Psalm 139—God’s Omniscience (5)

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising

All that the Saviour did and did not do on earth, the Father decreed from eternity. All these things were written in the book of His eternal counsel and were proclaimed by the mouth of the prophets, and much of it is recorded in Scripture.

What David confessed in principle, Jesus knew perfectly: “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising…” What David did not know, Jesus knew perfectly—every single thing, before it existed. What He [Christ as the Son of God–Ed.] co-decreed standing in God’s eternal counsel was revealed to the Mediator [as the Son of Man–Ed.] by the Holy Spirit from Scripture. He knew the heavenly blueprint. The Scriptures testifying of Him were to Him a lamp unto His feet and a light unto His path (Luke 18:31).

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth” (John 18:4a) like a strong man ready to run a race and knowing all—the fullness of His suffering was approaching; His hour was at hand. The sword of God’s justice would fully awaken; the cup He would drink was full of the wrath of the Almighty. Jesus went forth doing His Father’s will—“Lo, I come!”

He went forth, His heart being very desirous for the salvation of His own, knowing all things and not resting until all was accomplished. The reason why He said, “I thirst,” because there was yet one more step to go “…that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 19:28b). The holy, righteous Jesus was numbered with the transgressors. Zion’s paying Surety gave Himself unto death, even the death of the cross.

Thou hast searched Me, and known Me! “I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4). I will make my bed in hell. I will ascend up into heaven. Oh, Father, glorify Thou Me… “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am” (John 17:24a)—those whom Thou knowest with eternal love, before Thou formed them in the belly (Jeremiah 1:5).

My way is hid from the LORD (Isaiah 40:27)

God knows the paths of the righteous on the narrow way and the paths of the ungodly on the broad way. Scripture is full of it, and much could be written about it, but did we ever believe what David confessed? It is always true, but has it ever become true? “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising”—Thou knowest all that I do. “Thou compassest my path and my lying down.” Thou hast searched me and examined me very closely. Thou “art acquainted with all my ways.” Thou hast knowledge of all my doings. Oh, if this were true in our lives, what would change then? Much may happen in God’s allowance, but the fruit of grace is that we receive other ways, new ways, because we believe that God’s pure eyes always see all that is of us. Then that old verse will become new in our hearts:

Unto me, O Lord Jehovah,

Show Thy ways and teach Thou me;

So that, by Thy Spirit guided,

Clearly I Thy paths may see.

In Thy truth wilt Thou me guide,

Teach me, God of my salvation;

All the day for Thee I bide,

Lord, with eager expectation.

(Psalter 415:2)

It is a miracle if we get to do with an all-knowing God between our cradle and grave, and the greatest wonder is to believe that He has compassed me with His special grace. If the Lord makes a soul acquainted with itself, if He leads one along paths that he or she has not known—paths of trial and struggle—then we often hear, “My way is hid from the LORD.” Yes, these are sad words, not that those people thereby deny God’s omniscience. No, they do know that the ways of every man—even their own ways—are before Him (2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs 5:21), but it is a cry of the heart: He has given us over to ourselves; He gives us no new token of His favour and does not care about us.

“My way is hid from the LORD”—it is not a question asked as if it were still uncertain but a conclusion: the Lord no longer wants to have anything to do with me. Yes, that is how low it can be in the lives of God’s children. Tremblingly, they go through life and say that God is no longer concerned with our way; He is no longer concerned with our interests— it is done with us; He no longer wants to be our LORD. It is certainly an extremely sad complaint that is basically just mud. Yet there is the gold of grace in it, for it is a living complaint. It is a complaint that only God’s people can complain about—a cry of life for life, a looking forward to communion, to the revelation of the Lord’s love to their hearts until the Lord visits them in that desert and brings them to rest so that they say, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).

Then it will become true that they, for Jesus’ sake, never travel alone. Then they may ponder His ways: the downsitting and uprising, the paths and lying down, of Zion’s Surety who came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost. He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, knowing all things that should come upon Him (Luke 9:51; John 18:4). As the fruit of His Way of the Cross, Psalm 139 becomes a covenant song on their way of the cross. They will sing, rejoicing in God:

Lord, Thou hast searched me, and dost know

Where’er I rest, where’er I go;

Thou knowest all that I have planned,

An all my ways are in Thy hand.

(Psalter 382:1)

(To be continued)

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