Reflections on Psalm 139

By RH

      Psalm 139 is one that we are pretty familiar with, even though we don‘t always know where they come from. The words may be heard at Mass, a prayer service or at a funeral.

      It tells of the all-knowing and ever-present God. Even our parents do not know us as intimately as our God does.

Lord, You have probed me, You know me: You know when I sit and stand;

You understand my thoughts from afar.

My travels and my rest You mark; with all my ways You are familiar.

Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, You know it all.

Behind and before You encircle me and rest Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.

Where can I hide from Your spirit? From Your presence, where can I flee?

If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; If I lie down in Sheol, You are there, too.

If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight beyond the sea,

Even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light”

Darkness is not dark for You, and night shines as the day.

Darkness and light are but one.

You formed my inmost being; You knit me in my mother’s womb.

I praise You, so wonderfully You made me; wonderful are Your works!

My very self You knew; my bones were not hidden from You.

When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes foresaw my actions; in Your book all are

written down;

My days were shaped, before one came to be.

      Psalm 139 goes on to praise God for His works. It is a wonderful Psalm to read.

      Sometimes when we get to know a person very well, we find fault with them and are disillusioned. We have a wonderful God who loves us very much in spite of our faults.