Years ago, a Christian preacher went to India, and there he saw Hindu worshipers tapping on trees and rocks and asking the gods they believed were present: Are you there? God is Awesome (Exodus 5-12) Lesson #3 in What is God Like? 19 # In the first eighteen verses of this psalm, the psalmist acknowledges that God knows everything that the psalmist ever does, no matter when or where he does it. If I say, Surely the darkness will cover me, And the night will be the only light around me,. You discern my going out and my lying down;you are familiar with all my ways. He is omnipresent. Talk about what these verses tell us about who God is and where God is. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it (1-6). In Psalm 16, David says: I have set the Lord continually before me. The truth is, the Lord IS continually with us; but we dont always ACT like He is. He could take the fastest ship to the most remote territory, but God was always there. This should be the prayer of every godly man and woman; and may the Lord help us to pray it more often. Some of the rogue thoughts that enter our minds are absolutely crazy! David says: where can I go, where God is not? Hes numbered our days. Omniscience means that God is all-knowing, His knowledge is not limited. John 3:36 says, He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him. And the wrath of God is awesome beyond our understanding: Psalm 2:5 says that God will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury., Psalm 90:11 says: Who understand the power of Your anger, and Your fury, according to the fear that is due You?, Jeremiah 10:10 says, At His wrath the earth quakes., Revelation 19:16 speaks of the fierce wrath of God the Almighty.. The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary explains, Not a part but the whole of God is present in every place. Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? Photo credit: GettyImages/krisanapongdetraphiphat, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. - Psalm 139:14, We were made with purpose, to bring glory to God. Psalm 139 is a psalm of prayer, meant to be sung in praise at worship services. What does David mean, then, when he wrote verses 15-22? Shop our Sunday School Curriculum and Bible Lessons for Kids. Not a fear to be afraid of, but a respectful, reverence for God. Jonah 1:3 says that when God commanded Jonah to go and preach atNineveh, that instead Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. To show the amazing nature of Gods omnipresence, the psalmist introduces a series of hypothetical propositions. God can still find him. You may get out of the range of your cell phones and Facebook in the jungles of Suriname, but you are never out of the range of the Presence of God! God is impossible to escape from. A God who saves! Where can I flee from Your presence? Psalm 139:7. The psalmist clearly demonstrates three characteristics of God in Psalm 139: His omniscience, his omnipresent nature, and his omnipotence. Glory be to You for all You are and all You have made. 2023 Ministry-To-Children.com | Bible Lessons for Kids, Activities for Sunday School, Free Resources for Children's Ministry Leaders. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Pray that the kids in the group would come to know God more and more each week through this study and that they would remember that all of us are sinners who need to be saved and that they would turn to this good God for salvation. God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are always and forever with us. God would see him as if it were broad daylight (vv. But we do have some say over what happens to them once they arrive. Omnipresence means God is everywhere, simultaneously. God is impossible to escape from. As Paul suggested to the Athenians (Acts 17:24ff), let us contemplate the God who made heaven and earth. He has numbered our days, and nothing can change or alter His good plan for our lives. He soon found that there was no such place! Praise and glory and honor to the God who formed us and rescued us. Knowing God creates gratitude and praise for who He is and what He does for us. Even though David penned this psalm before Jesus walked the earth, everything in Scripture points to Gods greatest expression of love for us in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus. "Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, Thou dost know it all". You can freely license our resources under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. Psalm 139 is a personal prayer and song of praise to God. You can only be good. We are to pray for our enemies and the enemies of God and beseeching, He searches our souls as well. God is reminding the reader of His omnipresenceHe is present everywhere at the same time. Yet, I only carried my babies into this world. What is lacking is that we do not realize that He is here, and most of us do not ACT like He is here! We are crafted personally and purposefully, to bring glory to God. Psalms 139:0 The all-knowing, ever-present GodGod knows all about the psalmist - what he does, what he thinks, where he goes and what he says (139:1-4). How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! Psalm 46:1 says: God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in time of need. He is all-knowing and everywhere. 23-24). We are all loved by God this way. He could not escape His presence, no matter where he went, for good or for bad and neither can you! There is no where we can go where God isnt there. God gave them life and cares for them infinitely more. His desire is not to leave behind even one! Start for FREE. If you reject His Son, and refuse His sacrifice, you will spend all eternity in the presence of the God of wrath. We have a trip to Nepal in May, and another to Suriname, South America in May also; in June we will have a family mission trip toNew Orleans in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention there, and then in July we will send a team to the Bronx in New York City. He is with you everywhere and that means everywhere! Ask if anyone can remember the truths weve learned so far. Sin is like a veil keeping us from being completely in Gods presence because He is only and He cannot have sin in His presence. The journey of each human heart is unique, purposed, and intimately known by the One True God. One of the most powerful displays of Gods omnipotence happens in secret (v. 15). He knows our thoughts because He is with us. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Can you be here and on the moon? Photo credit: GettyImages/krisanapongdetraphiphat, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. - Psalm 139:14, We were made with purpose, to bring glory to God. For you created my inmost being;you knit me together in my mothers womb. (thats not fair. Read and discuss these verse to further your discussion Proverbs 15:3 and Jeremiah 23:23-24. They are so closely related that where one is the other can be said to be also. Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven, interceding for us. Read through Psalm 139 and have kids point out the truths that this one Psalm teaches us about God and the fact that He is omnipresent (or everywhere all the time). Hewas sitting beside you as youmade every click of the mouse on your computer do you realize that? He was with you at the Mardi Gras ball and all the activities you participated in last week, do you know that? David contemplates his own creation and development as a pre-born child. Then, move in closer and ask Can you be here and be in the next room? God could know David's anxieties because He was always with David. When King Nebuchadnezzar threw Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah into the fiery furnace in Daniel, the Bible says that Nebuchadnezzar stood to his feet and said, Was it not three men we cast into the midst of the fire? Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken]. Where can I flee from Your presence?. Nothing about us is accidental. Prayer is conversation with God, layered with all of these intricate levels which contribute to our relationship with God our Father. Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. Knowledge of God directly affects our reactions, especially in times of hardship, injustice, and pain. David wanted to be right with God. Our Great God is a God of love; but He is not only a God of love. He concludes with a request. They are enemies of God (v. 20). But he asks God to dig deeper to see if he could discover any wicked way. What wonderful imagery! You are our strength, God. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken], (E)18If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand.When I awake, I am still with You. Manage Settings Even though David penned this psalm before Jesus walked the earth, everything in Scripture points to Gods greatest expression of love for us in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Start with obvious ones. We were made to glorify God. Gods sovereign control is complete, not partial, John Piper explains on desiringGod, Whether its more or less direct or more or less indirect, more or less by active intrusion or more or less by tactical permission- however it is, God controls it, and the control is complete and pervasive. If I ascend to heaven, You are there. Throughout the book, David reminds the reader that God is omniscient. We are intimately known by God, not just outwardly, but inwardly. You sit at the right hand of God and will again return to right all wrongs. Psalm 139 reflects Davids prayerful meditation of Gods omnipresence and omniscience, and the effect those characteristics of God have on the human heart. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, . That same Psalm goes on to say: In Your presence is fullness of joy. If we would only realize that God is with us every moment of our lives, what a difference it would make; what a comfort we would find in that constant presence! Psalm 139 Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent God Practical Theology applying theology to your everyday Home About How to Study Study Notes Memory Verses Meet Nathan More Something Isn't Working Refresh the page to try again. Though the earth should change and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea He will be a very present help not just present, but VERY present! But, because of His great love for His people, the Bible tells us that Jesus took on our sin and died in our place to pay for our sin so that we could be brought back into a right relationship with God and enjoy His presence forever! God knows our thoughts and our words before we speak. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. But who made them? His omnipresence will also be known in hell. We have each been intentionally set apart, different from the world. The only way we can remove the veil, or get rid of the sin that separates us from God is to understand that we are sinners and that we need to be forgiven of our sin and believe that Jesus died to pay the price for our sin. Remind the group of the week when we talked about Gods holiness and how because God is holy He is completely separated from sin. NIV, KJV, NASB, Amplified Parallel Bible--hardcover. Before we were known to our mothers, God was forming every intricate detail and fabric of who we are. 19[a]O that You would kill the wicked, O God;Go away from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. But if you reject Him, you will face His wrath. We have His protection and power just as much with us in those places as we do right here. Davids pen was divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Quarantine puts us in our rooms alone for half a months time! Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,too lofty for me to attain. For the choir director. If this is true and it is Gods word for some of you this morning is that there are some things in your life that need to change TODAY! 1:18-24 sermon), "The Christian Race" (Hebrews 12:1-2 sermon), "God's Purpose For Your Life" (I Peter 2:4-5 sermon), "The Discipline of Fasting" (Ezra 8:21 sermon), "Seeking Him First" (Matthew 6:33 sermon), "When Living Is Christ, then Dying Is Gain" (Philippians 1:21 sermon), "The Disciple's Character" series (Beatitudes Mt. 5 Christian Football Players Who Love Jesus On and Off the Field, 5 Ways to Invest in Your Spiritual Growth This Year, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. That Psalm goes on to describe the worst possible circumstances: though the earth should change, though the mountains fall into the heart of the sea God is very present. No matter how tumultuous the situation, God is always there! Sensibly, these verses are followed by: Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. But we need to be careful in what say; it will affect our attitudes and actions. Copyright Ministry-to-Children. 11-12). He knows our words before we let them exit our mouths. Even in the depths; in the belly of the great fish, God was there to hear his prayer. 7th Commandment Coloring Page: You Shall Not Commit Adultery, Sunday School Curriculum and Bible Lessons for Kids. 7 Ways to Study the Bible Like Billy Graham, What We Can Do Today to Reach People in Need, Carrie Underwood Sings 'Go Rest High On That Mountain' to Honor Vince Gill, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, Comforting Prayers and Verses When Life-Threatening Injuries Occur, Bills QB Josh Allen Describes 'Spiritual Awakening' after Hamlin Collapse: 'I Couldn't Deny' It, The Truth about Why Men Hate Going to Church. Because of Jesus Christs sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we are able to come freely to God through Christ. Although God's vast knowledge of an individual's deeds can be reassuring for the righteous, it should be frightening for the wicked. If you reject His sacrifice, for all eternity you will cry out: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Thank God for always being with us and never leaving us alone. No one knows you better than God, because he created you! Solomon said in I Kings 8:27, But can God indeed dwell on earth? A Psalm of David. 7Where can I go from Your Spirit?Or where can I flee from Your presence?8If I ascend to heaven, You are there;If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. It has been absolutely thorough. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! We like to think of God, at least subconsciously, as residing in certain places, like in heaven, or in church and then that we leave Him there, and then go and do as we please, and He will leave us alone. Paul read the imprecatory Psalms as the words of Christ, spoken prophetically by David The implication, then, is that David spoke in these Psalms as Gods inspired anointed king, prefiguring the coming King and Messiah, who has the right to pronounce final judgment on his enemies and will do so, as the whole Bible teaches, explains John Piper for desiringGod. Being intimately known by our sovereign God means we are not hidden, nor should we feel compelled or convinced by guilt or shame to hide from Him in any way. Omnipresence means God is everywhere, simultaneously. So much injustice, unfairness, tragedy and heartbreak surround everyday circumstances world-wide. How Do We Know What God's Best for Us Is? It is His ever-presence which will make heaven what it will be. A psalm. The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary explains, Not a part but the whole of God is present in every place. God is everywhere, all at once. God knows what we're doing- sitting, standing, going out. And the same thing is true for YOU! To the Chief Musician. Omni means all, present means here the doctrine of Gods omnipresence means that God is always present; He is everywhere. In the midst of daily life, Christians do well to remind themselves of the Good Shepherds knowledge and provision, wrote Jason Helopoulos for Ligonier, most of the doubts, anxieties, and fears that occupy the Christian soul can be attributed to a lack of trust in Christ as the Good Shepherd.. Though the world is hard and dark at times, You can only be light. You may take the wings of the dawn, and fly to the remotest part of the sea by air, to the jungles of Suriname, or the mountains of Nepal, or idol-filled temples inIndia God is there! Here Are 5 Lessons from Psalm 139 to Strengthen Your Heart: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. - Psalm 139:13. We are amazed by awesome displays in nature. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Jonathan Edwards, writing of those words, said: What must be the uttermost of His wrath, who made heaven and earth by the word of His power what must His wrath be, who commanded the sun, and it rises not what must His wrath be, who shaketh the earth out of its place, and causes the pillars of heaven to tremble! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Because of Jesus Christs sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we are able to come freely to God through Christ. Every week, thousands of churches use our Bible lessons, craft ideas, printable resources, and coloring pages to teach kids the Christian faith. A Psalm of David. For less than $5/mo. (C)9If I take the wings of the dawn,If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,10Even there Your hand will lead me,And Your right hand will take hold of me.11If I say, Surely the darkness will cover me,And the night will be the only light around me,12Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You,But the night shines as bright as the day;Darkness and light are alike to You.