Ps. 139:0 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm is esteemed by the Hebrews the most excellent in the whole book. The matter of it is noble and sublime, and so is the style.

Known me, i.e. known me exactly, as men do those things which they diligently search out. My downsitting and mine uprising; all my postures and motions, my actions and my cessations from action. My thought; all my secret counsels and designs. Afar off; before they are perfectly formed in my mind.

Thou compassest my path; thou watchest me on every side, and therefore discernest every step which I take. It is a metaphor either from huntsmen watching all the motions and lurking-places of wild beasts, that they may catch them; or from soldiers besieging their enemies in a city, and setting…

Thou knowest what I speak, and with what design and disposition of mind. Or rather, as others render it, and which is more admirable, When there is not a word, &c. Thou knowest what I intend to speak, either in prayer to thee, or in conversation with men, when I have not yet uttered one word of it.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, with thine all-seeing and all-disposing providence. And laid thine hand upon me; thou keepest me, as it were, with a strong hand, in thy sight and under thy power.

I am so far from equalling thy knowledge, that I cannot apprehend it, in what manner thou dost so perfectly know all things, even such as are most secret, and have yet no being, and seem to depend upon many casualties and uncertainties.

From thy spirit; either, 1. From the Holy Ghost, the third person in the Trinity: or, 2. From thee, who art a Spirit, and therefore canst penetrate into the most secret parts: or, 3. From thy mind or understanding, of which he is here speaking, as this word seems to be taken, Isa.

If I make my bed in hell; if I should or could repose and hide myself in the grave, or in the lowest parts of the earth, which are at the farthest distance from heaven.

If I should flee as swiftly from try presence as the morning light doth, which in an instant scattereth itself from east to west; for the sea being the western border of Canaan, is oft put for the west in Scripture.

I could neither go thither without thy conduct, nor subsist there without thy powerful support, and much less could I go out of try sight; for a man may see many things which, are out of his power.

Shall be as clear and manifest to God as the light itself.

Shineth, or enlighteneth, as this word is used, Ps. 19:8, Prov. 29:13;c. discovereth me and all mine actions. The darkness and the light are both alike to thee: this is repeated so oft to reprove and confute the ridiculous conceits of many ungodly men, who flatter themselves with hopes of secrecy…

Thou hast possessed; or, thou dost possess; thou dwellest in them, thou art the Owner and Governor of them, and therefore must needs know them. Or, thou hast formed, as some of the ancients and others render it.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made; thy infinite power and wisdom, manifested in the rare and curious structure of man’s body, doth fill me with wonder and astonishment, and with the dread of thy majesty. Marvellous are thy works; both in the lesser world, man, and in the greater.

My substance; or, My bone, as the LXX. and others render the word. And bone may be here taken collectively for bones, as is usual in such words, or for the whole fabric of the bones And the bones may be very fitly mentioned here, because they are inward and invisible, as being covered with skin,…

Yet being unperfect; when I was a mere embryo, a rude and shapeless lump, when I was first conceived. In thy book; in thy counsel and providence, by which thou didst contrive and effect this great work, and all the parts of it, according to that model which thou hadst appointed.

Thy thoughts: thy is taken either, 1. Passively, my thoughts of thee; or rather, 2. Actively, thy thoughts, counsels, or contrivances on my behalf, which are admirable and amiable in mine eyes.

To wit, by my thoughts and meditations. Thy wonderful counsels and works on my behalf come constantly into my mind, not only in the day time, but even in the night season, which is commonly devoted to rest and sleep; whensoever I awake, either in the night or in the morning.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked: and as thou hast precious and gracious thoughts towards me, and all that love and fear thee; so thou hast other kinds of thoughts and purposes towards wicked men, such as thou knowest mine enemies to be, even to destroy them utterly.

They speak against thee wickedly, by profane scoffs, and a professed denial or contempt of thine omniscience and providence. Or, they speak of thee in or unto wickedness; they make use of religion to cover or further their wicked designs.

I appeal to thee, the omnipresent and omniscient God, whether I do not perfectly hate them so far as they are enemies to God and goodness. That rise up against thee, in open hostility and rebellion against thine authority.

I am no less grieved with their enmity against thee, than if they directed it against myself.

And whether I do not speak this from my very heart, do thou judge, who art the Searcher of hearts, and deal with me accordingly.

Wicked way in me, Heb. way of trouble or grief; any course of life which is grievous, either, 1. To myself, as all sin is to the sinner sooner or later: or, 2. To others; as I am accused of causing much trouble and designing mischief to the king and kingdom.