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Psalm 139:7-12 - Awesome Attributes of God! Part Two

Psa. 139:7-12: Awesome Attributes of God! Part Two

Psa 139:7 (CWR)  Where can I go to leave the presence of your 
Holy Spirit? Where shall I run that you're not already there? 
Psa 139:8 (CWR)  If I were to launch out into space, you'd be 
there. If I were to tunnel into the depths of the earth, you'd be 
there. 
Psa 139:9 (CWR)  If I had wings and could fly to the ends of the 
earth or to the most remote island in the sea, 
Psa 139:10 (CWR)  your presence would be there and your arms 
would be ready to hold me. 
Psa 139:11 (CWR)  Even if I hid in the dark, everything around 
me would be as visible to you as in the daylight. 
Psa 139:12 (CWR)  Darkness to you is as light as the day.

INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW

This psalm contains the clearest expression of the attributes 
and character of God to be found in the Psalter. One could hardly 
describe the omniscience and omnipresence of God more effectively. 
[Believer's SB] 

This poem describes the attributes of the Lord not as abstract 
qualities, but as active qualities by which He relates Himself to His 
people. [Nelson SB] 

From the standpoint of OT theology, this is the climax of 
thought in the Psalter on God's personal relationship to the individual. 
The psalmist does not engage in abstract philosophy or speculative 
meditation; he merely describes his humble walk with God and shares his 
experiental knowledge of the Lord. [Wycliffe Bible Commentary] 

A. The omniscience of the Lord (139:1-6)
B. The omnipresence of the Lord (139:7-12)
C. The omnipotence of the Lord (139:13-18)
D. The loyalty of David (139:19-24). [Bible Knowledge Commentary]

God's omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence are the 
subjects of David's meditations in this beautiful psalm.... His first 
meditation is on God's knowledge, that every aspect of his life was 
searched out and controlled by what the Lord knew. He then realized it 
was impossible to escape from such omniscient control, no matter how 
far or fast he might go, for God is everywhere. David then stated 
that God has such control over him because in His power He created 
Him secretly and planned his life with great care. On the basis of 
these meditations, David then affirmed his loyalty to God and prayed 
for God to prove him by examining him. [Bible Knowledge Commentary] 

This psalm focuses on four great attributes of God: His 
knowledge of all things (vv. 1-6), His presence everywhere (vv. 7-12), His 
power in the formation of man (vv. 13-18), and His holiness, which 
destroys evil men and searches the believer's heart (vv. 19-24). [Ryrie 
SB] 

David meditates on the omniscience (139:1-6), omnipresence (vv. 
7-12), and omnipotence (vv. 13-18) of God. He then applies these truths 
to the wicked, whom he calls on God to slay (vv. 19-22), and to 
himself, whom he calls on God to examine and to lead (vv. 23-24). [Victor 
Bible Reader's Companion] 

OMNIPRESENCE: VS 7-12: DEFINITIONS

Omnipresence: Man cannot hide anything from God, for he is 
everywhere present. (Adam Clarke Commentary) 

8, 9 The four suppositions which follow express the extremes of 
the universe and reinforce his basic premise. [Wycliffe Bible 
Commentary] 

8 If I ascend up into heaven: The word "heaven" here, in the 
original is in the plural number-"heavens,"-and includes all that there 
is above the earth-the highest worlds. (Barnes' Notes) 

8 Hell: the underworld, the abode of the dead, both good and 
bad. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary] 

8 Depths Sheol, traditionally translated as hell, generally 
means just the place of the dead, without implying either reward or 
punishment. David is saying that God's sovereignty extends even to the grave 
and beyond. [Quest SB] 

8 The heavens . . . the depths: The two vertical extremes [NIV 
SB] 

8 In the heavens above and in sheol (NIV marg.) below. These 
opposites signify that all areas in between (a third merism in this psalm) 
are also in the Lord's presence. [Bible Knowledge Commentary] 

8 Heaven and earth include the whole creation, and the Creator 
fills both (Jer 23:24); he not only knows both, and governs both, but 
he fills both. (Matthew Henry's Commentary) 

9 Wings of the morning: A poetic expression for the swift 
spreading of light at dawn. [Passages Of Life SB] 

9 Wings of the morning:  the extreme east. the sea: the extreme 
west. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary] 

9 Wings of the dawn . . . far side of the sea: The two 
horizontal extremes: east and west [NIV SB] 

OMNIPRESENCE: VS 7-12: COMMENTARY

7-10 One cannot escape the presence of God in His universe. 
Every place is accessible to God, [Disciple SB] 

Just as he is not limited by space, neither is he limited by 
time. [Life Recovery SB] 

7 God is a Spirit, and therefore it is folly to think that 
because we cannot see him he cannot see us: (Matthew Henry's 
Commentary) 

