Brian Maloy

This week’s lesson is Psalm 139 — this is a Maloy family favorite. There is a Worship Pastor down in Birmingham who records as “The Corner Room”, and he has some beautiful versions of Psalm 139, we’ve listened to them as a family for years. We LOVE this Psalm, I love this Psalm.

While we’re at it — here are the links to The Corner Room’s three songs for Psalm 139. Listen, I promise.
v. 1-6: https://music.apple.com/us/album/psalm-139-1-6
v. 7-16 https://music.apple.com/us/album/psalm-139-7-16
v. 17-24 https://music.apple.com/us/album/psalm-139-17-24

Back to the Lesson Blog –>

Consider how important it is to know our purpose. So many people today, young people especially, but all people, you can sense the palpable sense of aimlessness. You see it in their choices, you see it in their changes, it’s not easy to see in ourselves, but you can spot it in others. We don’t always remember, and we don’t always live IN our purpose. 

I mean, think of this example. We all know someone who spends a ton on college, only to find out they hate the career they’ve chosen… so they do something else and essentially waste the training they received in college, or they go back for a different degree. If only we could understand our purpose with more clarity before. 

Challies Book

Tim Challies has a great book, Do More Better, that I recently read. He starts off this great book about being productive, learning how to be a good steward of our time and attention, with an important call back to knowing exactly what our purpose is as children of the King. We are call to “bring glory to God” as a mandate of our creation. Practically Challies helps us see that we can live that calling by glorifying God in our day to day life, by doing good works that honor Him, and point to His kingdom. Challies reminds us in chapter 1 of his book, we “need to remember this high and noble purpose behind it all: bringing glory to God by doing good to others”.

In the Garden

But this all reminded me of the Garden, before sin entered the world, before the fall. The Creation Mandate speaks deeply to our purpose. Our earthly father and mother had a purpose in the Garden before sin. 

It’s helpful to recall this moment in the Bible, Genesis 1:26-28. 

Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.”

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Their Purpose Before the Fall

• Image-bearing: They were created to reflect God’s nature — relational, creative, moral, and authoritative.
• Fruitfulness: “Be fruitful and multiply” speaks to generativity — creating life, families, and communities that mirror divine love.
• Stewardship: “Fill the earth and subdue it” implies cultivation, not domination — bringing order, beauty, and flourishing to creation.
• Authority with responsibility: “Rule over…” is a call to wise governance, echoing God’s kingship but exercised with humility and care.

This mandate wasn’t revoked by the Fall, it was marred, yes, but not erased. Christ’s redemptive work reorients us back toward this original purpose, now infused with grace and hope.

Living It Ourselves

Practically speaking, how do we live this out ourselves? Well, big picture, we can look about and truly see — Honor the Lord by doing good for others. But dialing that down can be tough for some people. I think a good place to start might be here:

1. Take a spiritual gifts test, then learn what yours mean.
2. Find a test like strengths finder, if you don’t know your strengths.
3. Sincerely, sit down, quietly, and ponder what truly brings you joy — at then end of a long day, you sit down satisfied, knowing you worked hard, pushed back on brokenness, and help bring light to places in need of joy.

Breaking Down v. 1-4

Think about what these verses, 1-4, reveal about God’s Character. 

1. He is intentional, not passive. 
2. He is detailed in His understanding, not just a passing glance.
3. His is intimate in His love and care. 
4. He knows all, and yet He still loves.

Ps. 139:1-4 is so interesting. We see so much gently placed here for us to learn more of God and His character.
v. 1 — God “searched” David, it clearly shows intention. He is not passive, or giving the least amount of attention possible, He searches — to the point he KNOWS David. 
v. 2 — David says “You know when I sit down and when I rise up”, implying that no aspect of David’s life is unknown — everything in private and public was known to God. God knew is deepest desires, his disappointment, his aspirations, his dreams, and what drove him. God is aware of every bit of our lives. 
v. 3 — God is well acquainted with all our ways, He scrutinizes even. Again, He isn’t just barely paying mind to us, He is TRULY deeply knowing us. I find that incredibly hard to swallow, and painfully comforting. He knows everything, there is no hiding, He has taken time to know ME, and my pains and hopes. 
v. 4 — God knows our thoughts, our words, before they ever leave our mouths. It’s a sobering thought, considering what we don’t always say… but we think. Nothing past, present, or future has ever been hidden from Yahweh. 

