Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 139
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 139
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 139
"O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known [me]. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me. [Such] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it." — Psalms 139:1-6 (ASV)
God has perfect knowledge of us, and all our thoughts and actions are open before Him. It is more profitable to meditate on Divine truths, applying them to our own cases, and with hearts lifted to God in prayer, than with a curious or argumentative mindset. That God knows all things (He is omniscient), and that He is everywhere (He is omnipresent), are truths acknowledged by all; yet they are seldom genuinely believed by humanity.
God takes strict notice of every step we take—every right step and every misstep. He knows what rule we walk by, what purpose we walk toward, and what company we walk with. When I am withdrawn from all company, You know what I have in my heart.
There is not a vain word, nor a good word, but You know from what thought it came and with what intention it was uttered. Wherever we are, we are under the eye and hand of God. We cannot by searching discover how God searches us out, nor do we know how we are known.
Such thoughts should restrain us from sin.
"Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night; Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike [to thee]. For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother`s womb. I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, [And] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, [Even] the days that were ordained [for me], When as yet there was none of them." — Psalms 139:7-16 (ASV)
We cannot see God, but he can see us. The psalmist did not desire to go from the Lord. Where can I go? In the most distant corners of the world, in heaven, or in hell, I cannot go out of your reach. No veil can hide us from God; not even the thickest darkness. No disguise can prevent any person or action from being seen by him in its true light. Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open wicked acts.
On the other hand, the believer cannot be removed from the supporting, comforting presence of his Almighty Friend. Should the persecutor take his life, his soul will sooner ascend to heaven. The grave cannot separate his body from the love of his Savior, who will raise it as a glorious body.
No outward circumstances can separate him from his Lord. While in the path of duty, he may be happy in any situation, by the exercise of faith, hope, and prayer.
"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men. For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take [thy name] in vain. Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. " — Psalms 139:17-24 (ASV)
God's counsels concerning us and our welfare are profound, such that they cannot be fully known. We cannot comprehend how many mercies we have received from Him. It would help to keep us in the fear of the Lord all day long if, when we wake in the morning, our first thoughts were of Him; and how we will admire and bless our God for His precious salvation when we awaken in the world of glory! Surely we ought not to use our members and senses, which are so wonderfully fashioned, as instruments of unrighteousness for sin.
But our immortal and rational souls are a still more noble work and gift of God. Yet if it were not for His precious thoughts of love toward us, our reason and our living forever would, through our sins, become the cause of our eternal misery. How, then, should we delight to meditate on God's love for sinners in Jesus Christ, the sum of which exceeds all reckoning! Sin is hated, and sinners lamented, by all who fear the Lord.
Yet while we shun them, we should pray for them; with God their conversion and salvation are possible. As the Lord knows us thoroughly, and we are strangers to ourselves, we should earnestly desire and pray to be searched and proved by His word and Spirit. If there is any wicked way in me, let me see it; and You, root it out of me. The way of godliness is pleasing to God and profitable to us; and will end in everlasting life.
It is the good old way. All the saints desire to be kept and led in this way, so that they may not miss it, turn out of it, or tire in it.
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