The God Pause Daily Devotional for Tuesday, 18 July 2017 - The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

The God Pause Daily Devotional for Tuesday, 18 July 2017 - The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Psalm 139:1

 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:

(1) Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I stand up,

you discern my inclinations from afar,

3 you scrutinize my daily activities.

You are so familiar with all my ways

4 that before I speak even a word, Adonai,

you know all about it already.

5 You have hemmed me in both behind and in front

and laid your hand on me.

6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me,

far too high for me to reach.

7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I climb up to heaven, you are there;

if I lie down in Sh’ol, you are there.

9 If I fly away with the wings of the dawn

and land beyond the sea,

10 even there your hand would lead me,

your right hand would hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Let darkness surround me,

let the light around me be night,”

12 even darkness like this

is not too dark for you;

rather, night is as clear as day,

darkness and light are the same.

, 23 Examine me, God, and know my heart;

test me, and know my thoughts.

24 See if there is in me any hurtful way,

and lead me along the eternal way.

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The complexities of this (mostly) affirming psalm need not be ignored. For example, being known is not always automatically desirable. Some struggle with a fear of really being known even as they desire to be known. They go to great lengths to hide their true identities even (especially?) from God. Verse seven might not be good news for all: "Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?" Being so close to God could be as burdensome as it is beautiful. The psalmist admits, one cannot flee from the God who is not overwhelmed by darkness (vs. 11). For some, the thought that God lurks and works even in dark places (in Sheol and in the womb?) might be burdensome.
Ultimately, the psalmist recognizes that when the knower is God, the vulnerability is worth it; it is beautiful. The psalmist embraces God's inescapable presence in his life and confirms his own identity in light of how God sees him: "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well" (vs. 14).
Creator God, help us recognize that we, too, are fearfully and wonderfully made. You know our truest identities and you still love us. Thank you. Amen.
Shauna Hannan, '98
Associate Professor of Preaching, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif.
Psalm 139:1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.
5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,"
12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you...
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. [New Revised Standard Version].
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States

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