God’s Omniscience

Think about God’s omniscience. Omniscience refers to the fact that God knows everything. Not just actions, but thoughts and motives before they even take shape in our minds. It’s incredible and overwhelming at times. YET, indulge me an example. 

I think often in moments of reflection, how overwhelming life has been for my oldest son at times. So much that I wish I could spare him from, could help shortcut for him to ease some of the burden, and let him truly be a kid without those worries. I of course cannot, despite how hard parents of my generation go to lengths to shelter their children, in the end, we can shepherd, guide, and protect — but to a point. 

All that said, when we memorize scripture like this at home (and we often to), I can see the burden lift from his heart and mind, just like we’re promised scripture can. He memorizes passages from Psalms, and those little reminders spoken over and over, are a salve to his little heart. They give him confidence that God is as good as He says He is, that He really is in control, that we can cry out to Him for help — for things big and small. Over and over, this has shown true in my little boys life. I cannot guard him from every worry, struggle at school, or setback he may endure –but I can point him to the God who knows all, seeks us intimately, and knows the healing our heart needs. 

WE. ALL. NEED. THIS. But, sometimes it requires childlike trust. Jesus, help us.

Verses 7-12: How Do We Hide from God?

When you consider verses 7-12, it’s hard not to ask ourselves… do we hide still? Do we hide foolishly like David implies? Do we hide like Adam & Eve in the Garden? Do we actually THINK we can hide? But truly, how do we hide form God today?

These are probably the ones that come to my mind because I am guilty of that at times, or have been, or are currently… but maybe they are helpful to look int he mirror and consider for yourself.

1. Busyness and/or Distraction
2. Performance & Perfectionism 
3. Isolation or Withdrawl
4. Intellectualism 
5. Self Reliance and Control

No doubt, there are MANY others — I don’t even go with the way of just plain old doubt, or suspicion of God — but we do that too. 

Verses 13-16: Imago Dei, being made in God’s Image

Look at Psalm 139:13-16, this is just insane. The intimacy of which God knows us, makes me melt. How can I hide… seriously?

When we read this — we can’t avoid the clear statement, we are made in God’s image. We are image bearers of the most high King. This is unfathomable, and a blessing beyond blessings. The concept is called Imago Dei, it’s Latin for “Image of God”. It is an important phrase that’s been used for thousands of years to express the idea that humans are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26–27). When they say in seminary, or in books It’s foundational to Christian anthropology, ethics, and dignity — they really mean it. 

So — what does it mean to be made in God’s Image? Why is that so important? 

This doesn’t mean we physically resemble God. Instead, it means we reflect aspects of His nature:

• Moral: We can discern right from wrong, and we’re accountable for our choices.
• Relational: Like the triune God, we’re made for community and relationships — with Him and with others.
• Creative: We build, imagine, write, and cultivate — mirroring the Creator.
• Spiritual: We’re designed to commune with God, not just exist biologically.
• Authority and Stewardship: We’re entrusted to care for creation, echoing God’s rule with wisdom and compassion, proper dominion. 

But why does this matter? Because it changes EVERYTHING!

1. We’re not accidents, our lives have divine purpose and intent.
2. We have worth, sacred worth — regardless of status, background, etc.
3. We reflect God to the world, through our choices, interactions, even creativity, all point to Jesus. I pray this for my kids & wife every morning, that we reflect Jesus to the world around us
4. We’re called to steward well. Our energy, gifts, time, money, talents — they’re all meant to be used well in God’s kingdom. 

BUT WHY? How then should we live in light of Psalm 139?

Truly — If God knows you fully, loves you deeply, and has designed you with purpose — how might that change the way you live, serve, and see others this week? How might it change the way you count your days? Could it call you to serve, or speak truth in a way you may not have considered before? 

The beautiful thing about God’s kingdom — it’s never too late to refocus, and live in light of God’s Word every single day. Praise Jesus for that.

And if you feel unseen, uncertain, or weary — remember: Psalm 139 doesn’t just affirm your beautiful purposeful design, it anchors you in God’s unfailing presence. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. You are held by He who made all.
Let that truth shape your courage, your compassion, and your next step.