Our Omnipresent God
“Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Where shall I flee from Your presence.”
This revelation of the omnipresence of God, (in Psalms 139), amazed David, as he pondered its implication. God was there when he was being formed in his mother’s womb. In the darkest hour of the night, even when his day seemed like night, God was there. If he would ascend to heaven or go down to the depths of Sheol, God would be there. David let his imagination wander as he thought of flying way on wings or sinking to the depths of the sea, yet no matter where he would go, God would be there. Whether David saw God or not, whether he felt Him present or not, he knew that God was with him.
The omnipresence of God is a comfort to those who know Him. When David said, “You hem me in, behind and before,” (v.5), was not something negative. He didn’t feel trapped, but, rather protected. He knew that His God would never leave him. No matter what he was going through, God was there.
Some have tried to hide from God or run from Him, but it is futile, because God is always there. Some think that He does not see what they do or hear what they say, but God is always present. When we sin it is like turning our back on God. At that moment we don’t see Him. We think He doesn’t see us, or that He is not there, but He is. Repentance is when we turn around and acknowledge His presence and that His ways are perfect and ours are not. It is when we choose to walk toward Him; in His light.
David ends this Psalm by saying: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” David didn’t want anything to hinder his awareness or experience of the presence of God. Who would want to flee from pure love? Who would want to hide from goodness? In another Psalms, David writes, “How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!” and, “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere”, (Psalms 84). David was crazy about God being everywhere he was and all he could think about is being everywhere God was. If you are not sensing His presence in your life, then it is time to turn around.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Psalms 139; 84; 100:2; 122:1