God’s All Knowing, All Loving Presence

 Did anyone else have a Mother like mine, who proclaimed “I know you.  I knew what you were going to do even before you did it.” ?  The fact that she knew me so well could be maddening.  But it also meant that she knew what I needed even when I wouldn’t or couldn’t express it, and she was lovingly present to supply it.  In Psalm 139:1-12, David marveled in awe at God’s intimate knowledge and understanding of him and the fact that, because God is everywhere, there was nowhere he could go that would be outside of God’s presence.  I pray that you will find God’s omniscience (all knowing) and God’s omnipresence (presence everywhere) by an all loving God, to be a source of comfort, joy and peace in your life.  Amen

You have searched me, LORD,

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you, LORD, know it completely. (Psalm 139:1-4)

The psalmist realized that God knew him so well that it was as if God had searched him and uncovered everything about him.  We serve a God who knows us completely.  He knows all of our movements, our intentions, our thoughts and motivations.  Even before we speak, God knows what we are about to say.  He is intimately knowledgeable about our every aspect because He is omniscient (all knowing) and He has carefully and thoroughly examined us.

You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.  (Psalm 139:5-6)

The psalmist (David), found God’s omniscience to be overwhelming.  It was as if he was hemmed in by God’s knowledge of him.  And he found God’s all knowing nature to be greater than he could even comprehend or understand.  

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. (Psalm 139:7-12)

God’s omniscience caused David to consider whether he could flee from God’s presence.  But beyond His omniscience, our God is also omnipresent and therefore we can not escape His presence.  That may frighten us if we are seeking to avoid Him and hide in the darkness.  But the reality is that even “darkness is as a light” to Him.  Therefore, it is folly to think that we can hide our actions and our sins from Him.  But for those who seek His presence, there is blessing… His “hand will guide” us and hold us fast. 

Years ago, VISA credit card company had a slogan that said “we’re everywhere you want to be”.  The point was that they had more coverage and acceptance than their competitors.  Even more so, God’s message to us could boast “I’m everywhere, and I know just what you need!”.  The fact that God knows each of us intimately and completely means that we can’t hide our thoughts from Him.  We can’t even hide our sins from Him, but we also can’t hide our hurts and our pain from Him.  He knows us, and He is there with us… even when we try to run and hide from Him.  He cares about us so much that He won’t allow us to hide in the darkness, away from His saving and healing presence.  We can be grateful for the all knowing, ever present love of God!

Blessings,

Rev. Glenn