“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 139:17 Mean?
"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" David marvels at the quantity and quality of God's thoughts toward him: precious (yaqeru — rare, costly, highly valued) and numerous (the sum is great — too many to count). God doesn't just think ABOUT David occasionally. God thinks TOWARD David constantly, and every thought is precious.
The phrase "thy thoughts unto me" (re'eka — Your thoughts, Your purposes, Your intentions toward me) means God has directional thoughts — thoughts aimed at David specifically. These aren't abstract divine meditations. They're personal, directed, purposed-toward-David thoughts. God thinks about you. Specifically. Personally. Constantly.
The "how great is the sum" (mah atzu — how vast, how numerous) leads to verse 18's declaration: 'If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand.' The quantity of God's thoughts toward you exceeds the grains of sand on earth. The math is impossible. The number is uncountable. The thoughts are infinite.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Do you live as someone constantly thought of by God — or as someone forgotten?
- 2.What does 'precious' (gem-quality, costly) thoughts change about how you see God's attention toward you?
- 3.How does 'more than the sand' quantify something your heart needs to know?
- 4.What would change if you truly believed that God's thoughts toward you right now are both precious and innumerable?
Devotional
God's thoughts toward you are precious — rare, costly, highly valued. And the number of them? More than the sand. Uncountable. Infinite. God doesn't think about you occasionally. He thinks toward you CONSTANTLY, and every single thought is precious.
The 'precious' (yaqar — the same word used for precious gems) means each thought has value: God's thoughts toward you aren't casual or throwaway. Each one is a gem. Each one carries the weight of intentionality. Each one is rare in the way that diamonds are rare — valuable because of what it is, not because of what it costs. God's thoughts toward you have the quality of treasure.
The 'how great is the sum' takes the quality and adds quantity: not just precious thoughts, but an UNCOUNTABLE NUMBER of precious thoughts. Verse 18 explains: more than the sand. The grains of sand on every beach, in every desert, at the bottom of every ocean — and God's thoughts toward you outnumber all of them. The math can't be done. The number can't be reached. The sum is literally infinite.
The combination — precious AND innumerable — is overwhelming: if God had one precious thought toward you, that would be enough. If God had a thousand, that would be extravagant. But more than the SAND? The God of the universe fills every moment with precious, directed, personal thoughts toward you. You are never unthought-of. You are never out of God's mind.
Do you live as someone who is constantly, preciously thought of by God — or as someone who is forgotten?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand,...., That is, if I should attempt to do it, it would be…
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! - On the word “thoughts,” see the notes at Psa 139:2. Compare Psa…
Here the psalmist makes application of the doctrine of God's omniscience, divers ways.
I. He acknowledges, with wonder…
To me then, who am the object of all this care, how precious are thy thoughts, O God! It is my delight to meditate upon…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture