Psalm 139:1-6

Have you ever taken a moment to think about how and why you were created?  Maybe that question is scary to think about because you don't really know why you were created.  Maybe you feel worthless, unacceptable, a failure.  I used to feel that way.  But God transformed my heart to be able to see just how much He loves me and it is my prayer that, as we study Psalm 139, God will transform your heart as well.

I want to break the Psalm down into smaller chunks, so let's start with the first 6 verses from the NIV.

1 You have searched me, LORD,

 and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
 you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
 you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
 you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
 and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful
 for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Let's start by looking at the word LORD in verse 1.  You may be wondering why it is in all capital letters?  Here the word LORD is from the Hebrew word for God, YAHWEH.

• Historical Note: This name is known in Hebrew as the tetragrammaton and was written as four letters YHWH.  It was considered blasphemous to speak this name so when the Jewish people spoke about God they would call Him Adonai.  Because of this, the true pronunciation has been lost.  This is the most frequent name for God used in the Old Testament, appearing more than 6800 times.  It was first used in Exodus 3 when Moses encounters God at the burning bush.  In verses 13-15 God refers to himself as I AM (LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, His memorial name to all generations). 

Here we can see our God (Yahweh or Jehovah) is omnipotent (all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful and present everywhere), an absolute ruler, the alpha and the omega (the beginning and the end).  But at the same time He knows us, He is with us, and He desires a personal relationship with us!  These truths alone are incredible... and we haven't even gotten past verse 1 yet!

Let's dig a little deeper and look at all the words used to describe how God knows us:

search[ed]: to examine in order to discover
know: to understand as truth
perceive: to identify by means of the senses
discern: to recognize or apprehend
familiar: to be well acquainted

That sounds like God has a pretty intimate understanding of who I am.  It's nothing less than mind-blowing to think that God knows EVERYTHING about me and He still wants a personal relationship with me.  I'm no one special.  I'm just one of the billions of people here on earth, which is a part of an infinite universe that is so vast that it is beyond comprehension, yet God still cares that much about me!  Did you know God cares this much about you?  Did you know just how much God wants a personal relationship with you because YOU are that important to Him?

If you are still unsure, look at verse 5.  It says "You hem me in"...what does that mean?  That means being like a hedge or enclosure around you, protecting you.  You may already be hemmed in, but maybe it seems more like a prison cell than a blessing because your walls are rooted in eating strongholds, or unforgiveness, or self-loathing.  These may offer you a sense of protection, but in actuality you are trapped and you want to get out because you are tired of living this way.  However, you are afraid to leave this trap.  At least it's known.  At least it is familiar.  Let me challenge your thoughts.  What would happen if you left behind those familiar walls?  Do you fear it could be worse than it is right now?  It could be... but what if it's better?

Do you know who you are?  Do you know with confidence that your identity is found in Christ?  If you place your identity in Christ, then HE is the one hemming you in and His walls are those of protection and love, NOT of sin, hopelessness and despair.  Christ surrounds you with His love and everything has to be filtered through his love.  Trust the One who knows you better than you even know yourself.  YAHWEH is bigger and more powerful than whatever you are facing right now and I know that what He has for you IS better!


References:
Arthur, Kay. Lord I Want To Know You: A Devotional Study of the Names of God.