‏ Psalms 139

* God knows all things. (1-6) He is every where present. (7-16)

The psalmist's hatred to sin, and desire to be led aright.

(17-24)1-6 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 disputing

frame of mind. That God knows all things, is omniscient; that he

is every where, is omnipresent; are truths acknowledged by all,

yet they are seldom rightly believed in by mankind. God takes

strict notice of every step we take, every right step and every

by step. He knows what rule we walk by, what end we walk toward,

what company we walk with. When I am withdrawn from all company,

thou knowest what I have in my heart. There is not a vain word,

not a good word, but thou knowest from what thought it came, and

with what design it was uttered. Wherever we are, we are under

the eye and hand of God. We cannot by searching find how God

searches us out; nor do we know how we are known. Such thoughts

should restrain us from sin. 7-16 We cannot see God, but he can see us. The psalmist did not

desire to go from the Lord. Whither can I go? In the most

distant corners of the world, in heaven, or in hell, I cannot go

out of thy reach. No veil can hide us from God; not the thickest

darkness. No disguise can save any person or action from being

seen in the true light by him. Secret haunts of sin are as open

before God as the most open villanies. 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 the sooner ascend to heaven. The grave

cannot separate his body from the love of his Saviour, who will

raise it 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. 17-24 God's counsels concerning us and our welfare are deep,

such as cannot be known. We cannot think how many mercies we

have received from him. It would help to keep us in the fear of

the Lord all the day long, if, when we wake in the morning, our

first thoughts were of him: and how shall we admire and bless

our God for his precious salvation, when we awake in the world

of glory! Surely we ought not to use our members and senses,

which are so curiously fashioned, as instruments of

unrighteousness unto 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 to us, our reason and our

living for ever would, through our sins, prove the occasion of

our eternal misery. How should we then delight to meditate on

God's love to 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 be any wicked way in me, let me

see it; and do thou 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, that they may not miss it, turn

out of it, or tire in it