June 27, 2025
God knows every little detail about you!
Psalm 137-143
Emily Paul
Big Book Idea
Worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done!
Key Verse | Psalm 139:1
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
Psalm 137-143
Chapter 137
How Shall We Sing the LORD's Song?
1
By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
2
On the willows
1
137:2
Or poplars
there
we hung up our lyres.
3
For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4
How shall we sing the LORD's song
in a foreign land?
5
If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill!
6
Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy!
7
Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites
the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,
down to its foundations!”
8
O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
blessed shall he be who repays you
with what you have done to us!
9
Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
and dashes them against the rock!
Chapter 138
Give Thanks to the LORD
Of David.
1
I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
2
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
2
138:2
Or you have exalted your word above all your name
3
On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.
3
138:3
Hebrew you made me bold in my soul with strength
4
All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD.
6
For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.
7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Chapter 139
Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
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 afar.
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,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall 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 dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13
For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
4
139:14
Or for I am fearfully set apart
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
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.
17
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18
If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19
Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20
They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
5
139:20
Hebrew lacks your name
21
Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22
I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
6
139:23
Or cares
24
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
7
139:24
Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16)
Chapter 140
Deliver Me, O LORD, from Evil Men
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1
Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
2
who plan evil things in their heart
and stir up wars continually.
3
They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,
and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
4
Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
preserve me from violent men,
who have planned to trip up my feet.
5
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread a net;
8
140:5
Or they have spread cords as a net
beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah
6
I say to the LORD, You are my God;
give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
7
O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their
9
140:8
Hebrew his
evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah
9
As for the head of those who surround me,
let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10
Let burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire,
into miry pits, no more to rise!
11
Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
13
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall dwell in your presence.
Chapter 141
Give Ear to My Voice
A Psalm of David.
1
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
3
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
4
Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!
5
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6
When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
10
141:6
Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7
As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
11
141:7
The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
8
But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
12
141:8
Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!
9
Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
10
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.
Chapter 142
You Are My Refuge
A Maskil 13 142:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
1
With my voice I cry out to the LORD;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.
2
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
3
When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4
Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
5
I cry to you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
7
Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
Chapter 143
My Soul Thirsts for You
A Psalm of David.
1
Hear my prayer, O LORD;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2
Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3
For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
5
I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6
I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
7
Answer me quickly, O LORD!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9
Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
I have fled to you for refuge.
14
143:9
One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered
10
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!
11
For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12
And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.
Footnotes
[1] 137:2 Or poplars[2] 138:2 Or you have exalted your word above all your name
[3] 138:3 Hebrew you made me bold in my soul with strength
[4] 139:14 Or for I am fearfully set apart
[5] 139:20 Hebrew lacks your name
[6] 139:23 Or cares
[7] 139:24 Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16)
[8] 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net
[9] 140:8 Hebrew his
[10] 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
[11] 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
[12] 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!
[13] 142:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[14] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalm 12) and individual (Psalm 13) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8; 93; and 145.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalm 9) and individual (Psalm 30) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalm 119).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1; 37), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalm 23).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalm 20), some are thanksgivings (Psalm 21). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20–21) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2; 72), or by focusing on the future (Psalm 110).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalm 78).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalm 81).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
Fact: What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God?
What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God? The Psalms were the songbook of the people of God when they gathered for worship.
Fact: What is a psalm of lament?
What is a psalm of lament? The main purpose of a psalm of lament is to tell the Lord about a difficult situation, to ask him for his help, and to praise him for helping. Some laments are community, congregational psalms. Others are individual, personal laments. One third of all the Psalms are psalms of lament.
Fact: What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel?
What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel? The “enemies” mentioned in the Psalms (e.g., 18:17) were people hostile to the faith of God’s people. Sometimes they expressed their hatred by physically attacking the people of Israel, while other times they merely rejoiced when Israel faced misfortunes.
Fact: Selah
What does Selah mean? Although the word Selah is found 39 times in the book of Psalms, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most scholars believe it is a musical term or a term to be used by a worship leader, possibly to mark a pause.
