DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus

\Home\

Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
plus an explanation with links

2018 September 21
Psalm 139



Image 1: Studies of Embryos (1509-1514)
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
High Renaissance Style
Royal Library of Windsor Castle, Windsor, England, United Kingdom
Image Credit: Web Gallery of Art

~~~~~~~~~~

Image 2: Human Embryo from a Ruptured Ectopic Pregnancy (Detail) - (February 26, 2010)
Dr. Vilas Gayakwad, Photographer
Image Credit: Wikimedia

     [ Illustration: Today's images have particular reference to verses 13-16 which speak of God's knowledge and care of the child in the womb. ]



SPECIAL NOTE:

[ I will again be working through the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. I will be adding links, resources, images, and the like, upgrading the former work-through which began with the 2013-10-12 posting which can be found, along with the full Genesis to Revelation postings, in the Archive Page. Postings will be at midnight Eastern Time, as I am able. However, no chapters will be skipped, even though a posting may be late. And all postings will be housed in the Archive Page. ]



     Explanation: In Psalm 139, David describes God's understanding and care for him in terms of God's omniscience and his omnipresence. He therefore commands wicked men to depart from him; and he asks God to search him, to know him, and to remove from his heart any wickedness which may be there.
     The LORD Knows David.David speaks to the LORD, acknowledging that the LORD has searched him and known him. The LORD knows when he sits or stands; he understands his thoughts from far away; he surrounds him wherever he goes; and he hears every word that comes out of his mouth. He is behind him and in front of him; and he has laid his hand upon him. Such knowledge is too amazing for David to comprehend (1-6).
          The LORD is Omnipresent.He can go nowhere from God's Spirit and his presence. If he goes to heaven, to hell, or to the uttermost parts of the sea, even there God's hand will lead him and hold him. Darkness cannot cover him; it is like light to God (7-12).
          The LORD is Omniscient.God was with him in his mother's womb, holding and covering him. He is fearfully and wonderfully made by God's marvelous skill. David's substance (frame, power) was not hid from God when he was made in secret, in the depths, as it were, of the earth. And before his parts were formed God knew them and recorded them in his book. God's thoughts toward David are more than the grains of sand -- uncountable; and, when David awakes, God is still with him (13-18).
     David Asks the LORD to Know Him.Having said these things, David then turns his thoughts toward the wicked. In prayer he acknowledges that God will surely slay the wicked; so he commands bloody men to depart from him because they speak against God wickedly and take his name in vain. David hates those who hate God; he is grieved with those who rise up against God; he hates them with a perfect (complete) hatred; he considers them his enemies. David closes his Psalm by asking the God who knows him so thoroughly and guards him so completely to search him, to know his heart, to try him, to know his thoughts, and to see if there is any wicked way in him, and to lead him in the everlasting way (19-24).
                    NOTE. The structure presented above is based on The Literary Structure of the Old Testament, David A. Dorsey, 1999, p. 178. Today's Psalm is chiastic (elements in the first part repeat in reverse order in the second part) and imprecatory (cursing). See the links in "Thematically and Chronologically Related Scriptures" for further information.
.

     [ Sermons: Eric Alexander. Various. ]




Bible Chronologies -- Genesis to Revelation

[Traditional Patriarchal Chronology. Judges Period Chronology 1. Judges Period Chronology 2. Kings of Judah and Israel #1. Kings of Judah and Israel #2].

[Post Exile Chronology 1. Post Exile Chronology 2. Post Exile Chronology 3.]

[Prophets Chronology 1. Prophets Chronology 2. Prophets Chronology 3. Prophets Chronology 4.]

[Intertestamental Period Chronology 1. Intertestamental Period Chronology 2. Intertestamental Period Chronology 3.
Intertestamental Period Chronology 4. Intertestamental Period Chronology 5.]

[New Testament Chronology 1. New Testament Chronology 2. New Testament Chronology 3. New Testament Chronology 4. New Testament Chronology 5.]




RESOURCES

