The Best Part of Waking Up

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” (Ps 139:17-18 AV)

 

The underlined phrase, at least to me, seems a bit out of place or lacking some context.  Why would it matter that the psalmist is still with God when he arises when thinking of the thoughts of God towards him?  What is the connection?  Of the underlined phrase, Albert Barnes writes, “The fact of “my” being forgetful, or lost in profound meditation, has made no difference with thee. Thou art still the same; and the same unceasing care, the same thoughtfulness, still exists in regard to me.”  John Gill pens, “the sense is, as I was under thine eye and care even in the womb, before I was born, so I have been ever since, and always am, whether sleeping or waking; I lay myself down and sleep in safety, and rise in the morning refreshed and healthful, and still continue the care of thy providence”.  And, Preacher’s Homiletical states it this way, “As often as he awakes from sleep, he finds that he is again in the presence of God, again occupied with thoughts of God, again meditating afresh with new wonder and admiration on His wisdom and goodness.”  It seems to be a concensious that when the writer awakens in the morning, he is instantly aware of God providential care as he was when he slipped off into sleep.

Who can forget the Folger's jingle?  We have heard the same line for more than forty years.  The commercial usually runs around the holidays and pictures a parent rising early before the rest of the family.  The coffee pot was set on automatic brew.  The smell of the coffee is what awakens this parent.  They get out of bed and face the sun beaming through the double glass door in their picture-perfect bedroom.  They sit up, stretch their arms out as they face the sun coming in, and beam a smile as broad as the sunrise.  This parent heads to the kitchen where he or she finds a white mug.  It’s always a white mug.  This drowsy adult sits in his or her bathrobe at the breakfast bar and caresses the hot mug of coffee with both hands.  Steam rises ever so subtly.  Then he or she takes that first sip.  Although you can sense their eyes might want to roll into the back of their head, the expression on their face tells it all.  The day started perfectly.  The house is quiet.  The dog is sleeping.  The kids are still in bed.  And the dear spouse hasn’t yelled for anything yet.  The sun is shining through the windows.  The kitchen is immaculately clean.  Then you hear the jingle. “The best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup.”  It is billed as the only way to start your morning right is to have a hot cup of Folger's coffee.

In our text, and according to our seasoned commentators, the writer is referring to the presence of God in the form of thoughts toward the writer being evident as he awakens from a night of sleep.  When the writer states he is still with God, he is stating he is still with God as he remembers how much God thinks of him.  How we start the day is perhaps the most important decision we will make all day.  What we choose to dwell on is how we will approach the remainder of our day.  If we think about the tasks ahead or want might transpire, anxiety might rule the day.  If we think of impure thoughts, struggling with the flesh may not stop.  If we dwell on injustice, then envy will conquer our hours.  However, if we think about how gracious God is and how much He cares for us as the first thoughts of the day, our day goes a whole lot differently.  We will see God’s benevolence throughout our day.  We will see opportunities to share the love of God with others.   We will see how trials of life can be counted as opportunities for personal growth.  Our outlook during the day starts the moment we wake.  God’s thoughts towards us are infinite.  He cares more than we could ever understand.  He loves us with an everlasting love and there is nothing we can do to change that!