Day 37 – Wednesday
Read Psalm 139
Psalm 139, like Romans 8, John’s prologue to his gospel or Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal sons in Luke 15, is a passage of such depth and beauty that every time you read it you feel as if you have grown in appreciation for the majesty of God. The picture the psalmist paints of God’s surpassing knowledge is as comprehensive as it is comforting. There is literally nowhere we can go where we would be out of the sight and protection of God. And while this seems devastating at first blush, I mean the thought of God knowing everything about us is a vulnerability we aren’t naturally excited about, the Psalmist describes God’s comprehensive knowledge as “too wonderful” to describe (vs. 6). We will never find ourselves in a place or a situation where God’s presence isn’t with us.
The description of God’s intimate involvement in our lives from beginning to end in verses 13-16 is not the language of an unconcerned God in some far off galaxy, but of a God who really does know even the number of hairs on our head as Jesus says in Matthew 10:30. Even in the “farthest limits of the sea” his hand leads us, his “right hand shall hold me fast.” Stop for a moment and consider the image of God holding your hand.
During the nine months that our daughter Addison was being “knit together in [her] mother’s womb” (vs. 13), I read this Psalm frequently. It is hard to put to words what that meant for me. But, the Psalmist doesn’t seem able to either, “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand” (17-18). But, instead of me trying to “explain” Psalm 139 with my own thoughts, you should probably just read it again for yourself. I especially like Eugene Peterson’s translation of this Psalm. A mentor invited me to memorize Peterson’s version years ago and I have been grateful for it ever since.
Prayer
Read through Psalm 139 again, pray it as your prayer for the day.