Child Kneeling in Prayer with Unseen HandsBible World
139:5Psalms 139:5
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me means God surrounds each person on every side with complete nearness, behind and before, keeping His hand upon him. This surrounding is by His Spirit, who is everywhere present, so His presence and knowledge are not confined to one place, and wherever people are and whatever they do they are in His presence. It expresses His intimate knowledge and personal care and interest in all the works of His hand, for He has searched man and knows him altogether, knowing movements, thoughts, words, and ways completely. In detail He knows sitting down and rising up, understands thought from afar, searches out and compasses path and lying down and rest, is acquainted with all ways, and knows altogether every word on the tongue.
No deed, word, gesture, motive, or hidden plan escapes Him, for He hears every word uttered and notes every gesture and action, sees and hears all that is done and said, reads the secret devisings of every heart, and knows inward thoughts and anger, intricate designs, carefully hidden plans, all dishonesty in planning, all unlawful appropriation of property or means in any degree, and all injustice in dealing with others. This observation reaches into darkness and solitude, even the private bedchamber, and cannot be escaped in heaven, hell, sea, or darkness, because darkness and light are both alike to Him, night shines as day, and the deepest midnight is no cover for the guilty. He is a constant Witness even when one thinks himself alone, and every act, every word, and every thought is as distinctly marked as though there were only one person in the whole world and the attention of heaven were centered upon him.
This greatness of knowledge is too wonderful and high for human understanding, incomprehensible and beyond human reach. Because He knows every way, word, and thought, people are answerable to Him and cannot deceive Him or hide from Him, for He keeps a faithful record of words and actions that must be met, and His judgment is certain. Unlike human laws that are often broken without detection, the law of God cannot be broken with impunity, so the habitual sense of His presence gives fear to sin. Therefore people should be careful not to speak presumptuously about Him or speculate about Him, and private behavior even in rooms should be gentlemanly and God-honoring.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me means God surrounds each person on every side with complete nearness, behind and before, keeping His hand upon him. This surrounding is by His Spirit, who is everywhere present, so His presence and knowledge are not confined to one place, and wherever people are and whatever they do they are in His presence. It expresses His intimate knowledge and personal care and interest in all the works of His hand, for He has searched man and knows him altogether, knowing movements, thoughts, words, and ways completely. In detail He knows sitting down and rising up, understands thought from afar, searches out and compasses path and lying down and rest, is acquainted with all ways, and knows altogether every word on the tongue.
No deed, word, gesture, motive, or hidden plan escapes Him, for He hears every word uttered and notes every gesture and action, sees and hears all that is done and said, reads the secret devisings of every heart, and knows inward thoughts and anger, intricate designs, carefully hidden plans, all dishonesty in planning, all unlawful appropriation of property or means in any degree, and all injustice in dealing with others. This observation reaches into darkness and solitude, even the private bedchamber, and cannot be escaped in heaven, hell, sea, or darkness, because darkness and light are both alike to Him, night shines as day, and the deepest midnight is no cover for the guilty. He is a constant Witness even when one thinks himself alone, and every act, every word, and every thought is as distinctly marked as though there were only one person in the whole world and the attention of heaven were centered upon him.
This greatness of knowledge is too wonderful and high for human understanding, incomprehensible and beyond human reach. Because He knows every way, word, and thought, people are answerable to Him and cannot deceive Him or hide from Him, for He keeps a faithful record of words and actions that must be met, and His judgment is certain. Unlike human laws that are often broken without detection, the law of God cannot be broken with impunity, so the habitual sense of His presence gives fear to sin. Therefore people should be careful not to speak presumptuously about Him or speculate about Him, and private behavior even in rooms should be gentlemanly and God-honoring.