Surely, &c. These six verses (19-24) are not an "interpolation". They are required to complete the Structure. See above. Thou wilt slay, &c. This is Omnipotent work. Compare Job 40:9-14 . the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha', App-44 . GOD. Hebrew Eloah. App-4 . bloody = blood thirsty. men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 . read more
THE SUPPLICATION"Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God,:Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.For they speak against thee wickedly,And thine enemies take thy name in vain.Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee?And am I not grieved at those who rise up against thee?I hate them with perfect hatred:They are become mine enemies.Search me, O God, and know my heart:Try me, and know my thoughts;And see if there be any wicked way in me,And lead me in the way everlasting.""And thine... read more
Psalms 139:17-19. How precious, &c.— This expresses the zeal and affection that he had for God. "As thou hast taken such care of me, so are the thoughts of thee precious to me above all things." The turn of the sentence shews this to be the meaning:—"I am ever thinking of thee; as soon as I wake, I find thee still in my thoughts; I cannot bear the impious man; and, ye men of blood, depart from me." Green renders the 17th verse, How precious unto me, O God, are the thoughts of thee! How... read more
Psalms 139David praised God for His omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence in this popular psalm. It is a plea for God to search the life to expose sin. It consists of four strophes of six verses each."The Gelineau version gives the psalm the heading ’The Hound of Heaven’, a reminder that Francis Thompson’s fine poem of that name owed its theme of flight and pursuit largely to the second stanza here (Psalms 139:7-12), which is one of the summits of Old Testament poetry." [Note: Kidner,... read more
With these thoughts in his mind, David turned his attention to his present situation. His enemies were attacking him. He prayed that the Lord would slay those who were trying to kill him (Psalms 139:19). These enemies were evidently hostile to God, as well as to David, and were using the Lord’s name for an evil purpose. In loyalty to God, David affirmed his "hatred" for (i.e., rejection of) those who "hated" (rejected) God. By "hate" David meant he rejected them (cf. Malachi 1:3). read more
4. David’s loyalty 139:19-24 read more
One of the very greatest of the Pss. No grander tribute has ever been paid to the omniscience and omnipresence of God. The Ps. is ascribed to David, but the Hebrew is decisive in favour of a date very long after David, being marked by Aramaisms.1-6. God’s omniscience. 7-12. God’s omnipresence. 13-18. God’s wonderful providence in human life. 19-22. God’s hatred of sin. 23, 24. A prayer that the Psalmist may be cleansed from all evil.3. Compassest] RM ’winnowest,’ i.e. scrutinisest. 5. Beset]... read more
(19) Slay the wicked.—This abrupt transition from a theme so profound and fascinating to fierce indignation against the enemies of God, would certainly be strange anywhere but in the Psalms. And yet, perhaps, philosophically regarded, the subject of God’s omniscience must conduct the mind to the thought of the existence of evil, and speculation on its origin and development. But the Hebrew never speculated for speculation’s sake. The practical concerns of life engaged him too intensely. Where a... read more
The Searching of God Psalms 139:1 We are prone to associate the searching-work of God with events of a striking or memorable kind. It is in great calamities and overwhelming sorrow that we feel with peculiar vividness God's presence. When Job was in the enjoyment of prosperity he was an eminently reverent man; but it was in the hour of his black and bitter midnight that he cried out, 'The hand of God hath touched me'. And that same spirit lodges in every breast, so that God's searching comes... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 139:1-24
Psalms 139:0 The all-knowing, ever-present GodGod knows all about the psalmist - what he does, what he thinks, where he goes and what he says (139:1-4). Because of the realization that God is all around him, the psalmist sometimes feels helpless (5-6). A person may be tempted to look for some escape from such an overpowering presence, but no escape is possible. This may bring fear to rebels but it brings comfort to believers (7-8). Wherever they travel, God is with them (9-10). In darkness or... read more