GOD, YOU KNOW ME!

Psalm 139
Many times we are falsely accused or blamed for things for which we are not responsible. Many
times our motives, actions, and thoughts are scrutinized by others who are not pleased with
what we have done. The feeling of helplessness that comes from being judged and having
nowhere to turn causes many to despair from doing what is right and trusting God. But David
finds vindication in turning to God and pleading his case. This psalm is a declaration of
innocence before God. Whether anyone else knows or believes us, God knows us.
G OD, I TRUST YOU TO JUDGE ME JUSTLY (VV . 1–18).
While others will constantly let us down and turn against us, we can trust God to be completely
just. He knows us intimately (vv. 1–6): he sees us at all times of the day and we are never too
far from him. He knows the words on our tongues and even more, he knows the thoughts in
our hearts. His knowledge is not detached and impersonal but directly related to his care for us.
This knowledge is beyond any human comparison.
Not only does God know us, we will never escape his watchful care (vv. 7–12). We can never be
lost from his presence, whether in life or death or in the far reaches of the globe. Darkness is no
deterrent to God’s care; he sees everything in perfect light.
God’s knowledge is not hampered by location, nor is it limited by time. God has always seen us
and known us—even before we were born (vv. 13–18)! God knew us before the moment of our
physical birth, because we were created by him. He knew everything about us, including every
day of our lives.
These are not scare tactics (“God always sees you and he’ll get you!”); rather, knowing that God
sees, knows, and cares about us is “precious.” Therefore, we can trust God to judge us justly
and fairly.
G OD, I TRUST YOU TO SILENCE MY ENEMIES (VV. 19–22).
Even though we trust God to judge us justly, that still does not deal with those who have
accused us falsely. David makes two points along these lines: first, he leaves God to deal with
the wicked and those who seek to harm us. As God said in the Law, “Vengeance is mine” (Deut
32:35). We can trust an all-knowing and just God to deal with the wicked in his time and way.
Second, we must be careful not to confuse our enemies with God’s enemies. David is clear that
his passion is against God’s enemies, not his personal opponents. When we align ourselves with
God, we will incur the wrath of those who hate God. Our passion for God’s name must drive
any sort of righteous indignation on our part.
G OD, I TRUST YOU TO DEAL WITH MY HEART (VV . 23–24).
David trusts God to judge him fairly, to deal with his enemies, and finally to deal with his own
heart. In times of discouragement and self-doubt, David entrusts his emotions and thoughts to
God. His desire is to follow God’s way of living to the end.