When you read Psalm 139 last weekend you may well have found yourself perplexed at the harsh expressions in verses 19-22, particularly in the context of an otherwise inspiring psalm. But, in fact, this is the point of the declarations in verses 1-18. The psalmist is concerned about certain murderous people, and he is calling on God to deal with them. He can’t beat them, but he also dares not join them. In fact, he affirms his hatred of them. This is not a personal hatred, but a hatred for what they represent. It is the psalmist’s declaration of aversion to evil. Rather than fearing evildoers the psalmist finds comfort in God’s persistent presence. He knows that God is watching over him and that his path is secure; as he says: “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” The final verses of the psalm continue the theme of verses 1-18. God knows and sees all, and so the psalmist submits to God’s penetrating sight. It is one thing to take comfort under the watchful eye of God, and another to be willing to be accountable to his watchful eye. The more we allow for the latter the more we can find courage in the former. God sees you. This fact is a two-sided coin. On one side is comfort, on the other accountability. If we spurn accountability, then, rather than gaining comfort from God’s watchfulness, we only gain unease. But if we open our hearts and make ourselves accountable to God then his Spirit, who searches our hearts, also comforts and emboldens.
Pray verses 23-24.
Read Psalm 139
