2012 February

You discern my going out and my lying down;

You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

You know it completely, o Lord.
Psalm 139: 3-4

Some Bible translations use the word acquainted in place of familiar. Both of these words feel wrong to me in the context of the verse. I think it is my modern interpretation for these words that cause the problem. When I say ‘familiar’, I mean that I have a vague idea about something. When I say I am acquainted with someone or something, again I am alluding to a very casual knowledge of that person or subject. Surely David is not implying that God has a vague knowledge about us?

The answer, of course, is absolutely not. And I can prove it. The Hebrew word for ‘familiar’ in verse 3 is ‘sakan’. That same word is also found in Isaiah 53:3

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

None of us would suggest that Jesus had a casual idea of suffering. He knew suffering in a deeper way than any of us can imagine. Now go back to Psalm 139. God knows our ways like Jesus knew suffering. That is to say totally, completely, in every way it can be known.

You are no surprise to God.

There is nothing about you that God does not know.

He is familiar with you.