Bible Commentary

Psalms 139:1-6

Matthew Henry on Psalms 139:1-6

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

God has perfect knowledge of us, and all our thoughts and actions are open before him. It is more profitable to meditate on Divine truths, applying them to our own cases, and with hearts lifted to God in prayer, than with a curious or disputing frame of mind.

That God knows all things, is omniscient; that he is every where, is omnipresent; are truths acknowledged by all, yet they are seldom rightly believed in by mankind. God takes strict notice of every step we take, every right step and every by step.

He knows what rule we walk by, what end we walk toward, what company we walk with. When I am withdrawn from all company, thou knowest what I have in my heart. There is not a vain word, not a good word, but thou knowest from what thought it came, and with what design it was uttered.

Wherever we are, we are under the eye and hand of God. We cannot by searching find how God searches us out; nor do we know how we are known. Such thoughts should restrain us from sin.

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commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1-6God's knowledge of us. 1. We sometimes say that "we know" a certain man who is a neighbor. By this we may mean nothing more than that we can distinguish him from his fellows, and give him his proper name. That is a slig…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1-24Lord, thou knowest altogether. This psalm, one of the most sublime of them all, is of unknown authorship. It seems to be the composition of some saint of God who lived after the Captivity. If so, what proof it gives of…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1-24EXPOSITION A song of praise to God for his omniscience, his omnipresence, and his marvelous powers, ending with a prayer for the destruction of the wicked, and for the purifying from evil of the psalmist's own heart. Th…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1O Lord, thou hast searched me; rather, hast searched me out; i.e. examined into all my thoughts and feelings (comp. Psalms 17:3). And known me; i.e. arrived at a full knowledge of my spiritual condition.Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1The Divine inspection. "Searched;" the figure is "winnowed" or "sifted." "Before men we stand as opaque bee-hives. They can see the thoughts go in and out of us, but what work they do inside of a man they cannot tell. B…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising. All that I do from one end of the day to the other. Thou understandest my thought afar off; i.e. while it is just forming—long before it is a fully developed thought.Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:3Thou compassest (rather, siftest) my path and my lying down; literally, my path and my couch—the time of my activity and the time of my rest. And art acquainted with all my ways (comp. Psalms 119:168, "All my ways are b…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. What has been already said of deeds and thoughts is now extended to "words." God hears every word we speak.Joseph S. Exell and contributors