SATURDAY 30th
Psalm 139:7-16
In a previous devotion, (Thursday) I made mention of the attributes of the Godhead, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient and immutability. Although they look like big complicated words, the wonder is that they describe something of the nature and character of God which can bring us great comfort and peace in a time of instability in the world around us. These attributes are known as the incommunicable attributes, in that only the triune God can possess them This is compared to his communicable attributes such as love, kindness, etc which are attributes that we also can possess.
Omnipresent means that God is everywhere at all time.
Omnipotent means that God is all powerful
Omniscient means that God knows everything.
Immutability as we discovered in the previous devotion means that God is unchanging.
In this devotion we will just take a brief look at some Scriptures that help us understand his Omnipresence – God is everywhere and what it means for us in our lives.
A. W. Tozer describes God being everywhere at all time in this way, ‘We should never think of God as being spatially near or remote, for He is not here or there but carries here and there in His heart. Space is not infinite, as some have thought; only God is infinite and in His infinitude, He swallows up all space.’
David the psalmist is extolling the omnipresence of God in Psalm 139, especially in verses 7-10 ‘Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.’
Jeremiah in 23:23-24 ‘Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.’
1 Kings 8:27 we read ‘But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!’
This truth should encourage us in that it reminds us that whatever circumstance we are going through, the omnipresent God is with us. The wonder is this that just as God is present with me here where I am at this moment preparing this devotion, so at the same time he is present with you wherever you are, be that next door or thousands of miles away. When man landed on the moon, God was present there as the first steps were taken and yet at the very same time, he was present 238,855 miles away in the depths of the earth where the miner was at work mining the coal and yet also at the same time he was seated way up in the heaven of heavens! Mind boggling? Yes, but as well as being boggled let the thought bless you and inspire you!
In Exodus 33 we read ‘And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ (v14) Rest in this wonderful truth today. That God is with you at this very moment in time, and he will be with you as you step forward into whatever the future holds. Jesus made the same promise to his disciples, ‘And behold, I am with you always.’
There is also the wonder of the truth of the special presence of God. Although he is present everywhere, there is his special presence with his people. He comes by his Spirit to dwell among his people, he comes to dwell in our hearts, he comes to fellowship with his people.
Exodus 25:8 ‘And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.’
1 Kings 6:13 ‘And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.’
Matthew 18:20 ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.’
1 Corinthians 3:16 ‘Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?’
1 Corinthians 6:19 ‘Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.’
Revelation 3:20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.’
Colossians 1:27 ‘. . . the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.’
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before Him now
With reverence and fear
In Him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendour He is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant King of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
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