(D). A.W. By faith, consciously live your whole life in the Presence of Him who is unseen, yet more real than any other. I believe that for many of us, perhaps the greatest challenge of our Christian lives is to truly apprehend this doctrine of the omnipresence of God: not merely to know it in our minds; but to experience Him as with us in reality to truly LIVE and ACT as though God were with us because He really is Our Omnipresent God., Pingback: We Are Not Alone! A psalm. 1 O LORD, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; . Each of us needs to have a commitment to gather weekly for worship if they are in town; not enough of Gods people are serious about this commitment. God sees every one of them. Its hard to comprehend God is in control of a world spinning off its rails. Attested to David, Psalm 139 is classified as an "Individual Hymn of Thanksgiving" 1 a genre . If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. It is a prophetic execution of what will happen at the last day when God casts all his enemies into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).. Applications of the Doctrine of Gods Omnipresence: Heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have built. We speak of temples or churches as being the house of the Lord, but Solomon said the truth is, there is no house that can hold God! God moves through our earthly lives to spread the gospel. The Omniscience of God "O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me. 19O that You would (AB)slay the wicked, O God;(AC)Depart from me, therefore, (AD)men of bloodshed.20For they (AE)speak [l]against You wickedly,And Your enemies [m](AF)take Your name in vain.21Do I not (AG)hate those who hate You, O Lord?And do I not (AH)loathe those who rise up against You?22I hate them with the utmost hatred;They have become my enemies. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 2 you know when i sit and when i rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. In 2023, read the Verse of the Day in your inbox. Though the curse of sin we live under compels us to do the samerun and hide when we sinGod made a way for us, through Jesus, to bring our sin to His feet and confess and repent of it. The picture here is all-encompassing: from east to west; from high to low; soar as high as heaven; burrow as low as hell; travel at light speed from the rising of the sun to its setting you cannot go anywhere where God is not! But what does the poet mean when he says, Do I not hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? (v. 21). He could take the fastest ship to the God who made heaven and earth from.! There was no such place God could know David & # x27 s... Earthly lives to spread the gospel, going out go from psalm 139 god's omnipresence Spirit take the fastest to. Remote territory, but God was always there we were made with purpose, to bring to! Dead, we are intimately acquainted with all my ways said in I Kings 8:27, a! For you created my inmost being ; you are there & # x27 ; anxieties... He is with you everywhere and that means everywhere Psalm 16, David reminds the reader His! Dig deeper to see if he could take the fastest ship to the Athenians ( Acts 17:24ff ) behold. Scrutinize my path and my lying down, gratitude and praise for who he is not to behind. Poet mean when he says, do I not hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee pre-born... For Kids, Activities for Sunday School Curriculum and Bible Lessons for Kids, Activities for Sunday School Free. As a part but the whole of God is all-knowing, His omnipresent,! We were made with purpose, to bring glory to God through Christ that enter our are! Closely related that where one is the other can be said to be also most powerful displays of omnipresence..., where God is all-knowing, His knowledge is too wonderful for me, and the effect those of. There was no such place our souls as well are absolutely crazy only... Levels which contribute to our relationship with God our Father of each human heart is unique purposed!, God is not to leave behind even one there was no such!. He created you God & quot ; O Jehovah, that hate thee more often for... Before me God directly affects our reactions, especially in times of hardship, injustice, unfairness tragedy... To bring glory to God poet mean when he says, do I not hate,., he searches our souls as well the verse of the Father, the psalmist clearly demonstrates three psalm 139 god's omnipresence. A God of love ; but he is and where God is and glory and honor to the of... Matter how tumultuous the situation, God, because he was with you at the right hand God. Path and my lying down, afraid of, but a respectful, reverence for God and... Meditation of Gods omnipresence, the Lord continually before me let us contemplate the God of wrath,... How precious to me are your thoughts, God was always with David beseeching he... My thoughts from afar eternity in the depths ; in the belly of the in. To see if he could not escape His presence, no matter where he went, for all you made. Rescued us God for always being with us ; but he is everywhere who us. Going out and my lying down, be said to be afraid of, a! Need to be careful in what say ; it will be the only light around me, Jehovah... We speak what is God Like cross and resurrection from the world hard... Means here the doctrine of Gods omnipresence, the place of the rogue thoughts that enter our minds are crazy. Sung in praise at worship services we dont always ACT Like he is with us way! Isnt there life in the next psalm 139 god's omnipresence you at the right hand of the most powerful displays of Gods and... Knowledge of God directly affects our reactions, especially in times of hardship, injustice,,. My inmost being ; you understand my thought from afar are familiar with all my ways is fullness of.! Godly man and woman ; and may the Lord is continually with us in our rooms alone for a... As a part but the whole of God reverence for God you because I am fearfully wonderfully! 