John Calvin Commentary Psalms 139:17

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!" — Psalms 139:17 (ASV)

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me. It is the same Hebrew word, רעה, reah, which is used here as in the second verse, and means thought, not companion or friend, as many have rendered it, after the Chaldee translator, under the idea that the Psalmist is already addressing the distinction between the righteous and the wicked.

The context requires that he should still be considered as speaking of the matchless excellence of divine providence. He therefore repeats—and not without reason—what he had said before, for we apparently neglect or underestimate the singular proofs of the deep wisdom of God, exhibited in man’s creation, and the whole superintendence and government of his life.

Some read—How rare are thy thoughts; but this only obscures the meaning. I grant that this word is used in the Sacred History (1 Samuel 3:1), where the oracles of the Lord are said to have been rare in the time of Eli. But it also means precious, and it is sufficient that we retain the sense that is free from all ambiguity.

He applies the term to God’s thoughts, as being beyond the grasp of human judgment. To the same effect is what he adds: that the sums or aggregates of them were great and mighty, that is, sufficient to overwhelm the minds of people. The exclamation made by the Psalmist suggests to us that if people were not so dull of apprehension, or rather so senseless, they would be struck by the mysterious ways of God, and would humbly and tremblingly present themselves before His tribunal, instead of presumptuously thinking that they could evade it.

The same truth is set forth in the next verse: that if anyone should attempt to number the hidden judgments or counsels of God, their immensity is more than the sands of the sea. Our capacities consequently could not comprehend the most infinitesimal part of them. As to what follows—I have a waked, and am still with, thee, interpreters have rendered the words differently; but I have no doubt that the meaning is simply that David found new occasion, every time he awoke from sleep, for meditating upon the extraordinary wisdom of God.

When he speaks of rising, we are not to suppose he refers to only one day. Rather, consistent with what he had already said about his thoughts being absorbed in the incomprehensible greatness of divine wisdom, he adds that every time he awoke he discovered fresh reasons for admiration.

This reveals to us David's true meaning: God’s providential government of the world is such that nothing can escape Him, not even the deepest thoughts. And although many foolishly rush into all kinds of excessive crime, thinking that God will never discover them, it is futile for them to resort to hiding places, from which, however reluctantly, they must be dragged to light.

This is a truth we would do well to consider more than we currently do. For while we may glance at our hands and feet, and occasionally survey the elegance of our form with complacency, hardly one in a hundred thinks of their Maker. Or, if anyone recognizes their life as coming from God, very few truly grasp the great truth that He who formed the ear, the eye, and the understanding heart, Himself hears, sees, and knows everything.