A Brief Explication of the Last Fifty Psalms, Psalm 139
PSALME CXXXIX.
DAvid being wickedly slandered and persecuted by his adversaries, findeth his zeal kindled against them: and l…st his own hearts corruption should deceive him, as being carnal in this matter, he presenteth his heart unto God, the all-seeing and every-where-present Judge of the secrets of all hearts▪ and he presenteth also his adversaries both persons and cause, with his own carriage toward them to be tried by God, praying that himself may be directed toward life everlasting.
In the first place, the Omniscience of God is declared, v. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. In the next, the Omnipresence of God, with his Omniscience is set forth, v. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. In the third place, the reason is given of Gods so exact knowledge of all the secrets of his heart, because the Lord did forme and fashion him, in so wonderfully wise and powerful a way, as he could neither expresse nor comprehend, v. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. In the fourth place, he confesseth to God his judgement of wicked men, and his hatred of their wayes, making God, who is the searcher of hearts, Witnesse and Judge of his sincerity: Corrector and Director of his course toward everlasting life, v. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Vers. 1. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Ver. 2. Thou knowest my downe-sitting, and mine uprising: thou understandest my thought afar off.
3. Thou compassest my path, and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4. For there is not a word in my tongue: but lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5. Thou hast beset me behinde and before: and laid thine hand upon me.
6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me: it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
In his acknowledging of Gods Omniscience, and perfect knowledge of every thing in him, and in his betaking himself unto God, for clearing of him, comforting of him, and bearing him through all calumnies and reproaches: Learn, 1 The godly may sometimes be so overclouded with calumnies and reproaches, as they cannot finde a way to clear themselves before men, but must content and comfort themselvs with the testimony of a good conscience, and with Gods approbation of their integrity, as here David doth, saying, O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. 2. As the knowledge which the Lord hath of us is most accurate, having, as it were, a perfect searching joyned with it: so the belief of this point is necessarily to be applied to our selves, that it may rule our conversation, breed us comfort and peace, and confidence in our approaches unto God, whosoever be against us, as Davids example here doth teach us. 3. The Lord is acquainted with all the motions of the external man, the meanest gesture of the body falleth under his cognition and observation: Thou knowest my down-sitting and my uprising. 4. What advisements we are upon, what consultations and deliberations we are about, the Lord knoweth all perfectly before we conclude any thing: Thou understandest my thoughts afarre off. 5. The Lord doth not only observe our aime and scope, but also how we purpose to convey out matters, and how we go on and proceed in accomplishing of our purposes, what rule we follow or reject, from the morning to the evening: Thou compassest my path, and my lying down. 6. The Lord knoweth us so well as the best knowledge which our entire friend can have of us, with whom we do communicate our minde, and who knoweth all our designe and way to go about it, is but a shadowing similitude of Gods knowledge of us: Thou art acquainted with all my wayes. 7. There is not a word which we speak, either idle or to purpose, but the Lord considereth it perfectly: For there is not a word in o…r tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. 8. We are so inclosed within the view of Gods beholding of us, and so compassed by his providence, and so powerfully ruled by his power, as we cannot turne this way or that way, but we are still in his sight, and under his disposing of us, as he seeth fit: Thou hast beset me behinde and before, and laid thy hand upon me. 9. The knowledge which God hath of us and of our wayes, is so particular and perfect, so far above our capacity, as we cannot comprehend the manner of it: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. 10. When we are about to look upon Gods perfections, we should observe our own imperfections, and thereby learn to be the more modest in our searching of Gods unsearchable perfection: Such knowledge, saith David, is too high for me, I cannot attain unto it. 11. Then do we see most of God, when we see him incomprehensible, and do see our selves swallowed up in the thoughts of his perfection, and are forced to fall in admiration of God, as here, Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Vers. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit: or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10. Even there shall thine hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.
11. If I say▪ Surely the darknesse shall cover me: even the night shall be light about me.
12. Yea, the darknesse hideth not from thee, but the night shineth as the day: the darknesse and the light are both alike to thee.
