Dream Awakener

We are doing a series of the Psalms at Kairos now, and this past week I taught Psalm 139, a Psalm where David has stirred the imagination of listeners throughout the ages.  He proves to be  a poet that is a master of iconic reflection, as Bernard of Clairvaux has said, "Just as we taste food with the mouth, so we taste the psalm with the heart."

The art pieces in the order presented are as follows. The first is a piece by Irv Davis, some Jewish art inspired the the entire psalm. The second piece of art is called Trail Riders, spurred on by Ps. 139:14.  The third piece is by Sarah Warren called Woven Together.  The fourth piece by by Suigii is called Intricately Designed. And finally, there is piece of art called Children by Harry Motro.  Click on the images to enlargen.

So as you reflect on this psalm and some art that has been spurred by it, pray in the words of Fredrick Beuchner, "Lord, catch us off guard today, surprise us wit some moment of beauty or pain so that for at least a moment we may be startled into seeing that you are with us in all your splendor, always and everywhere, barely hidden beneath, beyond, within this life we breathe."  And now for the Psalm, in the TNIV. 

PSALM 139

You have searched me, LORD,
       and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
       you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
       and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,"
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
       your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me
       were written in your book
                                              before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
       How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
       they would outnumber the grains of sand-
       when I awake, I am still with you.

                                        If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
       Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
       your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
       and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
       I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
       and lead me in the way everlasting.