Glo

The psalmist is desiring a deeper connection with God. He fights his downcast mood by encouraging himself ... by talking to himself. He recalls how he used to praise God and leads others in praise so he says to himself "to put your trust in God". Yes, I have felt that way and then I recall how God has given me strength through every trial, even if it did not turn out they way I anticipated. But I still loved and praised him for all that he has done and will do. I call out to God in a similar but perhaps more subtle way. I won't turn back.

David is conveying remaining in God's presence; being where he is; being near God. David sought God's face by being in constant communication with God through prayer, the song through praise and worship; through reading his word. David speaks hopefully that if he remains steadfast we will be blessed of the Lord, right here right now. We don't have to wait until we die.

I simply meditated on Psalm 139. No matter what I'm going through in life, it's a comfort to know that we just weren't random, haphazard creations of God. We were well thought out (each of us). I have this image of a loving mother sitting in her rocking chair knitting one of her special creations for a child or grandchild. As the knitter is working they are pondering and thinking though each step careful not to drop a stitch. And she knew how that finished piece should look and what it's intended purpose was. God considered our design from inception to grave and what our lifes were to be fashioned. When we think about how he put us together you must agree that we are wonderfully and fearfully made. His will for us was in the design from the beginning. He sustains us and is is ever present and never far away. In fact, he never goes away, it's us that stray away from his purpose. Considering the entire expanse of God's creation you have to praise him.

Here, the psalmist expresses and sings praises to the omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscence of God. God was involved in every detail of our creation He offers us a view of God personally weaving (stitching) every inch of us in a way that reflects care about the outcome of us as his creation. The imagery he uses is intended to show the great amount of thought and attention to every minute detail that God has put into our creation. God left nothing to chance. Because he has discerned how much God loves us he asks for retribution against those evil ones who refuse to acknowledge the glory and majesty of God. But, in the end, the psalmist pointedly asks God to search him, the very being that he knows God already knows intimately. He then goes further by seeking God's correction if he finds any unseemly thing in him.

The common thread of both sets of verses 1-6 and 7-13 is that the glory of God is on full display every minute of every hour of the day wherever we may find ourselves. The psalmist is overwhelmed by the Glory of God. In a spectacular display, God reveals himself in the beauty of holiness both through nature and his word. I often consider the great works of God and how we often conveniently forget how God has provided for our every need. From the rising to the setting of the sun. God is available saint or sinner if we would but receive and recognize his greatness. It's almost too much to comprehend sometimes. The psalmist paints a picture of how God's Creation is always at the ready to speak to of God's Glory and majesty. In verses 1-6, The psalmist reflects on how God reveals himself through his Creation. When we just gaze upon the work of God's hands (not ours) he can't help but be overtaken by the greatness of what God has done. There is no place where we can go and no slice of time we can experience where God's creation is not speaking to us without saying one word. In verses 7-13, the psalmist sings of the integrity, sweetness and value of the Word. God's word causes us to reflect on where we fall short bringing us to a realization of where we need correction. In verse 14, the psalmist is making an expression that he wants to please God through his verbal expressions and his inner most being. He wants his words and outward expressions to match his what's really in his heart. He doesn't want the testimony and praise he offers God to be to be rejected.

Psalm 8 teaches that God is the ultimate reality of glory, honor and majesty. His name is above all other names; there is absolutely no one that is greater. As great as God is, he still cares for us. When we consider all that His hands have made it's awesome to know that He still has made and sustains a special place for us. God made Christ completely human and completely devine just a little lower than the angels to rule and reign over all of God's creation, both great and small. Considering all that man has come to know about who God is and what he has done and continues to do we should praise His holy name. Even our enemies will know that we believe when we can praise him.

Good evening. I'm Gloria Sterling-McGill. I recently returned to the St. Louis, Missouri area after living and working in San Antonio, TX for 12 yeara. Right now I'm living with my son, daugther-in-law and grandson at this time. Served in ministry for 30+ years, most recently as an Executive Director of a faith based nonprofit organization in San Antonio. Currently not employed. Need to spend time renewing and refreshing while this new season unfolds.