Lord, You have looked deep inside me, and You know me very well. You know everything that I do, when I sit or stand. You also know what I think even before I start to think.  Psalm 139:1-2, The Bible for the Deaf

Psalm 139 holds special meaning in my life, not because I know it by heart. In fact, I only truly know the first line, and I’m grateful that it’s a short one.

 

I’m not very good at quoting Scripture or movie lines. I am familiar with only a few quotes from the Bible, such as Psalm 23 and John 3:16. As for movies, I can only quote a couple of lines from two movies: "Notting Hill" and "The Devil Wears Prada". I always find it impressive when people can easily quote from books or movies.

 

Regardless, I will get back to the point. Psalm 139 is special to me because two beautiful Afrikaans songs were written about this Psalm.

 

"U is altyd daar", sung by the late Janita Claassen, and "U ken my", sung by Rina Hugo. Both songs were released about 25 years ago on an album called "Deel die Woord". (Give it a listen, it’s beautiful and available on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.)

 

This Psalm is so beautiful to me because it reminds me how deeply God knows us as human beings. If you are a child of God, he surrounds you from all sides – it means he protects you and carries you. He knows your needs and your desires. It confirms that love and deep understanding that only a parent can have for their child.

 

I think of how my own parents can often just look at me to know that something is wrong, or how my mom only has to hear “Hi Mom” and immediately asks, “What’s wrong?” She just knows, even though I’m no longer a little girl and haven’t lived under their roof for years.

 

In the same way, God knows what we’re going through, what we’re thinking, how we’re feeling and where we’re headed. He knows each one of us and still loves us deeply.

 

“I do not understand how can know everything. It is too difficult for me to understand,” David later writes in the Psalm. (Psalm 139:6)

 

“Surreal, but nice,” says Hugh Grant’s character in Notting Hill.

 

I think that sums up my thoughts about this overwhelming love and knowledge of who I am.

 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you know me – all of me – and that you still love me and are always with me. Amen.