The Consciousness of the Presence of God

In this Psalm David is completely aware and in awe of God’s mighty power and presence.

      1.   David’s Astonishment  

Psalm 139:1-6 “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”
 
God knows everything there is to know about us and David was astonished at that thought.

God's infinite power baffles the human mind. Our mortal brains cannot comprehend or fathom the Almightiness of God. Job 11:7 says: “Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell, what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.”
  
        2.   David’s Affirmation
 
 ​​You know what David begins to understand … there is no escaping the presence of God.
 
Psalm 139:7-12 “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
 
Unlike the devil, God is omnipresent. A person may be able to run from God, but they cannot hide from God.
 
     3.   David’s Acknowledgement
 
In the midst of David affirming God’s almighty power, David now acknowledges God’s wonderful person. As powerful as God is, He also has precious countless thoughts towards us.
 
Psalm 139:13-18 “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fear-fully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.”
 
God did not create us to hate us; God loves His creation and desires His best to be fulfilled in their lives. It is amazing how some people charge God foolishly, especially when something bad happens to somebody.

Tozer said “Some cannot understand why God lets man die; but I cannot understand why God lets man live, because he has forfeited all right to live, by his iniquity.”

     4.   David’s Assertion 

 Psalm 139:19-22 “Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
 
A man of God said “If men insist on being the enemies of such a great God, they richly deserve their fate.”
 
     5.   David’s Attention
 
David has his eyes on the Lord; he takes the time to mark out the wicked; but now David turns his attention to his own heart.
 
Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”
 
How important it is to practice the presence of God. Being mindful of the Lord is great and essential and being aware of wickedness around us is both sobering and wise. However to call on the Lord, to help us focus on our own deceitful hearts, is being conscious of the presence of God in our own life and that is key.