Psalm 139 teaches that God pursued you long before you ever thought about pursuing him. In this psalm, David marvels that God knows him completely, is present everywhere he could go and has been shaping his life since before he was born. That isn’t just theology to memorize. It’s an invitation to know the God who already knows and loves you.
God Knows the Real You
David begins by acknowledging that God knows him better than he knows himself.
Psalm 139:1-4 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.
Theologians call this God’s omniscience: he knows everything, past, present and future. But David is describing something more personal. God understands your thoughts, your history, your fears and your joys. You never have to perform for him or pretend, because he already knows the real you and still invites you close.
God Is Closer Than You Realize
Next, David realizes there’s nowhere he could go to escape God’s presence.
Psalm 139:7-10 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
That can feel unsettling if we’re trying to hide something. Because of sin, all of us are tempted to run from God. But David discovers that God’s presence isn’t a threat; it’s a rescue. Wherever we go, his hand is there to guide us and hold us fast.
God Has Been at Work All Along
If you’ve just started following God, it may feel like he’s a new part of your story. Psalm 139 says otherwise.
Psalm 139:13-16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 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. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
God designed you on purpose and has been at work in your life from the very beginning. The clearest proof of his pursuit is that he sent Jesus to die for your sins so you could know him. And he promises that when you seek him with all your heart, you will find him (Jeremiah 29:13). If you’d like to learn more about putting your faith in Jesus, check out How can I become a Christian?
The Takeaway
Psalm 139 teaches that God knows you completely, is always near and has been pursuing you since before you were born. The best response is to seek him in return and invite him to search your heart.
