Over the last year or so I’ve occasionally dipped into PSALM 139 for some inspiration, wisdom and comfort. Have you joined me along the way? Let’s do so one final time, linking with our Easter celebrations.
This great song of praise was written by King David nearly 3000 years ago. Like the rest of the Bible it is essentially about GOD…who is He?…What is He like?…How can we know Him? David highlights three great attributes of GOD. We’ve looked before at His Omniscience, how He is all-knowing; also, His Omnipotence, He is Almighty. Finally, let’s focus on the One who is OMNIPRESENT. This is at the heart of the Psalm, vv. 7-12:
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
The Omnipresence of GOD means that He is everywhere present in our lives, and in the world He has created. There’s no square inch of the whole universe where He is not! For those seeking to “flee” from Him, as in v.7, this is deeply problematic and threatening. For those who feel the need of His guidance and intimacy this is a source of the greatest comfort-v.10. Which of these two ways best describes your life? Are you running away from, or towards, the GOD who is always, everywhere, Present?!
All of us, in fact, are born in the first of these two categories. Many feel GOD is far away from them. Rather, we are far away from Him. Why? Isaiah 59:2 gives us the answer,
But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.
This explains what Easter is all about, when the GOD Who is everywhere became the GOD Who is somewhere, localised in time and space in the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is why the enfleshed GOD went to the Cross, to suffer, bleed, die…as it says in 1 Peter 3:18,
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
In His death at Calvary Christ experienced the separation from GOD caused by sin, being punished for all the sins of all the people who will come to believe in Him. This Lord Jesus is now risen and exalted. He has conquered death and reigns from Heaven. If you will turn to Him and ask Him to rescue you surely He will be true to His character and promise? Look to Him, lean on Jesus alone, and this Easter you can know what it is for Him to be your Saviour. Indeed He will “bring you to GOD.” In a way that will amaze you you will know the near, dear Presence of GOD.
Pastor Keith Berry