Psalm 139:1-24 - (1) It's All About God

Many people read the Psalms incorrectly or do not read them at all, but they are actually a treasure trove, if studied and read correctly.  They key is to read them in the context that they are intended to be read in.  There are three levels of contexts.

1. Biblical Context: The Psalms are about Jesus!
1. Acts 2:29-35 explains that the Psalms of David are prophecies about Jesus, not autobiography.
2. Likewise, Jesus Himself explained that the Old Testament was about him (Luke 24:27).
3. As Herman Sasse said, "Always it is from the Cross that everything is understood."
4. If the Psalms apply to me, they are law. If they apply to Jesus, they are Gospel. A proper distinction between law and gospel must be maintained to properly read them.
2. Historical Context: The Psalms are connected to the Old Testament liturgical life and the old covenant in the Levitical world.
3. Immediate Context: The whole Psalm should be examined, not isolated verses, phrases, or words.

Only after reading the Psalms in such a way can we understand them, and only after understanding them as they were meant to be understood can we try to apply them to ourselves or our modern time. Applying this methodology to Psalm 139, we can actually learn a lot about God.

1. This Psalm has all three persons of the trinity
1. God the Father
1. Creator in v. 13. (1 Corinthians 8:6)
2. God the Son
1. The Right Hand of God in v.10 (Luke 22:69, Mark 14:62 Acts 2:32-35, Hebrews 10:12, Ephesians 1:20, 1 Peter 3:22)
2. The Way everlasting in v. 24 (John 14:16). The Psalmist is not saying here that he does not sin, but quite the opposite, that he is asking God to find his sine, get rid of him, and lead him to live a better life. That is repentance.
3. God the Holy Spirit
1. He is present with us in v. 7 (Romans 8:9)
2. Who was it written to and for what?
1. It is stated it was written "to the choirmaster", which shows that it was intended to be used for public worship of the Old Testament Jews in the Nation of Israel. The purpose of Liturgical songs is to learn about God. This Psalm clearly teaches us about God, who he is, what he is like, and what he does.
2. God's enemies, the men of blood, were the other nations around Israel that were continually invading.
3. The Psalmist uses ideas and language to describe God that heathens used to describe their gods. For example, much of this is reminiscent of the all seeing eye of Horus, who sees in the heavens and in Hades, as well as on earth. This was an attempt to show that Yahweh was the true God who had supreme authority, and to refute the ideas of the God's enemies.
3. This Psalm has all five attributes of God.
1. vv.1-6, Omniscient: All Knowing
2. vv.7-12, Omnipresent: All Present
3. vv.13-18, Omnificent: All Creating
4. vv.19-22, Omnipotent: All Powerful
5. vv.23-24, Omnibenevolent: All Loving