That’s My Psalm: To Know and Be Known
Psalm 139 | That’s My Psalm Series (Part 8)
Have you ever had that mix of longing and fear about being known? On one hand, you walk into a crowded room hoping someone recognizes you, calls your name, and makes you feel seen. On the other hand, the thought of someone knowing too much—your mistakes, your private thoughts, your hidden struggles—can feel terrifying.
Psalm 139 wrestles with this very tension: Is it a good thing that God knows us completely? David’s song takes us on a journey through awe, comfort, conviction, and ultimately, surrender. It’s not just a theological statement—it’s an invitation to live open before the God who sees, knows, and loves us better than we could ever imagine.
Scripture Focus: Psalm 139
God Knows Everything About You (Psalm 139:1–6)
David begins with a breathtaking truth: God knows us better than we know ourselves. Every thought before it’s spoken, every step before it’s taken—He is already there.
This isn’t just information; it’s intimacy. God’s knowledge isn’t like scrolling through a data file. It’s personal. He discerns your motives, your desires, and your fears. He understands why you said what you said—even when you can’t explain it. He knows the tears you didn’t let fall, the prayers you couldn’t form into words, and the longings you’ve never told a soul.
David’s response to this realization isn’t fear—it’s worship:
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain” (v. 6).
God’s omniscience isn’t meant to crush us; it’s meant to comfort us. We are fully seen and yet fully loved.
When you feel misunderstood or overlooked, remember: God knows. You don’t have to hide, pretend, or perform.
You are already known completely and loved perfectly.
God Is Always With You (Psalm 139:7–12)
David asks a striking question:
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” (v. 7).
The answer? Nowhere. Whether up in the heavens, down in the depths, across the sea, or in the darkest night—God is already there.
This truth cuts both ways. For the one running from God, it can feel uncomfortable—there is no hiding. But for the one who longs for His presence, it is the greatest comfort—there is no separation. Even when life feels overwhelming and the shadows close in, David reminds us:
“Even the darkness will not be dark to You” (v. 12).
What feels like confusion to us is clarity to God. What feels heavy and hidden is fully exposed to His light.
God’s presence doesn’t mean the absence of trouble, but it does mean we are never alone in it. His Spirit is with us in the hospital room, in the late-night worry, in the celebration, and in the silence.
Wherever you are right now—in joy, in sorrow, in uncertainty—take courage: God is with you.
You don’t have to find Him; He has already found you.
God Is All-Powerful (Psalm 139:13–18)
David shifts his focus from God’s presence around him to God’s power at work within him:
“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb” (v. 13).
What a picture—God’s hands delicately forming every detail of our lives before we ever took a breath.
We are not accidents. We are not overlooked. From the tiniest cell to the grandest calling, our lives are living proof of God’s power and intentional design. David responds in awe:
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (v. 14).
This means that God’s power is not just “out there,” holding galaxies in place—it is also “in here,” shaping us, sustaining us, and writing our story. And that story isn’t random—it’s filled with purpose. David says that all the days ordained for him were written in God’s book before one of them came to be (v. 16).
You are not forgotten, and your life is not without purpose. Every detail of who you are has been crafted by God’s powerful hand.
Rest in the truth that His plans for you are intentional, good, and full of meaning.
God Is Righteous (Psalm 139:19–24)
After celebrating God’s presence, knowledge, and power, David ends with a sobering reality—God is also righteous. He is holy and just, and His holiness exposes what is unholy in us and in the world. David cries out against the wicked who oppose God, but he doesn’t stop there. He turns the spotlight inward, praying:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (vv. 23–24).
It’s one thing to acknowledge God’s greatness—it’s another to invite Him to examine the hidden places of our hearts. David models humility by asking God to reveal sin, heal brokenness, and realign his steps with God’s truth.
God’s righteousness isn’t just something “out there”—it’s personal. When we invite Him to search us, He lovingly reveals what needs to be surrendered so we can walk in His everlasting way. The righteous God doesn’t just expose; He restores.
Put This Psalm on Repeat
Psalm 139 paints one of the most breathtaking portraits of God in all of Scripture. He is a God who is present with us, who knows us completely, who created us with intention, and who calls us to walk in righteousness. From beginning to end, this psalm reminds us that we are never unseen, never unwanted, and never abandoned.
David’s final prayer—“Search me, O God, and know my heart”—is a posture we’re all invited to take. When we let God examine us, we discover that His righteousness isn’t meant to crush us but to restore us. He leads us away from what’s destructive and sets our feet on the way everlasting.
So here’s the invitation for you today:
Rest in God’s presence—you are never alone.
Trust in His knowledge—He knows you fully and still loves you deeply.
Celebrate His power—your life has divine design and purpose.
Submit to His righteousness—let Him search and shape your heart.
If you’ve ever doubted your worth, questioned your path, or felt unseen, let Psalm 139 remind you: you are fully known and fully loved by the God who made you.
Don’t just read Psalm 139—pray it. Make David’s words your own. Ask God to search your heart, celebrate His presence in your life, and trust Him to lead you in the way everlasting.