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Psalm 139
from Psalm 139 as rendered in contemporary English by Eugene Peterson in THE MESSAGE: PSALMS, (NavPress 1994). For me, THE MESSAGE often shakes me out of my rut of reading the scriptures as if they were merely academic or medicinal, and helps me realize that they are God's revelation of himself to his people. [I like the King Jimmy also.] Psalm 139 (A David Psalm) Yahweh, investigate my life; get all the facts first hand. I'm an open book to you; even from a distance you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too -- your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful -- I can't take it all in! Is there any place I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? . . . . Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God--you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration--what a creation! . . . . Your thoughts--how rare, how beautiful! God, I'll never comprehend them! I couldn't even beging to count them-- any more than I could count the sands of the sea. Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you! [Here's the part that is usually omitted in pubic readings of scripture.] And please, God, do away with wickedness for good! And you murderers--out of here!-- all the men and women who belittle you, God, infatuated with cheep god-imitations. See how I hate those who hate you, Yahweh, see how I loathe all this godless arrogance; I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred. Your enemies are my enemies! Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong-- then guide me on the road to eternal life. Have a great day and a wonderful Thanksgiving, Chip |