Verses: Psalm 139Sample

Today we continue our journey through Psalm 139. In verses 1-3, we found a God who reveals Himself to us and searches and knows us. This knowledge that God has of us is perfect and incredibly personal. He is not a God who stays away at a distance but rather knows us intimately, and that's exactly where we pick up this week in verses 4-5.

“Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.”

Think of a random word right now, but don't say it out loud. Do you have it? The amazing thing is before you could speak it out to tell us what the word is, God already knows it. I know this might feel like a lame Vegas magic trick, but this is the real deal! Where humans do their best to read minds and intentions, God alone is the one who truly knows what we think without us verbalizing it! You know the craziest things we think or withhold and choose not to say? God knows what those things are. The things we don't even know to say because we can't even formulate them or sort through them? God knows those too! He is the Great Excavator and Knower of hearts. The psalmist illustrates this reality by using two different pictures:

1) Hem

The first picture is of God hemming us in. We might be used to hearing this verb in the context of hemming a pair of pants but less about something God does to us. The verb "hem" means "to surround." The picture here is of a complete and total surrounding. The verb "hem" can also be used when a city is besieged. Just as the searching is an excavation, this hemming is a besieging - God is after us, and there is nowhere we could go to escape Him. There is no hiding from the God who hems you in completely and thoroughly! We are a hemmed and beautifully besieged people, and this reality should bring us a sense of hope and freedom.

2) Hand

The psalmist teaches not only does God hem us in, but He also lays His hand upon us. He is not distant but near to us. His hand is an extension of His care but also His power! This is the hand that shelters us, that imparts blessing, that disciplines those He loves, and ultimately, in Christ, this hand is the hand that was pierced for our transgressions! As He lays His hand on us, we can know He always lays His hand on us in love no matter the circumstance.

We are hemmed in by a powerful God and held by a loving God. These twin realities should allow us to take deep breaths and comfort us in whatever we might be walking through.

Memorize & Meditate

1. Pray David's words from Psalm 119 to God: "Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your law." Ask God to reveal Himself to you in His Word, that you might know Him more. To truly know Him!
2. Read Psalm 139:4-5. What stands out? What's encouraging? What's confusing?
3. Write in your journal, write out verses 4-5. The intention here is to slow down a little with the passage and linger.
4. Listen to Psalm 139:4-5 by Charlie Hall.
5. Sit in silence for 2-5 minutes as you meditate on the reality that God hems you in and holds you. During this time, pray breath prayers by saying, "I am hemmed" as you inhale, and "I am held" as you exhale.
6. Throughout your day and as you're able, listen to Psalm 139:4-5. You can listen here on YouVersion, all streaming platforms, or the Verses: Melody of God's Word app.

Credits:
Song by Charlie Hall.
Devotional by Joel Limpic.