Psalm 139

Hey there. I’m sitting here, once again, and this post will look a little different. Let’s read Psalm 139 together. It was one of my Grandma Lovell’s favorite (I think) and today, I’m nostalgic and also wishing for a piece of comfort and reminder of hope. I’m typing it out. No copying and pasting. Here’s why. When I write out the word, it sticks in my mind. It holds. I remember. Today, I need to remember.

Psalm 139

Lord, you have search me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD. You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

We are known. We are seen. Here. Right now. Making peanut butter. Cleaning obsessively. Not doing anything. Taking walks. Whatever you are doing. Or not doing. Sharing on social media. Not sharing on social media. Having an opinion. Not having an opinion.

He has placed his hand on you. And he stays. No matter what. You turn to him. Just turn to him. Don’t run away. Run to him.

Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there your hand will lead me; your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me. If I say, ” Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”–even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.

When I walk in the woods, it is quiet, it is calm and it is peace. I look over the lake and see birds. I love up to the sky and it never ends. I know his creation sings his praise. When I turn for home, I face all the things. I face the decisions. I face it all. Yet, he still leads and moves here too. He is God in the light and dark.

For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.

This section has been used in many ways. May I say, let that go today and allow in to pour over you and proclaim that you are known by your God? That God holds your days. He knows each hair. He knows each cell. He loves you and he works. This illness, this pandemic is very scary. Yes, you are still known. You can rest in him.

God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is! If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you.

Let us treasure his word today. Let us treasure time being still in his presence today. Move towards him. Breathe in this Psalm and let this truth wash over you today.

God, if only you would kill the wicked–you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me–who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely. LORD, don’t I hate those who hate you, and detest those who rebel against you? I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies.

Today, we have an idea, a picture of the enemy. I’m going to ask you to drop that for a second. Drop the sword. I’m going to ask you to instead allow God to be the justice. Allow God’s love to move first. It did in your life.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.

If you have made it to the end, bless. He is our rescue. So, we cry out and ask him to search our hearts. He knows our hearts. He knows our concerns. He sees it all. Oh, Jesus, lead us in the everlasting way.

Bless your day. Give it all to Jesus today.

Peace.