Psalm 139 – Emmanuel Pentecostal Church Gateshead Resources

TUESDAY 2nd

Psalm 139:1-6

We continue today with the attributes of God:

Omniscient – God is all knowing.

In Saturdays devotion we saw that David was acknowledging the omnipresence of God in Psalm 139:7-16, in the same chapter he also acknowledges that God is omniscient in verses 1-6, ‘O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.’ And again, in verse 16 ‘Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.’

The fact that God is omniscient means that he not only knows everything that has happened, but that he also knows everything that will happen! It means that God will never be caught out, there will never be a situation in time in which God will not know what to do, because he already knows what will yet happen and God out of his omniscience and omnipotence has already planned ahead for it. It also means that God knows everything about us, every detail, he knows all our thoughts and all our desires, he knows before we know exactly how we are going to react or respond to any given situation. He knew us before we were born, he knows the number of days that he has determined for each one of us to live in this world, and he knows how we are going to live out each of those allotted days.

In Jeremiah we read ‘Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.’ (v33) God was going to reveal to Jeremiah things that he (Jeremiah) knew nothing about in regard to the future, they are great and hidden things, but they were not hidden from God, because he knows the future he can reveal it even before it happens and on this occasion he was going to reveal to Jeremiah the future plans he had for the children of Israel.

There is a popular song, that includes the words, ‘I do not know what lies ahead’ but it continues with the words, ‘But I know who holds the future, and he’ll guide me with his hand; with God things don’t just happen, everything by him is planned, so as I face tomorrow, with its problems large and small, I’ll trust the God of miracles give to him my all.’

As we consider the omniscience of God, it should first be an encouragement to us, reminding us that God knows everything about the circumstances of our lives. Whatever your situation at this moment God knows, he is not an afar off, distant God, he is with you and at the same time knows everything about you. And he is working for you, working all things out for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose. (That is Romans 8:28 cropping up yet again!) Secondly it should cause us to realise that God not only knows all there is to know about us, but that he also sees us all the time, it should cause us to want to ensure that we are living daily in a way that is God honouring. The Hebrew writer reminds us, 4:13 ‘And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.’

These truths about God and his attributes should inspire us, may we rest in the knowledge that God is all powerful, all-seeing, and all-knowing, remembering this, Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT) ‘What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.’

I do not know what lies ahead,

The way I cannot see;

Yet one stands near to be my guide,

He’ll show the way to me:

I know who holds the future,

And he’ll guide me with his hand;

With God things don’t just happen,

Everything by him is planned.

So as I face tomorrow,

With its problems large and small,

I’ll trust the God of miracles,

Give to him my all.

I do not know how many days

Of life are mine to spend;

But one who knows and cares for me

Will keep me to the end:

^{CCLI 788682}

Daily Devotion May 30th

SATURDAY 30^th

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

^CCLI7888682