Psalm 139 is one of the most well-known of David’s songs. The main theme is featured in the first stanza of the song (verses 1-6), which sings of how completely and intimately God knows us. That can be threatening to us at first glance – that God knows:
My every move – You know when I sit down and when I rise up (v. 2).
My every thought – You understand my thought from afar (v. 2).
Everywhere I go – You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways (v. 3).
My every word; even before I say it! – Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all (v. 4).
Perhaps this realization was a bit threatening to David, as he says: such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it (v. 6).
However, there are some other truths about God that calm the threatening feelings, and bring comfort and peace. For instance, think of the opposite: if God did not know everything, including everything about me, would He truly be God? Could I really trust Him to be a just judge, and in control of the universe (and my life), if He didn’t have all the facts? Second, deep down there is a desire within us to be completely known and understood – even the ugly things of my life. Finally, the Bible says that knowing everything about me – including the ugliness of my sin – God still sent His Son to die for me so that I could have every sin taken away, know Him in a loving relationship, and be transformed to become like His Son! But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). To be fully known and yet fully loved – this is our God!