30 Days in the PsalmsSýnishorn

Day #29: Psalm 139
Today, we return for one final chance to listen in on the prayers of David. The majority of Psalm 139 focuses on the joy of being known by the creator God (vv. 1–18). David sounds awestruck by the Lord’s comprehensive, limitless knowledge of him. God knows his every action, thought, word, and location—even the intricacies of his physical organism and the number of his days (his lifespan from birth to death). David rejoices that there is nowhere in the universe that he could go and be beyond the scope of God’s knowledge of him (vv. 7–12). He acknowledges that this divine knowledge is beyond his capacity to understand (vv. 17–18).
This intimate, joy-filled conversation between David and God takes an abrupt and jarring turn in verse 19. Out of nowhere bursts an angry, violent yearning for God to do something definitive to deal with “the wicked.” It’s almost as if David is saying, “Okay, because you know me so perfectly and so thoroughly, you know what is pressing on my heart today, and I am just going to state it clearly now, get it out in the open between us.” These wicked ones are obviously hostile to David (“Oh, that the bloodthirsty would depart from me”), but first and foremost, David recognizes that they are hostile towards God himself. They speak maliciously against the Lord, they lift themselves up in opposition to him, they hate him. So David says to the Lord, “Your enemies are my enemies” (v. 22).
David yearns for God to deal with these enemies—but it’s striking that he leaves the action in God’s hands. He does not ask God to give him permission to do the destroying and setting right. And because David knows his own tendency to sin, he returns to the One who knows him so fully and pleads: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (vv. 23–24). Even more important than his yearning for the wicked to be punished is his desire that no hint of their wickedness be found in his own heart.
Today is a good day to welcome the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit over your heart, mind, soul, and priorities—and to rejoice in the loving presence of the One who knows you fully and completely.
Ritningin
About this Plan

Most of Scripture is God’s Word to human beings, but the Book of Psalms records human speech to God. These prayers and songs demonstrate the determination of people of faith to remain connected to God, regardless of their circumstances. Confession, lament, pleading, thanksgiving, praise—all the elements of our communication with God are present. The 150 Psalms in the collection are divided into 5 “books.” During these 30 days, we’ll pray through 6 psalms from each book. Some will be very familiar, others perhaps less so; all will direct our gaze to the God who loves us.
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