Fact: Snares
Snares (38:12) were traps used to catch birds and animals. Some snares used ropes or nets that would be triggered as soon as the bait was touched. Pits disguised with sticks and leaves were also used as snares. In the Psalms, snares serve as symbols of danger or death at the hands of the wicked.
Fact: A helpful guide
A helpful guide. The writers of the Psalms understood the importance of constant communication with God. They knew that God would hear their prayers, and they trusted him to act on their behalf. Believers today can benefit greatly by patterning their prayers after specific psalms.
Fact: The Lord protects his people
The Lord protects his people. Psalm 138 tells of God’s constant care for everyone who loves him. Singing this psalm helps believers be more aware of the ways in which God preserves and protects them.
Fact: Salvation
In the OT, salvation generally refers to deliverance from both physical and spiritual danger. Because God had been a faithful Savior in the past, Israel trusted that they could look forward to his greater salvation in the future. The ultimate salvation for all mankind would come through Jesus the Messiah.
Structure of Psalms
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Ps. 137:1–3 The opening section recalls the captivity by the waters of Babylon (the Euphrates River), where the Babylonian captors had required of us songs. The songs of Zion would be sacred songs (such as the psalms). Apparently the captors wanted the Judeans to sing them for entertainment rather than for worship.
Ps. 137:4–6 To a faithful Judean, the request of v. 3 would be like asking him to forget . . . Jerusalem, which would be an act of treachery against God, his covenant, and his people. His prayer is that if he should consent to such disloyalty, the very right hand that would play the lyre would instead forget its skill, and the tongue that might sing would instead stick to the roof of my mouth.
Psalm Ps. 137. This community lament remembers the Babylonian captivity. It provides words by which the returned exiles can express their loyalty to Jerusalem and pray that God would punish those who gloat over its destruction. This psalm is notable for the intensity of its final wish (v. 9). It is a prayer that the Babylonians, who had smashed Israelite infants, should be punished appropriately.
Ps. 137:7–9 The recollection of these hurtful taunts leads to a prayer that God will remember the deeds of his people’s enemies. These are represented here by the Edomites and the daughter of Babylon. The Edomites took great delight in destroying Jerusalem completely. The Babylonians had been excessively violent against the helpless in Jerusalem.
Ps. 138:1 Since the setting is worship in the temple, gods most likely refers to angels.
138:1–3 The opening section explains the theme: I give you thanks because on the day I called, you answered me.
Ps. 138:4–6 The God to whom the singer had prayed is the universal Lord, to whom all the Gentiles will one day come in worship (all the kings of the earth shall give you thanks). Yet he regards the lowly person.
Psalm Ps. 138. This psalm offers thanks to God for signs of his constant care.
Ps. 138:7–8 The psalm closes by telling of God’s constant care for each of his faithful. As God has begun to care for the singer, so he will continue to do so all throughout the singer’s life.
Fact: The Lord protects his people
The Lord protects his people. Psalm 138 tells of God’s constant care for everyone who loves him. Singing this psalm helps believers be more aware of the ways in which God preserves and protects them.
Ps. 139:5 lay your hand upon me. A gentle, reassuring gesture.
Ps. 139:1–6 Verse 1 states the theme of the psalm (you have searched me and known me). Verses 2–6 develop that further as a general assertion: God knows all of my activities, all of my words, even my inmost thoughts.
Ps. 139:8–9 These verses use two pairs of opposites: heaven and Sheol; the wings of the morning and the uttermost parts of the sea. This indicates that everything in between is included.
Ps. 139:7–12 The next section makes it clear that there is no way the singer can escape such knowledge. There is nowhere in the universe that God will not be present to lead and hold the believer, and nowhere too dark for God to see him. Some have supposed that the impulse to flee comes from a guilty conscience, but this is unlikely: these verses take delight in the fact that God will “lead” him, an entirely positive benefit.
Ps. 139:14 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. If the ESV text is followed, the statement helps the worshiper to marvel over the mysterious process of a developing baby. The ESV footnote translation, “I am fearfully set apart,” takes the word to be the term for God setting his people apart (Ex. 8:22; Ps. 4:3) or making a distinction between them and those who are not his people (Ex. 9:4; 11:7; 33:16).
