemies, and we would be making a mistake to count them as our friends. We should love them, but loving an enemy is not the same thing as adopting him as a friend. For a true believer in God, inclusion has its limits.
May this coming year be one in which we love God, our neighbor, and our enemies — with a clearer vision of who is who.
Psalm 139:13 Because it was you who bought my kidneys; you wove me together in my mother’s belly. Psalm 139:14 I will praise you because I have been awesomely and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and I know this very well. Psalm 139:15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them happened.
his purpose for us
The next big challenge that the enemy is hatching to destroy us is to teach our children that there is no real purpose to life. This psalmist has come to realize that life is all about the purpose of God. He began writing out our life’s purpose while we were still being knit together in the womb. It is the hem that defines the garment. It is the reason for time itself. We cannot escape God because he has a reason for creating us. We can try to run from it, but it will find us. We can choose what we will, but we were designed for him. The wisest choice is to cooperate with that purpose that defines us.
LORD, lead us in the way which conforms to your purpose.
Psalm 139:7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:8 If I go up to the sky, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. Psalm 139:9 If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, Psalm 139:10 even there your hand will go before me; your right hand will grasp me. Psalm 139:11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night” — Psalm 139:12 even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are the same to you.
He’s there
Not only does our creator know everything about us, he’s everywhere we can go. There is no hiding from him. Go east, he’s there. Go west, he’s there too. Turn out the lights. He has not left. We need light to see, but he does not.
This is actually very good news for those who are trying to find God. You do not have to climb a high mountain or fly away in a spaceship. He’s right there next to you. Seek him!
Psalm 139:1 [For the music director. A Psalm of David.] Yahveh, you have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:2 You know when I sit down and stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. Psalm 139:3 You observe my travels and rest; you know all my roads. Psalm 139:4 While a word is not yet on my tongue, you know all about it, Yahveh. Psalm 139:5 You besiege me — back and front; you put your hand on me. Psalm 139:6 This miraculous knowledge is beyond me. It is unattainable; I am unable to reach it.
He knows
This psalm is the go-to text if you are studying God’s omnipresence, but this first part of the psalm celebrates his omniscience. He knows everything — and these verses make a particular point that God knows everything about you and me. He knows us better than we know ourselves. It is ridiculous to think that we can understand ourselves better than our creator.
Psalm 138:1 [Of David.] I will give you thanks with all my heart; I will sing your praise before the “gods”. Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name because of your constant love and truth. You have exalted your name and your promise above everything else. Psalm 138:3 On the day I called, you answered me; you increased strength within me. Psalm 138:4 All the kings on earth will give you thanks, Yahveh, when they hear what you have promised. Psalm 138:5 They will sing of Yahveh’s roads, for Yahveh’s glory is great. Psalm 138:6 Though Yahveh is exalted, he sees the low ones; but he knows the high ones from a distance. Psalm 138:7 If I walk into the middle of danger, you will preserve me from the anger of my enemies. You will extend your hand; your right hand will deliver me. Psalm 138:8 Yahveh will fulfill his purpose for me. Yahveh, your covenant faithfulness is permanent; do not abandon the work of your hands.
he will extend his hand
If you have ever asked yourself why you go through so much trouble, and been tempted to feel like God has abandoned you… camp out here in Psalm 138. The psalmist was there, but he saw his days of trouble as signs not that God was gone, but that his deliverance was there in the midst of trouble. That’s what this life is for. It isn’t for us to live above troubles, but for us to know the consistent deliverance of the LORD, who wants to hold our hand as we walk through those trials.
Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon– there we sat down and wept when we remembered Zion. Psalm 137:2 There we hung up our lyres on the poplar trees, Psalm 137:3 because our captors there asked us for songs, and our tormentors, for joy: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion.” Psalm 137:4 How can we sing Yahveh’s song on foreign soil? Psalm 137:5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. Psalm 137:6 May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem as my greatest joy! Psalm 137:7 Remember, Yahveh, what the Edomites said that day at Jerusalem: “Destroy it! Destroy it down to its foundations!” Psalm 137:8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, fortunate is the one who pays you back what you have done to us. Psalm 137:9 fortunate is he who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rocks.
how to restore your joy
Singing the songs of Zion after its loss is where many people are today. Deep inside they have lost their reason for joy, and the world around them keeps asking them to sing. If you feel that loss, know that all is not lost. There is hope, because the God of Zion is still here. He has not left us without hope. But if you feel a deep sadness, and you have known the LORD, but you feel like you are just going through the motions now, circumstances have stolen your joy. Don’t pretend. Ask God to intervene, and restore your joy.
LORD, intervene. Restore the joy of our deliverance!
Psalm 136:25 He gives food to every body. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven! His covenant faithfulness is permanent.
What did you get?
Did you get what you wanted this Christmas? Did you get what you needed today? Be thankful for a God in heaven who looks after you.
Psalm 136:10 He struck dead the firstborn of the Egyptians. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:11 and brought Israel out from among them. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:12 with a strong hand and outstretched arm. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:13 He divided the Red Sea His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:14 and led Israel through, His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:15 but hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:16 He led his people in the wilderness. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:17 He struck dead great kings His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:18 and slaughtered famous kings– His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:19 Sihon king of the Amorites His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:20 and Og king of Bashan– His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:21 and gave their land as an inheritance, His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:22 an inheritance to Israel his servant. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:23 He remembered us in our humiliation His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:24 and rescued us from our foes. His covenant faithfulness is permanent.
faithfulness in rescue
The first part of this psalm celebrated God’s faithfulness as our creator. This part celebrates his faithfulness as a rescuer of his people. That is what Christmas is all about. A Savior is born — the only one who can rescue us from sin. God remembered his lost people and sent his Son to rescue them — and us.
Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to Yahveh because he is good. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:4 He alone does great miracles. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:5 He made the sky skillfully. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:6 He spread the land on the waters. His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:7 He made the great lights: His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:8 The sun to rule by day, His covenant faithfulness is permanent. Psalm 136:9 The moon and stars to rule by night. His covenant faithfulness is permanent.
faithfulness in creation
The first part of this psalm celebrates God’s faithfulness as demonstrated by his creation. The miracles he performed are called “nature” in much of the world today because the sky and space seem permanent. But their permanence is a reflection of his. Nature is a machine that always works because of its faithful creator.
