Psalm 139 is one of the most intimate and awe-inspiring passages in Scripture, revealing God’s deep knowledge of and care for each of His children. In verse 17, David marvels at the preciousness and vastness of God’s thoughts when he states, “How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast in number they are!” (God’s Word). This verse is a powerful reminder that God’s mind is not only beyond human comprehension, but it is filled with love, purpose, and intentionality toward us. From the beginning, God has known and cared for us in ways we cannot fully grasp. Jeremiah 29:11 affirms this truth, stating, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (KJV). God’s thoughts toward us are good, purposeful, and rooted in His perfect love. His plans are not random; they are intricately designed for our well-being and His glory.
The vastness of God’s thoughts is also seen in the way He numbers and sustains all creation. Isaiah 40:28 says, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” If God’s wisdom governs the entire universe, how much more does He care about the details of our lives? Jesus reassures us in Matthew 10:29-31 that not even a sparrow falls to the ground outside of the Father’s knowledge, and He even numbers the hairs on our heads. His thoughts toward us are detailed, personal, and full of compassion.
Psalm 139:17 is also a call to trust in God’s wisdom. When we face uncertainty, we can rest in the truth that God’s thoughts toward us are higher than our own. Through the prophet Isaiah, He reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Even when we don’t understand His plans, we can trust that they are for our good and that His love for us is unshakable.
Let us take time today to meditate on the vastness of God’s love and wisdom and to reflect on the ways He has guided us and provided for us in the past. When doubts arise, we should remind ourselves that God’s thoughts toward us are precious and full of love. We can trust Him, even in uncertainty, knowing that His plans are always for our good. “How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast in number they are!”
