If I take the wings of the morning . If I were to speed across the earth on the wings of the dawn, and, having done so, were then to dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea —the extreme west, where the sun sots— even there shall thy hand lead me . In that distant region I should still find thy guiding hand. And thy right hand shall hold me. Thy strong right hand would uphold me. read more
If I ascend up into heaven - The word “heaven” here, in the original is in the plural number - “heavens,” - and includes all that there is above the earth - the highest worlds.If I make my bed - Properly, “If I strew or spread my couch.” If I should seek that as the place where to lie down.In hell - Hebrew, “Sheol.” See the notes at Isaiah 14:9, where the word is fully explained. The word here refers to the under-world - the abodes of the dead; and, in the apprehension of the psalmist,... read more
If I take the wings of the morning - literally, “I will take the wings of the morning.” That is, I will take this as a supposable case; I will imagine what would occur, should I be able to take to myself the wings of the morning, and endeavor to escape “by flight” from the presence of God, or go where he could not pursue me, or where he would not be. The “wings of the morning” evidently mean that by which the light of the morning “seems to fly” - the most rapid object known to us. It is not to... read more
Even there shall thy hand lead me - I shall find thee there; thy hand would be upon me; I should not have gone from thy presence.And thy right hand shall hold me - Still hold me; still be laid upon me. I should find myself there, as certainly as here, in thy hand; and in the same sense - either to seize upon me if I went astray, or to protect me, if obedient, supported by thee in all the perils of the flight. God, still the same - the same in all respects - would be with me there as he is here. read more
Psalms 139:7-12. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? From thy knowledge and observation; or, from thee who art a Spirit? Whither shall I flee from thy presence? I can go nowhere but thou art there, observing and judging, approving or disapproving: nor are there any means imaginable by which I can escape the reach of thy all-penetrating eye, or withdraw myself from thy universal and unbounded presence: neither can an ascent to heaven, nor a descent to the state of the dead, secure me from... read more
Psalms 139:0 The all-knowing, ever-present GodGod knows all about the psalmist - what he does, what he thinks, where he goes and what he says (139:1-4). Because of the realization that God is all around him, the psalmist sometimes feels helpless (5-6). A person may be tempted to look for some escape from such an overpowering presence, but no escape is possible. This may bring fear to rebels but it brings comfort to believers (7-8). Wherever they travel, God is with them (9-10). In darkness or... read more
hell = Sheol. See App-35 . behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . read more
wings of the morning. See note on sub-scription of Psalms 21:0 . read more
right hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 139:8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there ; i . e . "if I were to ascend up into heaven, if I could do so, thou wouldst still be there—I should not find myself where thou wert not; no, nor even if I went down to hell ( Sheol ), should I escape thee—thou wouldst be there also." If I make my bed in hell means, "if I go down and take my rest in hell"—the place of departed spirits. Behold, thou art there; literally, behold , thou! read more