Reflection: Nowhere Unknown

Wait! Is David suddenly running from the knowing embrace of God? Must the choirmaster already modulate to a minor key? Is there now, like in the scary part of a movie, an ominous tone that makes us tense? Maybe the notes stretch a few octaves higher and lower to express the expanses of God. What do you think? Read it again here:

“There’s no place or time that I can escape your knowing. No matter where I settle, where I hide, where I run, where I die…Surprise, surprise! There you are! No matter where I nest, as far as wings could take me in the sunrise-sky, or waves could wash me out to sea, even there you guide, hold, protect, and own me.” (Author’s paraphrase of Psalm 139:7-10)

David’s not suddenly running scared. This is a poetic foray into rehearsing more of God’s character. See, rehearsing the truth is like daily vitamins: it’s a healthy habit and it will see us through the lean times. We rehearse reality in the day so we can believe in the night. We rehearse the clarity of God-revealed so we can trust him when the fog moves in.

Prayer:

What a comfort it is to know that you guide, hold, protect and own me, omniscient and omnipresent God. Yet this is no comfort for those who live in disbelief and unbelief—those who’ll only know you come Judgement Day. Christ Jesus, mercifully reveal yourself to many runaways today. Holy Spirit, steady my faith and resolve for a lifetime of truth-telling and worship.

To reflect further on this Psalm, listen to Psalm 139 sung in Hebrew here.