Ps. 139:15 in the depths of the earth. As a parallel to in secret, this would be a poetic expression for the darkness and secrecy of the womb.
Ps. 139:13–16 These verses illustrate the point of vv. 11–12 by describing a particular “dark place” where the Lord saw and cared for the singer, namely, his mother’s womb. God was active as the unformed substance (embryo) grew and developed. God is the one who formed my inward parts and knitted me together.
Ps. 139:17–18 These verses provide the right response to the vast extent of God’s thoughts. Verse 18 seems to picture the hopelessness of trying to count God’s thoughts: the number is so large that one would fall asleep attempting it.
Ps. 139:19–22 The wicked person, who joins with men of blood, who speak against God with malicious intent, is someone who actively opposes God.
Psalm Ps. 139. The closing request of this hymn (“search me, O God, and know my heart”) echoes the opening statement. This highlights the psalm’s theme: God’s knowledge of his people.
Ps. 139:23–24 In view of these reflections, the members of the congregation invite God to continue his work of searching and knowing their hearts. God will expose any grievous way (character traits or actions that leads to grief) and will lead the faithful in the way everlasting (the way that leads to eternal life).
Ps. 140:1–5 The basic request is clear from the verbs deliver, preserve, and guard. The threat is from evil men, who are further described as violent men and the arrogant, who plan evil things.
Ps. 140:6 You are my God. The faithful worshiper affirms that he has personally received God’s love.
Fact: Salvation
In the OT, salvation generally refers to deliverance from both physical and spiritual danger. Because God had been a faithful Savior in the past, Israel trusted that they could look forward to his greater salvation in the future. The ultimate salvation for all mankind would come through Jesus the Messiah.
Ps. 140:6–8 The right response to such danger is to reaffirm trust in God and to ask him for help.
Ps. 140:9–11 These verses pray that the evil schemes would happen to those who plot them. The success of such people would defile the land.
Psalm Ps. 140. This lament comes from those threatened by ungodly people who intend to do him serious harm. This psalm, in praying for protection and expressing trust, also prays for the defeat of these enemies.
Ps. 140:12–13 The psalm closes by expressing confidence in the Lord and by guiding the faithful in what they can expect.
Ps. 141:1–2 The singer asks God to give ear to my voice when I call to you! His prayer is compared to incense and the evening sacrifice, acts performed in worship.
Ps. 141:3–5 The singer may be tempted to avoid danger by joining the men who work iniquity; he asks God to help him avoid all such temptation. This prayer reveals great insight into how a person in such circumstances would actually feel.
Ps. 141:6–7 As the ESV footnote explains, the Hebrew here is difficult. The main point is that eventually God will bring his judgment upon the judges. Then the faithful person will be vindicated, and the unfaithful might even learn wisdom.
Psalm Ps. 141. This is an individual lament, a prayer that God will protect the faithful person against all insincerity and compromise.
Ps. 141:8–10 The prayer that God would keep me from falling prey to their schemes becomes a prayer that the wicked would fall into their own nets.
Ps. 142:1–2 The words here express earnest prayer in the face of danger: cry out, plead for mercy, pour out my complaint, and tell my trouble. Each of these acts is directed toward the Lord.
Ps. 142:3–4 These verses express what people often feel when being threatened: out of energy, beset by dangers, confused, and painfully alone.
Psalm Ps. 142. This individual lament is a companion to Psalm 57. It is also similar to Psalms 140–141, with the faithful person praying for protection from persecutors.
Ps. 142:5–7 The final section ties the whole psalm together. Cry to you echoes v. 1, while you are my refuge echoes v. 4; and I am brought very low summarizes vv. 3–4. This section enables the faithful to pray with boldness and with confidence in the Lord’s unflagging care.
