Psalm 139
Throughout July 2021, we reflected and shared lots of thoughts on this Psalm. We’ve found it inspiring, reassuring, even challenging and mysterious at times. Here are all of our collected words, pictures, voices and links so you can carry on the journey with this Psalm any time!
1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
Image by Juliet
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Image by Charlie
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Image by Laila
11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,’
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Image by Juliet
Image by Noah
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Image by Rachel
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand –
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Image by Juliet
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
(NIVUK. Alternative version: The Message)
Ways to get into this psalm
Try reading the Psalm, as a whole or in parts, perhaps picking a song, prayer or thought from the resources below to inspire you.
You can also try a reflective exercise such as the Swedish method described here or the Lectio Divina method demonstrated here:
SONG PLAYLIST
Sons of Korah - Still With You - a summary of the Psalm.
Steffany Gretzinger - You Know Me - this song is a beautiful reminder of Psalm 139, especially the first few verses. It speaks about how deeply God knows us, and how we are always found by Him. Take some time today to rest in the truth that you are known and loved by God.
Pat Barrett - Canvas and Clay - Psalm 139:13-16 is about how wonderful it is that God created us! This song really emphasises the design and beauty in that, God is the ultimate artist! Let this be a reminder for you today that YOU are wonderfully made!
Pat Barrett - Sails - this song is about the journey of surrender to God and how it can be difficult to be authentic and transparent, even with God. In Psalm 139 the writer asks God to 'Search me and know my heart'. This is so brave and vulnerable to do, but we can trust that God is the ultimate safe space.
Housefires - On And On - Psalm 139 reminds us that there is nowhere we can go that God’s presence will not be with us. This song is a great reminder of that too. ‘Even if I fall to the deepest darkness love surrounds me still.’ Are there times when you’ve felt far away from God? Let the love of God minister to you through this song today. He has always been beside you.
Steffany Gretzinger & Amanda Cook - Out of Hiding - this beautiful song is an encouragement from God that we don’t have to hide from Him. Psalm 139 says ‘I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.’ What would it look like for you to let God in a bit more today?
Podcasts
Bern Leckie shares a personal journey through Psalm 139 in four parts:
Being searched and known (verses 1-6)
Fleeing from guilt, met by grace (verses 7-12)
I am wonderful, and here’s how I know (verses 13-18)
The journey from rage to restoration (verses 19-24)
Prayers
Breath prayer
Simply, praying with breath prayers is to use the rhythm of your breathing in and out to pray and focus on a Bible verse.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Take a few moments to quiet yourself before God.
When you are ready:
Take a deep breath in to entrust yourself to Jesus and say "You took great care in making me . . ."
Use your out breath to say " I've been wonderfully made".
Repeat the pattern of "You took great care in making me . . . " on the in breath and "I've been wonderfully made" on the out breath for a couple of minutes.
Enjoy some simple moments throughout your day with Jesus, the One who made you in His image and who delights in His wonderful works - that's you! You are His wonderful work!
Search me
Psalm 139 is a great Psalm to use when we want to hear God's perspective on our lives, our hearts, our thoughts and our actions.
Take some time to settle yourself in His presence, and pray the below:
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Rest in the knowledge that God is a good, kind Father to His children - you can trust Him to be gentle in His response to you.
Blessing
Psalm 139 is a great psalm to pray over other people and it's really easy to turn the words of this psalm into prayers of blessing or encouragement:
Thank You Father that you have fearfully and wonderfully made (person's name).
Thank You Father that you know (name) so well. You know when they sit, when they stand, when they sleep, when they wake. Would (name) know You with them as they go about their day.
Father, it's amazing that there's nowhere we can go where you are not! Help (name) to be increasingly aware of Your presence wherever they are.
Who could you pray these verses over? Which other verses could you use?
Reading aloud
Our last prayer using Psalm 139 is from the Church of England Book of Prayer.
It has a beautiful refrain at the end of the Psalm:
Search me out, O God, and know my heart.
Creator God,
may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way,
that, trusting in your presence in this world,
we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever.
As a different approach to prayer, why not read Psalm 139 aloud and then follow with the above refrain. In the spirit of doing something a little differently, if you normally sit when you pray, why not stand? Or if you normally lie down, why not kneel?
Whilst the language may be more traditional, this prayer has been prayed by many thousands of people over many, many years, which makes it a fine tradition to be following!
Here is the link to the Psalm in the Prayer Book which also contains the refrain as mentioned above.
Prayerful questions
Asking Jesus questions is a great way to connect with Him, and be intentional about hearing from Him in our prayer times. Using Psalm 139, why not ask Jesus one of these questions:
You fearfully and wonderfully made me. What do you love about how you've made me, Jesus?
I know You come with me wherever I go Jesus. Which places do I go that You particularly enjoy?
Jesus, You understand me and how I think. Would you tell me what you think about things?
Jesus, what do you love about being with me wherever I go? Where shall we go today?
What have your ordained for my days, Jesus? What have you written in Your book about me?
Jesus, You are always with me. How can I be more aware of Your presence with me?
What do You see when You search my heart?
When are my words most pleasing to You? And when don't my words please You?
What will you share with me about the next steps in my life?
Wait on Him as He responds to your question - you may be surprised by what He says!
Family resources
Would you love to be able to help your children, godchildren, nieces, nephews and grandchildren better understand Psalm 139?