Attributes Of God From Psalm 139

The book of Psalms is a treasure trove of Scriptures.  So many of those writings stir our emotions and thoughts.  A large portion of the Psalms is attributed to the great king of old, David.  Of course, David was only the inspired penman.  The true author of the Psalms is the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).  Therefore, when we read and study the Psalms, we should recognize that those writings are “God breathed”.  Also, it is good to remember that while the Psalms are helpful to the child of God, they are not part of the Law of Christ.  That means that we should use them only for learning and example (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:1-11).  With that being understood, let us notice some things that we can learn from Psalm 139.

Right out of the box, the psalmist declares certain characteristics of God.   The first of which is God’s omniscience.  Do not be afraid of that word.  It simply means that God knows everything.  It is written, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.  Thou compassest my path and my lying down,  and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me” (Psm. 139:1-5).            In the book of Job, Elihu was correct in stating, “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings” (Job 34:21).  In another Psalm, it is written, “Great is our Lord, and of great power:  his understanding is infinite” (Psm. 147:5). This same knowledge is found in the New Testament as well.  The writer of Hebrews recorded, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:  but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13).  Likewise, John wrote, “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 John 3:20).  To demonstrate the extent of God’s knowledge, Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?  and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:29-30).

Recognizing that God is omniscient, the Psalmist then declared, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Psm. 139:6).  No matter how much man may try, he will never become as knowledgeable as God.  The best that man can do is study God’s Word and learn what God has revealed.  That knowledge is far more valuable than a college degree or philosophy of man.

The psalmist did not stop with acknowledging God’s omniscience.  He further wrote of God’s omnipresence.  Again, do not let that word frighten you either.  This time it is a reference to God being everywhere.  It is written, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit?  or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:  if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day:  the darkness and the light are both alike to thee (Psm. 139:7-12).  Solomon concurred when he wrote, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Prov. 15:3).  It was Jeremiah that penned, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?  saith the LORD.  Do not I fill heaven and earth?  saith the LORD” (Jer. 23:24).

These wonderful truths about God are only a small portion of the greatness of the book of Psalms.  The diligent Bible student will not allow his study to end with these few verses.  Instead, he will dig deeper into the book and learn more.  I am thankful that God included the Psalms in the Bible.
~ Corey Barnette