What does Psalm 139:12 mean?
God can see clearly through the darkness as though it were bright light. Nothing obscures His vision. He sees both sin and suffering distinctly. He notices what we do, whether it's righteous or sinful (Hebrews 4:13). He sees our situations, whether they are happy or desperate (Romans 8:35–39).In the garden of Eden God saw Adam and Eve's sin as well as the guilty couple themselves. They tried to hide from God's presence, but their attempt was futile (Genesis 3:8–9). When Cain murdered his brother Abel, the Lord told Cain, "The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground" (Genesis 4:10). When civilization became thoroughly corrupt in the days before the flood, "the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth" (Genesis 6:5).
But God also sees our suffering. He saw the suffering of the Hebrews in Egypt. In Exodus 3:7 we read the Lord's words: "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt." In his first letter to persecuted, suffering believers the apostle Peter wrote: "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer" (1 Peter 3:12).
Psalm 139:7–12 follows a passage focused on God's omniscience. This section of the psalm describes His omnipresence: His ability to be everywhere at once. David mentions some of the places he might go, only to discover that God is there. The knowledge of God's presence comforted David. He knew God would be with him everywhere he went.
In this psalm David marvels at God's amazing characteristics. God knows everything about him: where he goes, all David's thoughts and everything about his conduct. The Lord knows what David will say even before David says it. There is no place David can go that God isn't already present. David marvels at God's creative work in the womb. He is thankful for God's innumerable thoughts for him and for God's presence day and night. Finally, David's thoughts turn to the wicked. He considers them God's enemies and his, and longs for God to slay them. David is disgusted by evil people because they rail against God and take His name in vain. He asks God to search his heart to see if any sin is there, and he asks God to lead him in the way everlasting.