Ps. 143:1–2 The opening cry for help asks God to give ear to my pleas for mercy. Hence v. 2 prays, enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. The term “righteous” is commonly used to describe the people of God in general. Here, however, the idea seems to be “qualified to stand in God’s presence,” and not even the faithful are that in themselves.
Ps. 143:4 When the spirit or “soul” faints, the person is at the end of his strength.
Ps. 143:5–6 Being at the end of his strength need not mean that he gives up. Instead, if he can remember the days of old, he will find in himself fresh courage to stretch out his hands to God. The weary soul thirsts for God as its source of energy.
Ps. 143:7–8 The situation is still desperate. Therefore he asks, answer me quickly. He wants to hear in the morning of God’s steadfast love. He also prays for moral guidance: make me know the way I should go. Lift up my soul expresses deep dependence.
Psalm Ps. 143. This individual lament is a penitential psalm. The person’s troubles make him aware of his own sins.
Ps. 143:9–12 The prayer closes by expressing trust in a number of ways: I have fled to you for refuge, you are my God, and the expectation based on God’s steadfast love. For your name’s sake means “for the sake of your good reputation,” particularly God’s reputation for faithfulness to his promises.
What's the deal with the incense? Isn't that a pagan thing?
Listen NowDive Deeper | Psalm 137-143
Does God really know me or ever think of me? In Psalm 139, David answers these questions with a resounding yes! As our all-knowing and always present Creator, God intimately knows His people. David opens the psalm by declaring: "O LORD, you have searched me and known me!" (Psalm 139:1) Before you were even born, God intricately crafted you and wrote the blueprint for every day of your life. And He didn't stop there. He is just as acquainted with you today, even knowing your thoughts before they turn into words or actions. If you've ever questioned whether you matter, this is some serious affirmation—the God of the universe thinks of you!
Because everything and everyone is immediately within His presence all the time, you cannot escape His familiar presence. Even the worst imaginable circumstance is not too dark for God to see you and be with you. As David proclaims, "even the darkness is not dark to you [God]" (Psalm 139:12). What a comfort that there's nowhere you can go that God does not also promise to be.
This idea of being so intimately known can sometimes feel unnerving. (In grade school, I kept a lock on my diary for a reason—my innermost thoughts were too ugly to share with others!) Maybe you have a sense of shame, produced by sin, that can sometimes cause you to hide from God. Maybe you think, "Surely He's had enough of me." Yet Romans 5:8 says that even in your sin, God saw you and loved you enough to send His Son, so that you could have a personal relationship with Him. God knows everything about you, yet He loves you more fully than you can comprehend.
As a Christian, even as you continue to struggle with sin, you can approach God with confidence, knowing He will continue to meet your repentant heart with mercy (Hebrews 4:16). God's intimate knowledge of you is not a shameful hindrance to your fellowship with Him, but a freeing invitation to ask God to continue searching your heart and removing anything that keeps you from walking "in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:24)
This month's memory verse
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
– Psalm 119:9-11
Discussion Questions
1. Knowing that God wonderfully formed you and crafted you with purpose from before you were born, how does this idea impact your value of human life? How does your perspective of the future change when you consider that God has already ordained every day of your life? (Psalm 139:16)
2. At Watermark, we often use the phrase "fully known and fully loved" to describe living in authentic relationships with other believers, experiencing the grace and transforming power of Christ. Have you experienced relationships like this before? What step could you take toward knowing and being more known by other believers this week?
3. In Psalm 139, David proclaims the presence of God both in times of darkness and prosperity. Can you recall a time in life when you were intimately aware of God's presence? How can you cling to the promise of His presence, even when you do not feel it?
4. Has your sin ever tempted you to try to flee from God's presence? What was your experience? Knowing that God is all-knowing and rich in mercy, is there any unconfessed sin for which you need God's healing today?
5. David ends Psalm 139 by beckoning God to search and know his own heart even more. Have you ever experienced God changing your heart toward someone or something? What would it look like for you to respond today to God's intimate, personal knowledge of you?
How could God's characteristics of being all-knowing and always present be comforting to someone who does not yet have a personal saving relationship with God? Who could you encourage with this truth today?