Psalm 139 has got be among the Father’s most penetrating portions of His holy Word. As you read through this God-breathed song, it needs to be chewed on . . . slowly savored . . . taken in and turned over . . . the wonder of the intimate knowledge of God experienced . . . the implications considered. As I’m reading this morning the words “boxed in” come to mind . . . yeah, within this psalm a “besieged communion” is revealed.

David starts by articulating this acute awareness that nothing about him or in him is hidden from God . . .

O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?   (Psalm 139:1-7 ESV)

You sense that David is overwhelmed with the “inescapability” of God. He is hedged in, behind and before . . . talk about your confined spaces . . . talk about not having enough room to breath! The word “hedge” or “hem” is literally “to bind” or “to besiege” . . . “to confine” or “shut in”. Not the sort of state that I’d think I’d want to be in. At first, it’s not intuitive as to why any “free person” would want to be besieged or shut in.

But what’s amazing is that at the end of the Psalm David cries out, “More . . . bring it on!!!”

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  
(Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

Far from trying to elbow his way to get more personal space . . . far from trying to escape God’s consuming presence to come up for a breath of air . . . David says, “Search me more . . . know me deeper.” Why? How can he desire this besieged life . . . why does He welcome God’s inescapable presence and familiarity with all He does?

It’s because that is how life is intended to be lived for God’s creation — in close, close concert with God the Maker. And that God is the Maker is evident. He formed my inward parts . . . knitted me together in my mother’s womb . . . I am fearfully and wonderfully made (v. 13-15). That God is the Director of our lives is just as clear. Seeing my unformed substance . . . before I breathed a single breath . . . He recorded in a book every day that was formed for me (v. 16). I can’t even imagine how vast the sum is of the thoughts God has concerning me . . . “how precious are Your thoughts to me!” (v.17)

That is life and life to the full . . . to live in besieged communion with the One who formed us . . . who made us uniquely according to His one-of-a-kind design . . . who has written in His “to do” book all of our “to do’s”. Think about it!! No wonder David cries out, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.” (139:6)

I was made to live in Him . . . I was formed to be enveloped in His knowledge and His presence and His divine direction. Though I once was lost . . . outside of His will . . . dead to His care . . . praise God! now I am found . . . alive to Him through a born-again soul interacting through the indwelling Holy Spirit . . . and I can’t escape Him!! Nor do I want to. Search me O God . . . know me . . . hem me in . . . be my air . . . be my daily sustaining food . . . try me . . . test me . . . show me that which displeases You . . . lead me in the way everlasting.

O blessed hedge of God . . . blessed confinement . . . nothing makes me more free nor more complete than this blessed besieged communion.

Search me O’ God . . . for my benefit . . . for Your glory!! Amen!