He Knows
Palm 139:1-6
Lord, you have searched me and know me, you know when I sit down and when I get up; you understand my thought from far away. You scrutinize my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold you know it all. You have encircled me behind and in front and placed your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot comprehend it.
Every time I read this opening line, I sit a little deeper in my chair. It is one thing to have a friend, relative, or even a colleague say, “I know you.” It is qualitatively different to have the God of the universe declare it. To be ‘known’ is so foundational to our joy. To have someone that knows you, that knows your likes and dislikes, your idiosyncrasies, your deepest pains and greatest joys, with a heart of acceptance and grace, is so comforting. We were made for this kind of community. A loving and caring family structure of support and growth. This Psalm causes me to meditate on the God who is interested in what he has designed and created, from the created material world itself to our personhood. He has taken the time to search us out and study our ways. He scrutinizes our movements. When we stand and sit. He is acquainted with all our ways. He knows us exhaustively! This should be so comforting that we are fully exposed in thought, in word, and in deed. There is no hiding spot that blinds his eye to any of our needs or concerns, even in our times of correction. There is no situation that confounds his knowledge. There is no heartfelt prayer that escapes his ear. There is no pain that he does not have a healing balm for. There is no limit in God’s knowledge of us, yet the Psalmist admits this knowledge is too wonderful for him and that he cannot personally comprehend it. It’s notable to think that this comprehension of such profound truth may never be fully understood in our current state. It’s encouraging that he didn’t say we could not apprehend it!
Ok! I’m gonna nerd out for a second as we take a deeper look at vs 5. David claims that God has “encircled me behind and in front”. In philosophical terms, to comprehend is to draw a complete circle around an object of interest. To apprehend is to come into contact with something. God has drawn his circle of complete understanding around David as he apprehends him, “you put your hand upon me”. David knows that he will never plunge into the depths of understanding of God, but as he is known by God; in apprehending some truths, he is awestruck with wonder and love. This idea is deepened in the passages that come later. In Psalm 139:13, “For you created my inmost parts; you wove me in my mother’s womb.” This is a most intimate claim of knowing that I can imagine. I knew you before you were born. I saw your formless substance. We are awesomely and wonderfully made!!
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul expands on this to express his choosing us predates the earth’s creation. In Ephesians 1:4, “For he chose us in him before the foundations of the world.” God’s intimate knowledge of us is preeminent in our relationship, in His choosing us, and even as John says in his love for us. In 1 John 4:10, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.” To him we owe our praise and honor and glory.
Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your knowledge of us and your insuring love. Help us to internalize what is being described in this Psalm. Help us scrutinize our thoughts and attitudes to approach the throne of grace and feel confident to come to you accepted in Christ. Be faithful to apprehend us, our families, and our church to bring us to profound unity and fellowship through your word. If there is anything in us that offends you, cleanse us from it to your glory. In Jesus’ name.