Chapter Summary

Meditation upon the doctrines of God's omniscience and omnipresence.

Discussion Questions for Psalms, Chapter 139

1. Psalm 139:1, “O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” (ESV) Why do you think this Psalm starts out using these words as a statement, while ending with them as a request in verse 23? What can we take away from these two different heart postures? How can you speak verse one over someone in need of encouragement and affirmation?
2. What do verses 2-5 reveal about God’s constant presence? How can this bring us comfort in times we are struggling to feel God’s presence?
3. Psalm 139:6, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.” (ESV) What is David aiming to capture here? Has your heart ever been in this position before The Lord?
4. Have you ever feared God was too far away? Have you ever desired to flee from Him? We can have different heart postures that all come down to wondering if God will truly know us and be there. How do verses 7-10 bring comfort or direction to such times?
5. Psalm 139:11-12, “If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” (ESV) What does it mean for darkness to be as light to The Lord? How does this affirm that God’s light is stronger than any darkness we may encounter?
6. How do verses 13-15 make you feel? How do they impact your thoughts about yourself and others?
7. Psalm 139:16, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (ESV) How does this Psalm support life starting from the moment of conception? How can this Psalm help us and others understand God’s heart for valuing human life? How can it encourage us to advocate for the unborn?
8. Psalm 139:17-18, “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” (ESV) What are God’s thoughts? What led to David expressing that God has more thoughts than he can count? What can help us perceive God’s thoughts in the same way David is expressing here?
9. How do we receive the words read in verses 19-22 in light of Christ’s call to love our enemies in Matthew 5? Do you think “the wicked” and “enemies” refer to different situations with people? How can we come to understand the difference between these two contexts?
10. Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (ESV) How does this verse display a heart posture of humility? How can we incorporate these words into our prayers to help humble our hearts before The Lord?

Key Words/Phrase

Omnipresence, v. 7.

Characters

God, David.

Strong Verse(s)

17, 23, 24.