Why did God hem David in (Psalm 139:5)?
Psalm 139:5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Psalms 139:1 - 24
NLT - 1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
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Asked October 19 2021
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Yes, being hemmed or fenced in could have a negative context. Just remember Roy Rogers' "Don't Fence Me In": Oh give me land, lots of land, and the starry skies above Don't fence me in Let me ride through the wide open country that I love Don't fence me in But here it has a positive context. He [God] hems us in behind and before and puts His hand on us to steady us and direct us. See this verse in the CEV: "and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side." Psalm 139:5 says in the King James Version, "Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me." "The word translated 'beset' (KJV) or 'enclosed' (nasb) or 'hemmed' (CJB, TLV) means 'to guard a valuable object,' so God’s knowledge and guidance are for our protection. What should be our response to this? We should be overwhelmed by the height and depth of God’s knowledge and be thankful that He knows us perfectly. 'I am not equal to it!' David exclaimed." Warren Wiersbe In Hebrew, the word translated “hem me in” is צַּרְתָּ (tsartani), from the root צּוּר (tsûr), which means to bind, enclose, secure, encircle, or besiege. When we love the Lord, we want to be surrounded by Him at all times. We want Him to change our thinking to His. So we are not afraid to ask Him to search us and know us and change us. We are not bothered by His hand “confining” us. On the contrary, having the Lord cup his hand over us is a good thing – comforting and reassuring. Yes, hem me in, Lord. I am comforted by this. --Alyson.