Daily Devotional For Friday, May 15, 2026
Good morning and good day. Following the reading in the One Year Chronological Bible, we have come to one of my favorite Psalms – Psalm 139. David is so transparent and real in this psalm. The passage I have selected from it is Psalm 139:1-6:
“O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. (2) You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. (3) You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. (4) You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. (5) You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. (6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” (NLT).
This passage reminds us not only of the omniscience of God (all-knowing) but also of His omnipresence (being present everywhere). David is saying more than just this. Biblical scholar Warren Wiersbe, writes this about this Psalm:
“What we think about God and our relationship to Him determines what we think about everything else that makes up our busy world—other people, the universe, God’s Word, God’s will, sin, faith, and obedience. Wrong ideas about God will ultimately lead to wrong ideas about who we are and what we should do, and this leads to a wrong life on the wrong path toward the wrong destiny. In other words, theology—the right knowledge of God—is essential to a fulfilled life in this world. David contemplated God and wrote for us a psalm whose message can only encourage us to be in a right relationship with Him” (Warren Wiersbe, Be Exultant, p. 195).
In verse 1, the word translated as “examined” is the Hebrew word [חָקַר, chaqarta]. It means “to search.” This word was used to describe digging into a mine, exploring a land, and investigating a legal case. We only see the outside, but God sees right into the very most secretive and darkest thoughts. Adam and Eve tried to deceive God (Gen. 3:7-24). Cain tried to deceive God (Gen. 4:1-15), And even David, a man “after God’s own heart,” tried to deceive God (2. Samuel 11-12).
In verse two, the NLT translates two different Hebrew words as the same – “know.” The first Hebrew word translated as “know” is [יָ֭דַעְתָּ, yadah] and it means to know in general. The second Hebrew word translated as “know” is [בַּ֥נְתָּה, bantah]. This is more than to know in a general sense. It means “to distinguish and discern with insight.” In verse 3, “see” is the Hebrew word [זֵרִ֑יתָ, zerita] and it is a reference to a winnowing grain. It refers to sifting and separating.
David’s point is that God knows us intimately and completely. He knows our actions, our locations, our attitudes, our thoughts, our words, and our motives. This reminds us Hebrews 4:13, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (NKJV).
David is saying even more than this. He is saying God only knows what is best for us and He attempts every day to guide and lead us to that. In verse 5, “You go before me and follow me,” is a reference to God hemming us in from the behind and in front. He puts His hand on us to guide us in His path steadily. The words “go before” in verse 5 is the Hebrew word [צַרְתָּ֑נִי, tzartani]. It is sometimes translated as “enclosed.” It literally means “to guard a valuable object.” This means that God’s intimate knowledge of us and His guidance for us is for our protection. Knowing and believing this was so powerful that David could not wrap his mind around it. He knew he was no equal or match to this. He prostrated himself in humility to a BIG, BIG God.
Reflection Assignment: Knowing that God knows everything about you, even the thoughts you share with no other person, how does that impact your life? What wrong ideas about God have you believed and how did they impact your life? David found himself prostrated in humility before God. When was the last time you did this and why? If you do not do this, why? What does this say about how you see yourself standing before God?
Scripture To Meditate On: Psalm 94:11, “The Lord knows what people think. He knows that their thoughts are empty” (ESY).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I am so sorry how arrogant I can be. I rarely prostrate myself before You. I come to You just like I approach almost everyone else. You are different and I am nothing. You are BIG and I am small. In spite of the thoughts I never share, You still love me. That astounds me. That shocks me. I come before You in humility. I cannot posture anything against or to You. You are God. You are King of kings and Lord of lords. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly