The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 3 — Section 280

EXPOSITION. Jouo.h sought to flee from his presence, he PSALM CXXXIX. only found himself brought more absolutely A SONG of praise to God for his omniscience, and more perceptibly into his presence his omnipresenoo,and his marvellous powers, (comp. Jer. xxiii. 21). ending with a prayer for the destruction of Ver. 8.-If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; i.e. "if I were to ascend up into the wicked, and for the purifying from evil heaven, if I could do so, thou wouldst still of the psalmist's own heart. The psalm be there-I should not find myself where divides into four stanzas of six verses each- thou wert not; no, nor even if I went down the first (vers. 1-6) dealing with ihe omni- to bell (Sheol), should I escape thee-thou science of God; the second (vere. 7-12), wouldst be there also." If I make my bed in hell means, "if I go down and take my with his omnipresence; the third (vers.13- rest in hell "-the pla.oe of departed spirits. 18), with his omnipotence; and the fourl.h Behold, thou art there; literally, behold, ('rers. 19-24) containing the supplication. thou! Vere. 9, 10.-If I take the wings of the Ver. 1.-0 Lord, thou hast searched me; morning. If I were to speed &<'roes the re.ther, hast searched me end; i.e. examined earth on the wings of the dawn, and, having into all my thoughts and feelings (comp. done so, were then to dwell in the utter- Ps. xvi i. 3). And known me ; i.e. arrived most parts of the sea-the extreme west, at a full knowledge of my spiritual con- where the sun sets-even there she.II thy dition. hand lead me. In that distant region I Ver. 2.-Thou knowest my downsitting should still find thy guiding ha.ud. And and mine upri&ing. All that I do from one thy right hand shall hold me. Thy strong end of the day to the other. Thou under- right hand would uphold me. standest my thought afar off; i.e. while it Vere. 11, 12.-If I aay, Surely the dark- is just forming-long before it is a fully ness shall oover me ; even the night shall dernloped thought. be light about me. If I think to escape Ver. 3.-Thou compassest (rather, sijtest) thee by plunging into darkness, and say to my path and my lying down; litere.lly, my myself, "Surely the darkness shall screen path and my c<,uch-tbe time of my activity me, and night take the place of ligbt ahout and the time of my rest. And art acquainted me," so that I cannot be seen, even then with all my we.ye ( comp. Ps. cxix. 168, "All my object is not accomplished ; even the my ways are before thee"). darkness hideth not from thee; but the Ver. 4.-P'or there is not a word in my night shineth as the day. Thy essential tongne, but, lo, 0 Lord, thou knowest it light penetrates every dark place, and makes altogether. Whe.t he.s been already said of the deepest gloom as radiant as the brightest deeJs and thoughts is now extended to sunshine. The darkness and the light are "words." God hears every word we spee.k. both alike to thee; literally, as tlle darkness, Ver. 5.-Thou hast beset me behind and so the light; but the parnphrase of the before ; i.e. "thou art ever close to me, and Authorized Version gives the true seuse. therefore hast complete knowledge of me. Ver. 13.-For thou hast possessed my Thine omniscience arises out of thv omni- reins. Thou knowest mo and seest me presence." And la.id thine hand upon me. alwe.ys, because thou me.dest me. Thy •.ro uphold me, and at the same time to omniscience and thy omnipresence both rest restrain me (comp. ver. 10). upon thine omnipotence. Thou hast covered Ver. 6.-Such knowledge is too wonderful me (ro.ther, woven me) in my mother's womb for me; it is high, I cannot atto.in unto it. (comp. Job x. 11). The psalmist does not say, " such know- V or. U.-1 will praise thee, The note ledge," but simply "knowledge," i.e. real of praise, which has rung throul);h the true knowledge, such as deserves the name. whole poem in an undertone, is here openly "The tl.Jought of God's omniscience makes struck. Reflections upou God's wonderful him feel 11s if real knowledge were beyond works must overOow into praise; und the his reach" (Kay). phenome1111 of man's creation 11ud birth nre, Ver. 7.-Whither shall I go from thy at least, e.s calculated to call forth praise 1pirit 1 or whither shall I :flee from thy and adoration a.s any other. For I am fear- presence 1 The transition is now made from fully and wonderfn.lly me.de, 'l'he wonder- God's omniscience to God's omnipresence, fulncse of the human mechanism is so great ver. 5 he.viug paved the way for it. God's that, if realized, it produces a sensation of presence is not to be escaped; his spirit is fear. It has been said that, if we could see everywhere. "lu him we Jive, and move, one-ho.If of what is going on within us, we &nd have our being" (Acts xvii. 28). When should not dnre to movo. Marvellous a.re PB, OX.XXIX, 1-24,] Ti:IE BOOK OF PSALMS. 315