MONDAY

Psalm 139:1-18

In an age of tracking cookies and cyber hacking, the idea that you’re being watched may be one that feels more invasive and creepy than reassuring! And yet, we deeply value those trusted relationships with those who know all about us, love us, and are there for us anyway. If we have relationships with others like that, no one has to explain to us how important that is. If we don’t, the longing we have to know and be known in that way is one that we are likely familiar with. The amazing good news that is reflected in the passage today is that we are indeed known like this by God—the same God whom we also find revealed in Jesus in such a way that we can know God in a similar way. In our conversations last Sabbath, we saw how God was with Moses at a very early age and continued to be with him throughout his life. We were reminded that God is attentive to us and never loses track of us, no matter how rough things get. This is what David writes about in Psalm 139, our Scripture passage for today. Notice how he seeks to put into words the profound way this realization has impacted him as you read through the psalm, and reflect on the following questions:

• What are the feelings that David is expressing through this psalm and that may indeed be surfacing in you as you allow him to draw you into the response he is giving voice to?

• Have there been times or places when it has seemed to you that God was nowhere to be found? How does this psalm speak to those moments?

• Ponder what is expressed in the imagery of the darkness not being dark to God. Compare the language here to that of Psalm 23:4. What consistent theme is David once again giving voice to? How does this resonate with you?

• Where in your own life do you need to hear the music of this psalm playing right now? Do you know of someone who needs to hear it?

• Take a few moments to find a verse or phrase from the psalm that you would like to take with you from your time today, and find a way to do that.

Take a few moments to share with God in prayer how you feel about what is expressed in this psalm.