PLEASE NOTE: Use the resources on this and other sites thoughtfully, particularly the commentaries and encyclopedias. I have attempted to list conservative, scholarly resources. However, some providers use liberal or liberal-influenced commentaries such as the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (in Bible Hub). Such commentaries are undoubtedly included by the provider for the wealth of useful information and comments which they provide. By consulting several commentaries, it should be fairly easy to sort out the wheat from the chaff. If, however, you would like personal assistance, write to me at AD LIB ARTS EMAIL.


          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 139: CHIASTIC PSALMS. Psalm 1. Psalm 2. Psalm 3. Psalm 6. Psalm 7. Psalm 8. Psalm 11. Psalm 15. Psalm 18. Psalm 22. Psalm 25. Psalm 26. Psalm 27. Psalm 30. Psalm 44. Psalm 51. Psalm 54. Psalm 56. Psalm 57. Psalm 58. Psalm 67. Psalm 70. Psalm 71. Psalm 72. Psalm 79. Psalm 86. Psalm 100. Psalm 106. Psalm 115. Psalm 126. Psalm 130. Psalm 135. Psalm 137. Psalm 139. Psalm 148. Psalm 150. WISDOM PSALMS. Psalm 1. Psalm 10. Psalm 12. Psalm 15. Psalm 19. Psalm 32. Psalm 34. Psalm 36. Psalm 37. Psalm 49. Psalm 50. Psalm 52. Psalm 53. Psalm 73. Psalm 78. Psalm 82. Psalm 91. Psalm 92. Psalm 94. Psalm 111. Psalm 112. Psalm 119. Psalm 127. Psalm 128. Psalm 133. Psalm 139. ]
[1] Psalm 44:21; Job 28:3; Judges 18:2.
[2] Deuteronomy 6:7; Psalm 138:6; Job 22:12-13.
[3] Isaiah 30:24; Jeremiah 4:11; Ruth 3:2.
[6] Romans 11:33.
[7] Psalm 104:30.
[8] Amos 9:2; Proverbs 15:11; Job 26:6; Psalm 6:5.
[9] Malachi 4:2; Psalm 18:10.
[10] Psalm 5:8; Psalm 23:3; Psalm 27:11; Psalm 73:24.
[11] Genesis 3:15; Job 9:17; Psalm 88:6.
[13] Ecclesiastes 11:5; Psalm 16:7; Job 10:11.
[14] Psalm 26:7; Psalm 40:5; Galatians 1:15; Psalm 22:10.
[15] Exodus 26:36; Exodus 27:16; Job 33:6; Psalm 63:9; Psalm 86:13; Jonah 2:2.
[16] 2 Kings 2:8; Ezekiel 27:24; Job 10:8-12; Psalm 68:14.
[20] 1 Samuel 28:16.
[23] Psalm 94:19; Ezekiel 31:5.
[24] 1 Chronicles 4:9; Isaiah 14:3; Isaiah 48:5; Jeremiah 6:16; Jeremiah 18:15.
     -- From Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers ]


          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Psalm 139 - #1. Psalm 139 - #2. Psalm 139 - #3. Psalm 139 - #4. Psalm 139 - #5. Psalm 139 - #6. Psalm 139 - #7. Psalm 139 - #8. Psalm 139 - #9. Psalm 139 - #10. Psalm 139 - #11. Psalm 139 - #12. Psalm 139 - #13. Psalm 139 - #14. Psalm 139 - #15. Psalm 139 - #16. Psalm 139 - #17. Psalm 139 - #18. Psalm 139 - #19. Psalm 139 - #20. Psalm 139 - #21. Psalm 139 - #22. Psalm 139 - #23. Psalm 139 - #24. Psalm 139 - #25. Psalm 139 - #26. Psalm 139 - #27. Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]



HARMONY OF THE LAW


John Calvin - CCEL | Analytical Chart - BLB




GOSPEL HARMONIES

Gospel Harmony - Summary | The Harmony of the Gospels - Augustine | Gospel Harmony Chart - Online Bible

Greek Harmony of the Gospels - Robertson - (Downloadable PDF) | Gospel Harmony in English - Robertson - (Downloadable PDF)



HEBREW AND GREEK INTERLINEAR BIBLES


Hebrew and Greek Interlinear Download - Scripture 4 All

Bible Hub Interlinear Hebrew and Greek Bible


Bible Hub Hebrew Interlinear | Scripture 4 All Hebrew Interlinear


Mounce Interlinear | Bible Hub Greek Interlinear | Scripture 4 All Greek Interlinear Bible





Psalm Detailed Outline

THE PSALTER:

(SONGS FOR COVENANT WORSHIP)
Deliverance from Sinners and from Sin

Nearly all the Psalms (except Psalm 90) were written during the 612 year period
from the time of David around 1016 B. C. to the close of the Canon in about 404 B. C.
Psalm 90, according to its superscription, was written by Moses; this may have been around 1406 B. C.

BOOK FIVE OF FIVE:
PSALMS 107-150.
1016 - 404 B.C. Israel
God Praised & Thanked for His Goodness


Psalm 139
The LORD knows me intimately but rejects the wicked.


Map 1: Bible Nations | Map 2: Empire of David and Solomon Map 3: Kingdoms of Judah and Israel | Post Exile Chronology.


1 To the chief Musician, [Transposed To Psalm 138 ] *


1 A Psalm of David. *


O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting 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 behind and before,
and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful [marvelous, marvelous] 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 night shall be 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 thy book all my members were written,
which in continuance [days] 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 not I grieved with those that 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.


1 To the chief Musician, [Transposed From Psalm 140:1 ] *


* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]




Home | DAWN Archive

Tomorrow's Picture: TBA

     ADDITIONAL AD LIB MATERIAL: Prose, Poetry, Writers, Visual Artists, Music, DAWN, and ILLUMINATION. ILLUMINATION features a compact, Illuminated Bible. DAWN, the page you are presently visiting, features a new image and explanation daily.

Please Email Comments and Questions To

AD LIB ARTS EMAIL
copyright 2018, Scott Souza