Psalm-139
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Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).
Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all
other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job,
the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and
history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction to Tehillim - Psalm 139:
Psalm 139 is perhaps the most intimate of all the Psalms. Whilst Psalm 135 spoke of Elohim’s power in history, Psalm 138 spoke of His protection, and Psalm 139 speaks of His presence. It describes an אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who is not ‘out there’, but ‘in here’ acquainted with your very breath and the silent thoughts of your heart.
Let us now commence reading the excellent Tehillim - Psalm 139. (Using the JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “For the Leader. A Psalm of David. O יְהוָה - LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
2. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.
3. Thou measurest my going about and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O יְהוָה - LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.
5. Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.
6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too 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 the nether-world, 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 would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would hold me.
11. And if I say: 'Surely the darkness shall envelop me, and the light about me shall be night';
12. Even the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.
13. For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb.
14. I will
give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
wonderful are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15. My
frame was not hidden from Thee,
when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the
earth.
16. Thine
eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written
even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17. How weighty also are Thy thoughts unto me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim! How great is the sum of them!
18. If I
would count them, they are more in number than the sand; were I to come to the
end of them, I would still be with Thee.
19. If Thou but wouldest
slay the wicked, O אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim depart from me therefore, ye men of blood;
20. Who utter Thy name with wicked thought, they take it for falsehood, even Thine enemies.
21. Do not I hate them, O יְהוָה - LORD, that hate Thee? And do not I strive with those that rise up against Thee?
22. I hate them with utmost hatred; I count them mine enemies.
23. Search me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts;
24. And see if there be any way in me that is grievous, and lead me in the way everlasting”.
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Let us now look at the helpful ‘Verse by Verse’ item below, with explanations!
1. O יְהוָה - LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
The Psalm begins with the realization that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is an expert on "you." He doesn't just look at you; He has "searched" you, understanding the depths that even you might not see.
2. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.
3. Thou measurest my going about and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Whether you are sitting up or, or lying down, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is present. He "measures" our rest. He knows the thoughts that cross your mind even before they are fully formed.
4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O יְהוָה - LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.
You do not even need to speak for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to hear you. He knows the prayers of your heart before they reach your lips.
5. Thou hast hemmed me in behind and before, and laid Thy hand upon me.
This is a beautiful image for someone in a bed. You are surrounded ‘hemmed in’ by His presence in front and behind. His hand is not heavy, but it is "laid upon you" in a gesture of ownership and care.
6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too high, I cannot attain unto it.
David admits that the human mind cannot truly grasp how אֱלֹהִים - Elohim can be so close to everyone at once. It is a mystery to be marvelled at, not solved.
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 the nether-world, behold, Thou art there.
Even if you feel you are in the ‘depths’ due to illness, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is there. There is no place-physical or spiritual, where His Spirit does not reach.
9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10. Even there would Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand would hold me.
Even at the furthest ‘edges’ of life, His right hand is holding you steady. You are held.
11. And if I say: 'Surely the darkness shall envelop me, and the light about me shall be night';
12. Even the darkness is not too dark for Thee, but the night shineth as the day; the darkness is even as the light.
Here is a profound promise. To אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, there is no darkness. He sees you just as clearly in the night as in the noon-day sun. Thus our physical dimness does not hide us from Him.
13. For Thou hast made my reins; Thou hast knit me together in my mother's womb.
14. I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is the master weaver. He ‘knit’ your body together. Even as the body ages or faces illness, the ‘work’ of His hands remains "wonderful."
15. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret...
16. Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance, and in Thy book they were all written even the days that were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim saw your entire life from its unformed
beginning to this very day before you were even born. Every day was ‘written in His book’. He is not
surprised by your current struggle; He is with you in it.
17. How weighty also are Thy thoughts unto me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim! How great is the sum of them!
18. If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand; were I to come to the end of them, I would still be with Thee.
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s thoughts toward you are infinite. Even when you sleep and wake again, the Psalmist says, "I would still be with Thee."
19. If Thou but wouldest slay the wicked, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim...
20. Who utter Thy name with wicked thought...
21. Do not I hate them, O יְהוָה - LORD, that hate Thee?
22. I hate them with utmost hatred; I count them mine enemies.
In these verses, David expresses his zeal for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s justice. He aligns his own heart with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s righteousness, rejecting those who misuse the Divine name.
23. Search me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim,
and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts;
24. And see if there
be any way in me that is grievous, and lead me in the
way everlasting.
The Psalm ends with a humble invitation. David asks אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim to continue the ‘searching’ mentioned in verse
1. He wants to be led toward ‘the way everlasting’, the path that transcends
physical life.
Closing Message:
Psalm 139 has brought us so much teaching, with things that can touch all of us! I trust that all who have read this study will be richly blessed!
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This site was originally created, for those
who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה -
the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and
hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may
know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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follows;
“The More Torah, the
More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace
of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts.
be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
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etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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