In Davids setting forth the Lords Omnipresence and Omniscience to be such, as he cannot escape his sight and power; Learn, 1. The right making use of Gods all-seeing providence, and every where presence is, to consider our duty to walk before God, as in his sight alwayes, and not to seek to hide our selves, or our counsel from him▪ as David doth here: Whither shall I go from thy Spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 2. Whosoever walk in the darknesse of their own devices, and misregard God in their wayes, as if they might escape his sight, or eschew his hand, are much mistaken: for there is no place of refuge from his pursuing; Whither shall I go from thy Spirit, or wh…ther shall I flee from thy presenec? 3. Neither mens presumption and blessing of themselves in courses not allowed by God, nor their estimatinn of high prefe…ment in Church or State, (which are a sort of a mans lifting up himself to heaven,) can availe a man, when he cometh to be tried before God; If I ascend to heaven, thou art there: where fugitives from God cannot h…ve place. 4. A mans base condition and meannesse in the world, or his desperate resolution to perish, provided he can have his will for a time, yea, his desperate dispatching himself, when he is incurably miserable, will not avail a man, nor carry him through: for God fastening the man in the misery which he hath resolved to endure, will make him finde that he hath too sore a party: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 5. Changing from place to plaee, and fleeing from one countrey to another, or going to such solitary places where no man resorteth, cannot deliver a man from Gods pursuing and overtaking of him; If I take the wings of the morning, and dw…ll in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 6. Whithersoever a man shall go, he must be furnished with power and strength from God to go thither: for, there shall thy hand lead me, importeth so much. 7. Gods power and justice shall ever be a mans master, go whithersoever he shall go; Thy right hand shall hold me. 8. The fugitive sinner hath many devices in his head, to elude Gods sight and justice, and all to deceive himself, and will run from one shift to another, before he turne himself to God; and his thoughts of Gods presence are so grosse, as amongst other thoughts, to think himself hid in the night from God, but in all, poor fool, he is deceived; for if I say, Surely the darknesse shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me; yea, the darknesse hideth not from thee, bus the night shineth as the day, the darknesse and the night are both alike to thee.
Vers. 13. For thou hast possessed my reines: thou hast covered me in my mothers wombe.
14. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works, and that my soule knowes right well.
15. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lonest parts of the earth.
16. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect, and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned: when as yet there was none of them.
17. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God: how great is the summe of them?
18. If I should count them, they are more in number then the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
In the third place, where the Psalmist giveth a reason of Gods exact knowledge of, and power over him, because he hath formed him in the belly wonderfully; Learn, 1. In regard that God hath made us in the wombe, and we live, and move, and subsist by his power, it is not possible that God should not know our words, works and thoughts and all, and have us alwayes in his sight and under his power: For thou hast possessed my reines, thou hast covered me in my mothers wombe. 2. The knowledge of God, and his Government of the creature, is not like a mans, who setteth himself for a while on this object, and then turneth off to another object, but Gods Knowledge and Government is a setled possessing of his own workmanship, by a constant beholding, by a setled ruling of his work, by a constant maintaining and judging of the most secret motion of a mans spirit: For thou hast possessed my reines, thou hast covered me in my mothers wombe. 3. The Lord in framing our bodies in our mothers wombe, did cover his tender work with his mighty power from all inconveniences, as with a shield: Thou hast covered me in my mothers wombe. 4. The right sight of Gods workmanship in our very bodies, will force us to praise Gods unspeakable wisdom: I will praise thee, for I am fearfully made. 5. When God is seen in his glory in any thing, his majesty becometh terrible to the beholder, his glory is so bright; I am fearfully made. 6. As the Lords rare works, without consideration, look upon a man very common like, so his common works being well considered, become very wonderful: I am wonderfully made. 7. The right sight of any one of Gods works, giveth light in all his works, to shew them all wonderous: Marvellous are thy works. 8. The consideration of Gods work in our bodies well digested, is profitable for our soul: And that my soul knoweth right well. 9. As the Lord doth acqu…int us with his works, we should observe them well, and bear witnesse to what we observe for his glory, as David doth, saying, And that my soule knoweth right well. 10. In the framing of our bodies God knoweth what he is making, neither darknesse nor distance of heaven from earth, nor any other impediment, doth hinder him in his working: My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret. 11. The making of a mans body of so many bones, arteries, veines, sinewes, &c. is a most curious piece of work; I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 12. God seeth th…ngs before they be made, and his purpose to make hath no lesse clearnesse of kn…wledge of the thing to be made, then the subsistence of it when it is made can give; and God in his decree to do, knoweth the thing to be done, as fully as when it is done: Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect, and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 13. The Lords decrees of things to be done, are so clear, so determinate, so certain, as if the description and history of the thing already come to passe were written in a book: for so much doth the comparison taken from a written book to shew the nature of Gods decrees, Import; In thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 14. There is rare wisdome to be learned out of Gods decrees and works; How precious are thy thoughts unto me? 15. What pains a man taketh in the searching thereof, is well recompensed with pleasure and profit, as Davids experience doth teach. 16. We should studie this wisdom till we finde it sweet, and then lay it up as a precious jewel in our minde, when we have found it: How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God? 17. All Gods revealed decrees, are the matter of the beleevers comfort and his joy, how harsh soever they seem to the unbeliever and unrenewed man; How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God? 18. The particulars of Gods purpose and decreed will toward his own children, which from time to time do come to light, as they are revealed by the daily execution of them, are innumerable; How great is the summe of them? if I should count them, they are more in number then the sand. 19. Albeit the most vigilant of the Saints sometimes fall in drowsinesse and sleepinesse of Spirit, that they cannot perceive Gods presence with them, and care of them, and love unto them, yet when the Lord wakeneth up their soules, and reneweth their spiritual senses, they are forced to see and acknowledge that the Lord doth never leave them, even when they least perceive his presence: For, when I awake, I am still with thee, doth import all this.
