The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
God’s Character Revealed in Salvation
In our modern-day Bibles, Psalm 139:1-24 appears to be one long poem written without separations except by single-sentence lines. But when you read it through from start to finish, it becomes clear that the psalm is David’s declaration of his relationship with God who is omniscient and omnipresent. It also envisages the relationship of the New Testament believer with God, listing the benefits of salvation according to God’s character:
A Personal Relationship with God –
O LORD, you have searched me and known me.
You know my downsitting and my uprising. You understand my thought afar off.
You compass my path and my lying down, and you are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue but, lo, O LORD, you know it altogether.
Protection –
You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Comfort and Direction From the Inner Presence of the Holy Spirit –
Whither shall I go from your spirit? Or whither shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there shall your hand lead me and your right hand shall hold me.
A Life Lived in the Eternal Light of Christ –
If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me,’
Yea, the darkness hides not from you but the night shines as the day. The darkness and the light are both alike to you.
Known by God Even before Birth –
For you have possessed my inward parts. You have covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.
My substance was not hid from you when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect, and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
Kept in God’s Thoughts –
How precious also are your 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.
God’s Enemies Are Our Enemies –
Surely you will slay the wicked, O God. Depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
For they [the bloody men] speak against you [God] wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?
I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them mine enemies.
God’s Forgiveness and Leading –
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts.
See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
