Psalms 139 · The Lantern

Lord, thou hast searched me out and known me: thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts long before.

Thou art about my path, and about my bed: and spiest out all my ways.

For lo, there is not a word in my tongue: but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.

Thou hast fashioned me behind and before: and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me: I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit: or whither shall I go then from thy presence?

And so, when you have gone over all these points with suitable reflections on each, when you have, in addition, studied the process of breathing, the manner in which the heart conserves its warmth, the organs of digestion and the veins, you will discern in all of these wonders the inscrutable wisdom of the Creator; so that you will be able to say with the prophet: "Your knowled…

"Thy skill hath displayed itself wonderfully in me: it hath waxed mighty: I shall not be able to attain unto it" (ver. 6). Listen now and hear somewhat, which is obscure indeed, yet bringeth no small pleasure in the understanding thereon.

The height of God is beyond investigation. Hence, "such knowledge is too wonderful for me; too lofty for me to attain."

If I climb up into heaven, thou art there: if I go down to hell, thou art there also.

Since, therefore, all things are seen and heard, let us fear him and abandon the abominable lusts that spawn evil works, in order that we may be shielded by his mercy from the coming judgments. For where can any of us escape from his mighty hand? For the Scripture says somewhere, "Where shall I go, and where shall I be hidden from your presence?

Behold you find that the runaway in a far country cannot escape His eyes, from whom he flees. And whither can he go now, whose "limit is tracked out"? Behold, what says he? "Whither shall I go from Your Spirit?" [Psalm 139:7]. Who can in the world flee from that Spirit, with whom the world is filled?

Hold most firmly and never doubt that God the Trinity is unbounded in power, not in mass; and that every creature, spiritual and bodily, is bound by his power and his presence.

If I take the wings of the morning: and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;

If they really conceive of a kind of degradation of the Son in relation to the Father, as though He were in a lower place, so that the Father sits above, and the Son is thrust off to the next seat below, let them confess what they mean. We shall have no more to say. A plain statement of the view will at once expose its absurdity.

For Deity alone is uncircumscribed, existing everywhere, and as the same and in the same manner. For if I ascend, saith David, into heaven, thou art there; if I descend into Hades thou art present there; if I should take to myself wings at morning—that is, in the east—and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea—that is, in the west—even there shall thy hand lead me: evidently i…

Job says: "I always feared God as though waves were swelling over me." And why? I cannot flee on account of the sublimity of divine power, because "if I ascend into heaven, thou art there; if I descend into hell, thou art present; if I take my wings at dawn and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." Likewis…

Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me: then shall my night be turned to day.

Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day: the darkness and light to thee are both alike.

For my reins are thine: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.

My bones are not hid from thee: though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect: and in thy book were all my members written;

Which day by day were fashioned: when as yet there was none of them.

Let them not persuade themselves that they should not do penance, who, although they have not contaminated their hands by impious sacrifices, yet have defiled their consciences with certificates. That profession is of one who denies; the testimony is of a Christian who rejects what he had been.

..."Thine eyes did see Mine imperfect one, and in Thy book shall all be written" (ver. 16), not only the perfect, but also the imperfect. Let not the imperfect fear, only let them advance. Nor yet, because I have said, "let them not fear," let them love their imperfection, and remain there, where they are found. Let them advance, as far as in them lieth.

"Your eyes have seen my actions; in Your book they are all written." In other words, that which had been written earlier is now made manifest: it is not written anew. In this book are inscribed all the eternal laws. And so God is the eternal Exemplar, and this is a matter of faith which believes that God is the creator of all things.

How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God: O how great is the sum of them!

If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand: when I wake up I am present with thee.

Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God: depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.

For they speak unrighteously against thee: and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee: and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

Yet, it is not hard for us, if we wish it, to take up a love for justice and a hatred for iniquity. God has advantageously given all power to the rational soul, as that of loving, so also that of hating, in order that, guided by reason, we may love virtue but hate vice. It is possible at times to use hatred even praiseworthily.

I also ask and beg of you to expound for me what [Paul] says to the Romans, for I admit I have very poor sight for this opinion of the apostle about the Jews, where he says, "As concerning the gospel, indeed they are enemies for your sake, but as touching the election they are most dear for the sake of the ancestors." How can these same ones be enemies for our sake, now that we…

Now indeed your neighbor, whom you are truly bound to love as yourself, that he too may savor to you as he is, will surely savor to you no differently than you to yourself, who is what you are: for he is a man. You therefore who love yourself only because you love God; consequently all who similarly love him, you love as yourself.

Yea, I hate them right sore: even as though they were mine enemies.

Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart: prove me, and examine my thoughts.

Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me: and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalms139