1<\/sup> O LORD, you have searched me 2<\/sup> You know when I sit and when I rise; 3<\/sup> You discern my going out and my lying down; 4<\/sup> Before a word is on my tongue 5<\/sup> You hem me in\u2014behind and before; 6<\/sup> Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, 7<\/sup> Where can I go from your Spirit? 8<\/sup> If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 9<\/sup> If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 10<\/sup> even there your hand will guide me, 11<\/sup> If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me 12<\/sup> even the darkness will not be dark to you; 13<\/sup> For you created my inmost being; 14<\/sup> I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 15<\/sup> My frame was not hidden from you 16<\/sup> your eyes saw my unformed body. 17<\/sup> How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! 18<\/sup> Were I to count them, 19<\/sup> If only you would slay the wicked, O God! 20<\/sup> They speak of you with evil intent; 21<\/sup> Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, 22<\/sup> I have nothing but hatred for them; 23<\/sup> Search me, O God, and know my heart; 24<\/sup> See if there is any offensive way in me, Growing up has a way of changing your perspective.<\/em> <\/p>\n When I was a girl, I found this psalm a little frightening.<\/em> <\/p>\n It seemed to me that God was watching all the time- looking over my shoulder, testing me to see if my goings and lyings and words and sittings and even my thoughts were acceptable. And I feared that they were not.<\/em> <\/p>\n Being hemmed in was not high on my list of desirable positions, and just the thought that there was no where to flee made me want to!<\/em> <\/p>\n <\/em> <\/p>\n As a young woman I looked at the “fearfully and wonderfully made” portion and felt safe. Suddenly, His hand laid upon me was comfortable and Fatherly. And I had no problem hating those who hated the Lord and counting them as my enemies. “If only you would slay the wicked, O God!” was my prayer when my sons were young and I wanted to protect them from those who sinned against children.<\/em> <\/p>\n And now, when I read this psalm- I see that it is about being known. Searched out- through and through- cleansed, forgiven, grace granted and being led in “the way everlasting.” It is about the journey- the steps on the journey. Walking with the Lord, learning to make the choices that bring me closer to Him, It’s about knowing His way and walking in it. It is the assurance that I’m not alone- that I walk beside the Lord God, Almighty and He has been there to guide me from before I was ever born. And the assurance that He will lead me home.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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. … Continue reading
and you know me. <\/p>\n
you perceive my thoughts from afar. <\/p>\n
you are familiar with all my ways. <\/p>\n
you know it completely, O LORD. <\/p>\n
you have laid your hand upon me. <\/p>\n
too lofty for me to attain. <\/p>\n
Where can I flee from your presence? <\/p>\n
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. <\/p>\n
if I settle on the far side of the sea, <\/p>\n
your right hand will hold me fast. <\/p>\n
and the light become night around me,” <\/p>\n
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you. <\/p>\n
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. <\/p>\n
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. <\/p>\n
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, <\/p>\n
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be. <\/p>\n
How vast is the sum of them! <\/p>\n
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you. <\/p>\n
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! <\/p>\n
your adversaries misuse your name. <\/p>\n
and abhor those who rise up against you? <\/p>\n
I count them my enemies. <\/p>\n
test me and know my anxious thoughts. <\/p>\n
and lead me in the way everlasting. <\/p>\n