Ver. 19. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore ye bloody men.
20. For they speak against thee wickedly: and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.
In the last place, he confesseth his judgement of, and affection toward his adversaries, and offereth all to be searched and approved of God, and himself to be directed thereafter unto life everlasting: and first, he sheweth his judgement of his adversaries, and the reason of his abhorring the fellowship of their courses. Whence learn, 1. Where we perceive wickeddesse to reign, there we may be assured destruction will follow: Surely, thou wilt slay the wicked, O God. 2. When we do passe our judgement of mens persons and courses, we had need to conform our judgment unto what we know the Lord will allow as here the Psalmist doth, directing his speech to God, 3. When the Lord will comfort his servants under persecution, he will let them see not only their own blessednes in himself, but also the destruction of their enemies approaching, as here we see. 4. When we see destruction attending upon the way wherein others are walking, we ought to keep off from fellowship with their unfruitful works or darknesse: for otherwise whatsoever duties any special relations do call for at our hands, David was very observant of them toward his greatest enemies▪ but he separated from them only as wicked and as bloody, and as they were on a course of perdition; Depart from me therefore ye bloody men. 5. When we have a controversie with the wicked, we should take heed that private spleen do not rule us, but that only our in…erest in Gods quarrel with them doth move us, as the Psalmist doth here: For they speak against thee wickedly. 6. What the wicked do or speak against Gods servants for righteousnesse sake, it is against God in effect; They speak against thee, and are thy enemies. 7. Such as professe themselves to be the people of God, and yet do persecute the godly unjustly, under the colour of law, or some specious pretences, do in effect take Gods Name in vain: Thine enemies take thy Name in vain.
Ver. 21. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22. I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
After declaring his judgement of his enemies, he professeth his hatred to their persons, qualified with wickednesse, as is said Whence learn, 1. There are some men, who beside the common enmity which is in all men against God, do oppose themselves in an eminent way against God and godlinesse, as haters of God; for this the text doth presuppose. 2. Such as are perceived open enemies unto God, we may lawfully hate them, without breach of the law of love: for the love which we owe unto God absolutely, giveth warrant to hate them who oppose God comparatively: Do not I hate them that hate thee? 3. Injuries done against God, should touch and affect us, no lesse nearly then injuries done to our selves; And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 4. When God is injured by our enemies, we had great need to look to the sincerity of our affection, that our hatred against them, and our zeal for God and his truth be upright, so as we may say with David, I hate them with a perfect hatred, I count them mine enemies.
Ver. 23. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.
24. And see if there be any wicked way in me: and lead me in the way everlasting.
When David hath searched himself, and is approved of his own conscience, he offereth himself over again to be searched by God. Whence learn, 1. As we have need to try our zeale, when Gods quarrel and our interest are joyned, that there be not some dregs of our ill humours mixed therewith: so must we not rest upon the testimony of our own conscience in this case, but must offer our heart to be searched of God, over and over again, and must intreat him to purge us of every corrupt mixture, as David doth; Scarch me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts. 2. He had need to be sincere in all his wayes, who craveth Gods approbation in any one of his wayes, for if a man be corrupt in any of his wayes, he may deceive his own heart in all other of his wayes: this doth David import, when he saith, And see if there be any wicked way in me. 3. Every wicked way, is a way of grief, trouble and sorrow: for so imports the name given to it in the original. 4. The good way allowed of God, is a lasting way appointed of God of old, and will be approved by him for ever: Lead me in the way everlasting. 5 We cannot walk in the wayes of God, without his actual and effectual leading of us therein, beside his direction given in common by his Word; and therefore we had need to pray with David, Lead me in the way everlasting.