Bible Talk

  Hello Loves!!!

I won’t bore you with a long boring intro but I will get straight to the point. Let’s talk Psalms~~

A few days ago a friend asked what my favorite book in the I wanna say new testament but it might have been the whole bible either way it got me thinking well I feel like thats an understatement. More like obsessively reflect about it for days on end, until it came to me. It’s the book that has it all, it seems. Well honestly I spend the most time free reading as I like to call it (randomly selecting verses) in Psalms, my go to for anything really, Psalm 91 is great for nightmares (old Isaacs’ family tradition or remedy I suppose), Psalm 139 is oddly soothing for me (I am not really sure why to be honest with you), then of course there’s chapter 1 of Psalms. The whole point is that there are so many things in Psalms that makes it so amazing and powerful. Jonah is a pretty powerful book to. The book of Matthew is also amazing and powerful, it also carries the story of our Savior’s birth; the whole bible is powerful but specifically these catch my attention all the time. We aren’t going to be talking about Matthew or Jonah however if you are wondering if we named my cat Jonah after the Jonah from the bible the answer is yes and also I could write you a hilarious blog as to how that came about but back to the topic of discussion; Which bible book is my favorite? The answer is quite simple it is Psalms. In particular one chapter holds my mind these days; Psalm 139

(Check out the link to the chapter and such)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139&version=KJV

I feel it is important to define the word Psalm before moving forward with this post, so here you go. The word Psalm is defined as two things, [(1) “a sacred song or hymn, in particular any of those contained in the biblical book of Psalms and used in Christian and Jewish worship.” (2) “A book of the bible comprising a collection of religious verses, sung or recited in both Jewish and Christian worship. Many are traditionally ascribed to King David.”]

Now that we have defined the word Psalm(s) let’s dig into this chapter. Chapter 139 of 150 chapters. Let’s start with my favorite (also the scariest at least for me) part of this chapter.

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. ~ Psalm 139:1 KJV

 Why is it my favorite you ask? Because it is just the start of the list, it keeps going. It gets more in depth! This verse it’s just the beginning!

What’s so scary about it you ask? Well for one God searched me, and all of us and he knows us. He KNOWS us. Everything. Our thoughts, what we are going to say, or don’t say but feel. He is all knowing and it’s comforting but also scary. Bruh I don’t know about you but I can think some pretty awful things at times. Much like everyone else in this world I also tend to say those awful thoughts occasionally. Also those thoughts are like at their worst probably burn me at the stake worthy, then there’s the mid-level aka just jail time maybe? and lastly we have lowest level demons which will probably just get me smacked in the head? Yeeha so definitely scary to think He knows it ALL, but silver lining He loves us anyways?!

Let’s dig into the deeper parts of this Psalm. The reasons I find it SO VERY poetic…

(1) O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.(2) Thou knowest my downsetting and mine uprising, thou understandeth my thought afar off. (3) Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (4) For there is no word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. (5) Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (6) Such knowledge is to wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (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 thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in all 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 sum of them! (18) If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake I am still with thee. (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. (21) Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am I not grieved with those who rise up against thee? (22) I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. (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.

 Yes, yes I know I quoted the whole chapter. Fun stuff but let’s dive deeper. Also yes I find this whole chapter very poetic and amazing and rad! Anyways get your gear we’re going diving!!!

Let’s take a look at verse 5. “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.” So we already know David is talking about the Lord, but what is he saying in this particular verse? Usually talking about God’s hand being over us is a symbol of protection. From there we can use basic knowledge of context clues and common sense to figure this out. Beset has two definitions [(1) (of a problem or difficulty) trouble or threaten persistently. (2) be covered or studded with.] Now that we have defined the word beset we can move forward. I should also mention that the definition we are using for beset in this verse is definition number two to be covered or studded with.

Now we know that “thou” is referring to God. Beset in this particular verse is talking about being covered, then we know that talking about God’s hand being “laid upon” us means a protection barrier right? Time for context clues… “Thou hast beset me behind and before”  behind and before? What’s that mean? Think about it while we move further on then we’ll discuss it again.

Okay so let’s skip a few verses ahead and look at 7-13;

[(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 thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.]

Here David is talking about how God is everywhere. So this is where we backtrack to verse 3 where David mentions God being “acquainted with all my ways”

…..

Not only is God all knowing but he is also EVERYWHERE. Not only does God just know of us, because there’s a MAJOR difference BUT God knows us and is acquainted with us and our ways! WOW! Billion dollar thing right here, not only is he acquainted with our ways and not only does he know us inside out/ upside down and sideways He MADE US!!! We could go on and on for absolute ages quoting verses that support David’s claim of to say it simply God knowing all and being everywhere, but I don’t really feel drawn that direction. He loves us the way we are. All of our flaws. He LOVES us.

This passage give me comfort when all I have are questions, I don’t quiet get it but this passage expresses a lot to me and I wanted to share it with you all and I hope you all got something from it. I love you all, have a good day/nigh whenever you are reading this!

As always stay safe and until next time!

Hailey Marie