7 Why did David want to run from God? David did not really want 
to escape God's presence. It's possible that these are rhetorical 
questions, asked merely to make the point that God is omnipresent-he can be 
found everywhere. Or perhaps David's reaction can be compared to 
others who, in the presence of the Almighty, became painfully aware of 
their sin and unworthiness (Isaiah 6:5; Luke 5:8). [Quest SB] 

7 Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?: Fearful thought to 
those that hate him-that, much as they may wish or desire it, they can 
never find a place where there is not a holy God! Comforting to those 
that love him-that they will never be where they may not find a 
God-their God; that nowhere, at home or abroad, on land or on the ocean, 
on earth or above the stars, they will ever reach a world where 
they will not be in the presence of that God-that gracious Father-who 
can defend, comfort, guide, and sustain them. (Barnes' Notes) 

11 It is impossible to hide from God in the darkness. ... Night 
may conceal from men, but not from God. [SDA Commentary] 

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee: What is to us hidden 
by darkness, or unknown through ignorance, is perfectly seen and 
known by God; because he is all sight, all hearing, all feeling, all 
soul, all spirit-- all in ALL, and infinite in himself. He lends to 
every thing; receives nothing from anything. (Adam Clarke Commentary) 

For Good There Is No Darkness!
What is visible light to us is only a tiny portion of all the 
wave-lengths radiating through space at all times and in every direction. 
Animals and birds-even insects-can see things that are invisible to us. 
Our powers of sight are extremely limited, so we often think of 
darkness as being empty. But God can perceive everything: even what we 
call darkness is lighted up for Him. For God, there is no darkness. 
Imagine being able to see the full electromagnetic spectrum-gamma rays, 
X-rays, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, radio waves, and microwaves. 
What would the universe look like? How would the world around us 
appear? 
If our eyes could take in and process the full electromagnetic 
spectrum, we would be able to examine things with X-ray vision. Gamma ray 
vision would allow us to see through mountains and planets. Ultraviolet 
vision would enable us to view the flowers as the bees do-in different 
colors from those of visible light. We could detect the heat radiating 
from all living things if we had infrared vision, and our eyes could 
become a radio dial to tune in to the radio signals. Furthermore, we 
could watch TV broadcasts without a TV set. All we would have to do is 
to tune our minds into the channel, and our eyes would act as 
receivers. 
As it is, we use such a small portion of the available spectrum 
that we can hardly imagine what life would be if our eyes were opened 
completely. What appears to us to be darkness is crammed full of rays and 
waves-particles of energy rushing about in our atmosphere and throughout space. 
The perfect powers of vision that God endowed humanity with in 
Eden have been severely limited. When Jesus comes, we will be given 
glorified bodies. We think we can see a lot now, but just wait! Do you 
remember the story of Elisha's servant: "And the Lord opened the eyes of 
the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of 
horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17)? [Nature 
Quest by J & P Tucker re vs 12] 

OMNIPRESENCE: VS 7-12: APPLICATIONS

God is omnipresent.  He is literally everywhere in creation.  By 
this is not meant God is in a rock.  As a Person, He is present 
everywhere. Were we to have a parent, spouse or friend in attendance with us 
at all times, how would our conduct change?  Would we still allow 
ourselves the rebel word, the lustful glance, the inappropriate action?  
We are truly what we are, it has been said, when we are alone.  But 
this is not true, because no one can ever be truly alone.  God is 
always there, always aware.  It is a discipline which will mold us into 
right habits, to practice the presence of God.  And as we come to know 
our Father in this manner, we will also come to know that there is 
no place which He cannot come with us.  He is with us in our 
victories, and defeats.  He is with us when we believe all others have 
left.  He is with us in the most mundane details of our lives.  
Receive this truth, it will bless you today and tomorrow. [In His Time; 
Walk With Wisdom re Jer.23:23-4] 

Even though the Psalmist speaks of God as being everywhere, yet 
he is not a pantheist.  God is distinct from His creation.  He 
fills His creation and sustains it, but He is independent of it and 
cannot be mingled with it.  [Harper]  

"In two ways the presence of God is an antidote against sin: 
first, because God sees us, and, secondly, because we see God." 
Ignatius of Loyola [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

Don't Fear Tomorrow
Jesus Is Already There!!!
[sign on semi]

OMNIPRESENCE: VS 7-12: CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

There is comfort in the fact that God can never be taken by 
surprise. [Daily Walk Bible] 

All believers who come to understand the attributes of God 
discussed in this psalm find them a great source of comfort, and a great 
prompting to obey Him. [Bible Knowledge Commentary] 

Study God's word prayerfully. That word presents before you, in 
the law of God and the life of Christ, the great principles of 
holiness, without which "no man shall see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14. It 
convinces of sin; it plainly reveals the way of salvation. Give heed to it 
as the voice of God speaking to your soul.  {SC 35.2}