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Even before the limbs were formed, a record was written in God's book. So as the
body gradually took shape and grew, the eye of the Lord was observing and His
providential care brooded over the unborn child. No wonder the Psalmist exclaims:
"How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still
with Thee" (verses 17 and 18).
Verses 19 to 22 refer to the wicked. The Lord has the power to deal with them, as
stated in the first part of verse 19. David then goes on to express his hatred of those who
hate the Lord, and he counts the enemies of the Lord as his enemies.
Throughout the Psalm there is a sense of wonder at the knowledge of the Lord, for He
knows every detail of our lives, our birth, our every thought and desire: where we go and
what we plan. And He is always thinking about us, watching over us and protecting us.
He is always with us, and we never pass beyond the bounds of His love and care.
John Greenleaf Whittier expresses it in verse:
I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.
As we meditate on this Psalm we have to echo the words of David:
"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it" (verse 6).
At the beginning, David says "O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me", but
after thinking about the omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence of the Lord, he
begins to feel a sense of unworthiness. So he prays:
"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" (verses 23, 24).
The Psalm does indeed tell us of God's wonderful knowledge, but before we close let
us read of an even more astounding revelation. In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul blesses
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. He then continues:
"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the
adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself . . . . ." (Eph. 1: 4, 5).
In Psa. 139: we read "My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in
secret . . . . .". In Ephesians we read of what the Lord did "before the foundation of the
world". So, long ago, the Lord chose us and prepared a place for us in His divine
purpose and plan. May the eyes of our understanding be enlightened that we may know
what is the hope of His calling (Eph. 1: 17-20)*.
[* - The reader is referred to Stuart Allen's book Letters From Prison, pp.22-26,
where he examines the above passage.]