Tehilim Perek 139

Hello everybody. Today’s NachDaily will discuss Tehilim chapter 139.

In this perek, Dovid reminds us that Hashem has complete knowledge of everything on earth, including our location at all times, our thoughts, our laying down and rising up, and every word we think or speak. Obviously, such knowledge is way beyond human comprehension.

Hashem’s presence is to be found everywhere. The lowest depths and the highest heavens, even darkness, cannot hide us from God.

Dovid goes on to thank Hashem for all the goodness He does for mankind. The Gemarah in Bava Basra 14:B tells us that Adam Harishon, the first man, said that God knew how man was to be created even prior to his formation.

Dovid winds down his tefilah by asking Hashem to remove all the people and things which disturb his peace of mind. All wicked and evil should be eradicated from earth. Despite Dovid’s many enemies and detractors, his heart is still shalem, at peace, with God.

Verse 8 is an amazing passuk:

אִם־אֶסַּ֣ק שָׁ֭מַיִם שָׁ֣ם אָ֑תָּה וְאַצִּ֖יעָה שְּׁא֣וֹל הִנֶּֽךָּ׃

If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I descend to hell, You are there too.

Rebbe Nachman, in Lekutay Maharan Lesson 6, explains based on this passuk that every person needs to know the highest levels in heaven, understanding that when we reach a certain level, not to stop there. There is so much more to which we can aspire.

At the same time, we must know the lowest levels of hell, understanding that no matter where we are in life, we can come close to God, to find Him even in the deepest and darkest of places. Precisely where we might think that He cannot be, He is there.

This is similar to the ups and downs of a heartbeat. A flat line shows that there’s no life, but when it’s pumping up and down, ascending and descending, it shows that there’s still life and vitality.

We need to strengthen ourselves for battle in each one of these areas to soar higher and go beyond that of which we thought ourselves capable. Go level by level, each step at a time, coming closer to Hashem, staying strong no matter what happens to us, holding on to whatever little bit we can to find God even in the lowest places.

May we merit becoming expert in bringing God into all aspects of our lives.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.