6.30 Psalm 135-139

Beth Nagel

6.30.2020

Psalm 135-139

Summary

Psalm 135 is a song of boisterous praise for God.

Psalm 136 repeat the refrain, “for his steadfast love endures forever” after each verse.

Psalm 137 Is a brutal lament by the captives in Babylon who were cruelly asked to sing songs from their homeland for entertainment.

Psalm 138 Is a Psalm of thanks from David.

Psalm 139 is about being known by the Lord.

Key Verse:

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!”

Vision of God

This verse and this Psalm is interesting because David begs God to know him fully and intimately. It speaks of God’s omnipresence (If I ascend to heaven, you are there!) and omniscience (How precious to me are your thoughts O God! How vast is the sum of them!) A lot of times I make God smaller and smaller in my mind where David uses this prayer to make God bigger.

Vision of Self and Others

David establishes that God knows all but then still offers what almost seems like a challenge to God that he would search him and look for anything that may be off in his heart. This is incredible humility and it makes me want to ask God and others what they see in me so I can grow closer to God and God’s vision for my life.

Go With God

I want to pray this prayer on the regular and seek more direction for my heart and character.

Jesus

David spends a few verses praising God for knowing him and loving him before he even existed. This reminds me that Jesus wasn’t plan B when God saw how sinful the world became. It was always God’s plan to love me and everyone through the cross of Christ – even before we existed!