Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

This is really a beautiful psalm. Very often, we imagined God to be someone high up, who's very concerned with the nations and churches. However, we often neglect the fact that our God is also very much concerned with every individual. He don't treat us like numbers. He treats us as individuals - each with our own uniquness.

Psalm 139 really speaks about the personal relationship that God has with every individual. There's no one too small or insignificant that God won't bother Himself with. He knows our every thoughts (v2). Even before we speak, God already knew what we want to say (v4). And every day of our lives, God has already recorded them down in a book (v16).

And most importantly, the psalmist reminds us that each of us is specially created by God. Every individual has his own set of talents, giftings and even weaknesses. There's no need to compare individual A and B. Every creation of God is wonderful - v14.

What a wonderful and personal God we have!


There are times that I felt insecure about myself. I would be envious of someone else. But God always uses Psalm 139:14 to encourage myself that I'm unqiue in my own way - and it's really wonderful. I have to learn to stop comparing, and be contented in how God has made me.


Things to ponder
1.How contented are you with yourself? Rate 1 to 10 (10 means very contented).
2. What are 3 strengths/talents do you think you have?
3. What are 3 weaknesses?
4. Pray and thank God for creating you the way you are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.