Psalm 139—Searched, Known, and Loved

As I walked through my loss, I was emboldened by the name, El Roi, the God who sees me. I became incredibly aware that I was searched and known. Being searched and known is a double-edged sword.

It can be both painful and comforting.

Loss is a time of recalibrating your life, shoring up some areas of needed growth. At least it can and should be.

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! … Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:1, 6

The picture in this psalm is of a father or mother who knows their child. Parents keep their eyes on their children. The children don’t realize how attentive a parent is until they have a child of their own. But parents are watching, and they know when a child sits and when the child gets up. Parents even know what a child is thinking because they spontaneously reveal their every emotion. Their thoughts are written on their faces. A child starts walking across the yard or down the hall and the parents watch and trace their steps. Parents know the paths the child walks, and they watch over the child as it sleeps. Parents know all the ways of a child.

However, this searching and knowing by the Lord is so much more than what a parent can do.

So intimately are we known by our Father in heaven, he knows what we are going to say before it rolls off our tongues. Like parents set protective boundaries for their children, the Lord hems us in behind and before. In the same way a parent guides a child with their hand, the Lord lays his hand upon us gently, lovingly, to walk us through our lives. But again, our Father is so much more loving than even a parent can love.

To know the Lord knows us this completely and is involved in our moment-by-moment existence is simply too wonderful. I cannot fathom such intimate care and love. His love really is steadfast love.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? … even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” Psalm 139:7,12

With such intimate care, we can go no place that is out of the presence of God’s Spirit. If we go to heaven, of course, he is there. If we make a bed in Sheol, even there, God watches us. If we travel to the uttermost parts of the sea, God is there. He is omnipresent. This news is both an encouragement and a warning. He is with us always. He is with us when we stray, as well. His hand, again, is upon us. He holds us.

Even if I try to hide in dark places, he is with me, sees me, and watches over me. Even dark is light to him. Take note that his eyes see us regardless of the darkest place we may go.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:13-14

God knows us intimately. He created us. Ours is not a chance birth, regardless of the circumstances. He formed us, knitting us in our mother’s womb. Praise should flow from our lips knowing we are fearfully and wonderfully made. His works are wonderful. Let your soul press into this knowledge and rejoice.

Your frame was known while you were developing. Mother nor father could see the growth, but God was intricately weaving a life in the womb. God wove unformed substance to develop into a created wonder. And he wrote you into the book complete with your numbered days. He knows all your days.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17

God is for us. He loves us. He has innumerable precious thoughts of us—more than the sand. We are held by him. We are protected by him. His enemies do not regard his name, but we are to honor and respect him.

The psalmist closes this intimate hymn by inviting deeper relationship. God knew us when he formed us; now the invitation is to search our heart and mind. Test us and reprove us of any ways we may grieve God’s Spirit.

Test us, reprove us, but redeem us to walk in everlasting ways.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm 139:23-24