Night on a dark hillside, one small clay lamp burning in the doorway of a low stone house under a deep plain sky.

Trust · David

Psalm 139

For anyone afraid of being fully known, or of never being. He knows all of it, and He stays.

24 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last HallelujahPsalm 139

You Have Searched Me and Known Me

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A single cream ewe stands in a narrow stony lane between dry-stone walls, a shut wooden gate behind her and another ahead.

You hem me in behind and before;

You have laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Reflect

Sit with it

“You are aware of all my ways.” Does being known all the way down feel like a threat to you today, or a rest? Write down why.

First light running out across a wide empty western sea from a low rocky shore, the water pale and still to the horizon.

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend to the heavens, You are there;

if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle by the farthest sea,

even there Your hand will guide me;

Your right hand will hold me fast.

0:20

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,

and the light become night around me”—

even the darkness is not dark to You,

but the night shines like the day,

for darkness is as light to You.

Close on an upright wooden loom with clay weights, a finely patterned wool cloth half woven in soft light from a small opening.

For You formed my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise You,

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Marvelous are Your works,

and I know this very well.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made

My frame was not hidden from You

when I was made in secret,

when I was woven together

in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all my days were written in Your book

and ordained for me

before one of them came to be.

Very close on wet grains of sand of many colors, a few catching the light.

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God,

how vast is their sum!

If I were to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand;

and when I awake,

I am still with You.

O God, that You would slay the wicked—

away from me, you bloodthirsty men—

who speak of You deceitfully;

Your enemies take Your name in vain.

Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD,

and detest those who rise against You?

I hate them with perfect hatred;

I count them as my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns.

See if there is any offensive way in me;

lead me in the way everlasting.

Four stanzas

Whiteboard

He begins by saying what God has done: “You have searched me.” He ends by asking for it.

Pray

Pray it

Pray the last two verses slowly, and stop wherever they stop you. “Search me, O God, and know my heart.” Tell Him what comes to light. Then ask Him: “lead me in the way everlasting.” Amen.

You’ve experienced

Psalm 139

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

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