The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1-24

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

EXPOSITION

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. The psalm divides into four stanzas of six verses each—the first (Psalms 139:1-6) dealing with the omniscience of God; the second (Psalms 139:7-12), with his omnipresence; the third (Psalms 139:13-18), with his omnipotence; and the fourth (Psalms 139:19-24) containing the supplication.

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Matthew Henry on Psalms 139:1-6Psalms 139:1-6 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryGod 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 wi…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1Psalms 139:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryO 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.The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1-6Psalms 139:1-6 · The Pulpit CommentaryGod'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…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1-24Psalms 139:1-24 · The Pulpit CommentaryLord, 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…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 139:1Psalms 139:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe 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…

commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 139:1-6God 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 wi…Matthew Henry 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 contributors commentaryThe 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 contributors commentaryThe 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 contributors commentaryThe 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 contributors commentaryThe 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 contributors commentaryThe 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 contributors commentaryThe 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