1391 Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and knowest. 2 Thou—Thou hast known my sitting down, And my rising up, Thou hast attended to my thoughts from afar. 3 My path and my couch Thou hast fanned, And 'with' all my ways hast been acquainted. 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, Lo, O Jehovah, Thou hast known it all! 5 Behind and before Thou hast besieged me, And Thou dost place on me Thy hand. 6 Knowledge too wonderful for me, It hath been set on high, I am not able for it.
7 Whither do I go from Thy Spirit? And whither from Thy face do I flee? 8 If I ascend the heavens—there Thou 'art', And spread out a couch in Sheol, lo, Thee! 9 I take the wings of morning, I dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, 10 Also there Thy hand doth lead me, And Thy right hand doth hold me. 11 And I say, 'Surely darkness bruiseth me, Then night 'is' light to me. 12 Also darkness hideth not from Thee, And night as day shineth, as 'is' darkness so 'is' light.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 139:1-12
Commentary on Psalm 139:1-6
(Read Psalm 139:1-6)
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 When I am withdrawn from all company, thou knowest what I have in my heart.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.
Commentary on Psalm 139:7-16
(Read Psalm 139:7-16)
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.