September 17 — Psalm 139

“O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Verses 1-12)

“Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.”

One of the greatest truths in life is the lesson we should all know: there is “no escape from God.” Like fugitives, we may run, but we cannot ultimately hide from the G-d who can see through even the darkness with the gaze of G-d’s own brilliant light. If we manage to dodge G-d in this life, we must still stand on that fearful day of judgment. There is no place to hide from G-d.

So, once we give up and accept the fact that fleeing G-d is not possible (I encourage you to read the story of Jonah again), we discover that G-d’s intention is not to harm us, but to bless us (Again, read the story of Jonah). G-d formed each one of us — we learn that G-d even knew us in our mother’s womb. This G-d has placed upon each one of us a purpose — and ordained all of our days even before we ever saw the light of day.

In coming to know G-d more intimately, we come to know ourselves. In the blinding light of G-d’s holiness and righteousness, we soon recognize the desperate need we have for G-d’s forgiveness and love. Since we cannot escape from this all-knowing, all-present, all-wise Creator, we cannot escape from the need for G-d’s sanctification in our lives. That is the message of Psalm 139. It’s not a generic psalm; it is an intensely personal expression of our need for G-d.

Let us Pray:

Almighty God, creator of the universe, we are filled with wonder at all your works and overwhelmed by your infinite wisdom. We praise you for your majesty; yet even more we rejoice that you do not forget us, yet desire to know and care for us; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

September 16 — Psalm 138

“I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

Psalm 138 is a song of whole-hearted thanksgiving for G-d’s salvific work. It employs the form of an individual thanksgiving song, beginning with the basic sentence, “I give you thanks, Lord with my whole heart” Rather than sacrifice, the singer offers this song after bowing down in worship toward the temple, holy because it is the place of the Presence of G-d.

Psalm 138 is, then, a guide to the meaning and practice of people lifting up words of thanksgiving — especially thanksgiving for those who know that G-d is their redemption: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.” It reminds us that salvation comes to us as individuals in community — and therefore it creates a community that can speak as one in unity. It teaches that our salvation is not first of all and only for our sake but is also and foremost the revelation of the coming kingdom of God for all people.

For those who truly know that “The LORD will fulfill his purpose…; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever”, the reality of the promise of salvation requires a life of trust and prayer. Life with all its dangers, trials and temptations will continue for the redeemed; G-d’s salvation gives us reason to hope that what G-d has begun, through Jesus Christ, will surely be brought to completion. As Paul says in Philippians 1:6: “I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Let us Pray:

Compassionate God, you look with favor upon the lowly. Keep us safe in the midst of trouble, make known your love in our words and deeds, and bring us to new life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.