A Light for My Path

Psalm 139 is chockfull of wisdom. Probably the most quoted verses from this song by King David are:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (v 14).

and …

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. (v 23-24).

But, there is so much more packed into this psalm.

This song has four stanzas each with six lines. The first stanza acknowledges that God knows every single thing about David down to the next word that will come out of his mouth before it’s on his tongue. This intimate, infinite knowledge God has can be comforting; but it can also be intimidating. I sometimes have words in my mouth that aren’t exactly praise-worthy. Maybe gossipy words. Maybe envious words. Maybe cruel words. Since God knows what I’m about to say, why doesn’t He stop me before I hurt someone or embarrass myself?

The second stanza starts with: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (v 7). I’m not sure if David was feeling this way, but there have been times when I kinda wished I could hide from God. When I sinned or hurt someone and felt ashamed. When life was heavy and hard and I just wanted to run away. When I was grieving and felt He didn’t care. But there’s no place so dark that God can’t find me. And He might admonish me for my bad behavior or lack of faith, while at the same time, taking me by the hand and guiding me back to the fold.

The third stanza is pure praise, amazement, and awe. God knows every single thing about us before we were even conceived. He knew exactly what we were going to do, say, and be from the moment we entered this world to our last breath.

The last stanza of David’s song slips back into humanness. “If only you, God, would slay the wicked.” (v 19) David reminds God of the blasphemy and hate and evil deeds of the enemies of God (and of David). Can’t God see how much David despises these terrible people? Like maybe God could at least smote a few of them?

David’s closing words circle back to recognizing his own (i.e., our own) guilt and culpability. Back to verses 23-24. Test my heart, my thoughts, my offensive ways. Lead me back to the straight and narrow path. The one that leads to eternity.

The way everlasting.

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Laura