Psalm 139 (In a Slightly Bigger Box)

Observations and Context:
I've only ever heard Psalm 139 taught from one angle. It goes something like this:

"Verses 13 to 15 say: 'For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; (S)Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.' Does your soul know that God made you wonderfully and with great skill? What might it look like for you to yourself in this way?"

Essentially getting at the idea of value, self-worth, self-image and finding/defining those things based on what the Word says about them instead finding/defining those things by what our family, friends, strangers, culture, society, past relationships, etc. has said about them.

This is huge. It's worthy of countless presentations, sermons, and hours spent meditating on its truth.

Questions:
But...what about the other 21 verses?

Observations: II
So a few of us were reading through it and this Psalm took on an entirely different persona for me. What jumped out was a beautiful image of what it looks like to be a Godly leader that came from realizing that Psalm 139 is the psalmists description of how God leads him (vs 10, vs 24).

Implications: The Godly Leader
1. Knows intimately the character of the people they lead. Both the inner character (v.2) and it's outer manifestations (vs 1-4). In the "They finish my sentences" fashion. Or at least, that's the imagery that comes to mind for me.

2. Is a pursuer of the people they lead (v.7), is pretty closely tied with number three.

3. Is radically faithful to the people they lead. They are a constant presence in the good things in their lives (vs. 8:Heaven), the hells of their lives (vs. 8:Sheol), and the confusing, unknown, foreboding, daunting areas in their lives that just seem to big to do anything concrete with (vs. 9:Remotest part of the sea.)

4. Is proactive with their faithfulness. They aren't just constantly around the people they lead, but they're finding ways to take their hands and lead them forward (vs. 10)

5. Is able to see the goodness of God in the darkest times for the people they lead. I think this is one of my favorite ones. Verses 11 and 12 say:

"If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day."

When all they can see is darkness, and all of their expectation rests on the belief that the good things they see are about to fade, the Godly leader is still able to see how God might be at work in the situation, the way's he is seeking to grow them, and is able to encourage, even when they're in that place. God is able to vision for his people from beyond the immediate circumstances his people find themselves in.

6. Is creative and skillful in the development of the people they lead. (vs. 13-15). Leadership and development is something portrayed as incredibly intimate, careful, and joyous.

7. Is able to see areas that need growth, and plan out how to make that happen. They can see the things that are unformed (vs.16), and develop a way to grow that area up to maturity. There's an underlying sense of hope, expectancy, and purpose that all come to the surface in this process. It implies a heavy presence of forward thinking. (vs. 16: the days ordained for me before they existed).

8. Thinks a lot about the people they lead. Thoughts that outnumber the sand (vs. 17-18) ...that's a lot of thoughts.

9. Interprets the things they do for the people they lead. What strikes me about all of these details about God as a leader, is that they don't come from God saying "I do x, y, and z." They come from someone that God is leading saying "God leads me in this way, and that way." The person being lead can articulate their interactions and the purposes of them. The psalmist understands that God has countless thoughts about him and values them immensely. The people being lead should know and understand the things that the leaders are investing into them. They'd probably like it.

Implications(II): When This Happens
These are more theoretical but hey whynot.

1. The people you lead know your heart for them (Psalm 139:all). The leader is valued (vs.17)

2. (Courtesy of Leah) The people's wills and hearts are drawn to yours. They develop a passion for your passions and begin to desire motion towards those things (vs. 21 and 22)

3. The people you lead will desire more of the same (vs. 24). Because of their trust in you as their leader, they will become people that seek the vulnerability of being known (vs. 23: know my heart), the discomfort of being tested (vs. 23: try me), and the accountability of being called out (vs. 24: see if there is anything hurtful, lead me in the way everlasting).


Applications: All of it?
Seriously. I have my moments, but generally speaking I don't do this. This is a picture of leadership that stems from character, and leads to people of character. I need a new heart.


1Thessalonians. Chapter 5. Verse 23 and 24.

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass."



Amen.