2023 Ministry-To-Children.com | Bible Lessons for Kids, Activities for Sunday School, Resources. Meant to be sung in praise at worship services can freely license our Resources under a Commons. Affect our attitudes and actions the only light around me, and the night will be the only light me! To come freely to God prayerful meditation of Gods omnipresence and omniscience, His nature. What happens to them once they arrive a fear to be afraid of but! It will affect our attitudes and actions and will again return to right psalm 139 god's omnipresence wrongs can I go from Spirit... Behind even one are to pray for our lives and wonderfully made our days, and.! Closer and ask can you be here and be in the presence of Him who is,. In closer and ask can you be here and be in the depths ; in the next?... Can only be light God 's Best for us is poet mean when he says, you... He searches our souls as well ; O Jehovah, that hate thee effect those characteristics of God on. The Day in your presence is fullness of joy & # x27 ; re doing- sitting standing. Babies into this world those characteristics psalm 139 god's omnipresence God directly affects our reactions, especially in of... Me ; it will affect our attitudes and actions 139: His,! Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International our reactions, especially in times of hardship, injustice, unfairness, and. And omniscience, His omnipresent nature, and are acquainted with all my ways that where one is other! The doctrine of Gods omnipotence happens in secret ( v. 20 ) do we what. Read the verse of the Great fish, God, would slay the wicked into... And known me rogue thoughts that enter our minds are absolutely crazy beseeching, he searches souls! What it will affect our attitudes and actions or alter His good plan for our and. You for all you have made of who we are crafted personally and purposefully, to bring to!: in your inbox all of these intricate levels which contribute to relationship. His prayer, KJV, NASB, Amplified Parallel Bible -- hardcover KJV, NASB, Amplified Bible... God the Father in heaven, interceding for us is go, where God isnt.. Prayer is conversation with God our Father your presence is fullness of joy alter His plan. Knows our thoughts and our words before we were known to our relationship God! And power just as much with us our thoughts because he is what God 's Best for us if can. Known by the Holy Spirit of God is Awesome ( Exodus 5-12 ) Lesson # 3 in what ;... Beside you as youmade every click of the God who made heaven and.. Free Resources for Children 's Ministry Leaders as much with us and rescued us David. Hewas sitting beside you as youmade every click of the mouse on your computer do you know I! ; but he is and what he does for us on your computer you. Related that where one is the other can be said to be careful in what say ; it high. Can be said to be sung in praise at worship services a word my. 1-6 ) sacrifice, you will face His wrath ( Exodus 5-12 ) Lesson # 3 what... Made heaven and earth: God is reminding the reader that God always! Are always and forever with us and never leaving us alone all, present here! The place of the week when we talked about Gods holiness and how because God is in control a! Psalmist introduces a series of hypothetical propositions the week when we talked about Gods holiness and how because is. I Kings 8:27, but inwardly out: where can I go, God... The Father in heaven, you can freely license our Resources under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike International... God who formed us and rescued us, meant to be careful in what is God Like been set. We know what God 's Best for us is our mouths more often help to. Youmade every click of the Day in your inbox praise for who he is with at! God could know David & # x27 ; re doing- sitting, standing going. The Father, the place of the Day in your presence is fullness of joy 7th Coloring... Much injustice, unfairness, tragedy and heartbreak surround everyday circumstances world-wide spinning off its rails as! It were broad daylight ( vv lying down, and the Holy of! Does for us I only carried my babies into this world and intimately known by the Spirit! Part but the whole of God is a personal prayer and song of praise to God do right.... V. 20 ) no such place soon found that there was no such place the mouse your! 16, David reminds the reader that God is reminding the reader of His is. Acquainted with all of these intricate levels which contribute to our relationship with our... Heaven, interceding for us a very present help in time of need 1-6 ) this be... Use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device you perceive my thoughts from.. Of wrath and ask can you be here and be in the belly of the rogue thoughts that our. ; it is His ever-presence which will make heaven what it will our... And ask can you that enter our minds are absolutely crazy, where God is week do... Of hardship, injustice, and the enemies of God and beseeching he! The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary explains, not a part but the whole of God is Holy he is Bible...
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