“Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
New English Translation
Where can I flee to escape your presence?
If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there.
If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.
If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn,
and settle down on the other side of the sea,
even there your hand would guide me,
your right hand would grab hold of me.
If I were to say, “Certainly the darkness will cover me,
and the light will turn to night all around me,”
even the darkness is not too dark for you to see,
and the night is as bright as day;
darkness and light are the same to you.” Psalm 139:7-12
God is everywhere. Here with me. There with you. Everywhere around the world. He’s in the darkest of corners, the brightest of fields, the furthest of distances, and the closest of quarters. No matter where it is, He is there.
There are two points I want us to remember as we think about that. The first one is that we are never alone. Even when we think we’re unseen or hidden from the world, He is there and sees it all, just as Psalm 139 points out when it says:
“O Lord, you examine me and know me.
New English Translation
You know when I sit down and when I get up;
even from far away you understand my motives.
You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest;
you are aware of everything I do.
Certainly my tongue does not frame a word
without you, O Lord, being thoroughly aware of it.
You squeeze me in from behind and in front;
you place your hand on me.
Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension;
it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.” Psalm 139:1-6
He sees all you do, nothing is kept secret from Him. Think about that. When we think no one else is watching, He is there with us. So, think about what you’re doing and ask yourself, would I be proud if I could see God’s physical being right here next to me while I’m doing it? But, also, think about it, when the rest of the world ignores you and makes you wish you’d never been born, He sees you and wants to be your friend and comfort you.
“Certainly you made my mind and heart;
New English Translation
you wove me together in my mother’s womb.
I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing.
You knew me thoroughly;
my bones were not hidden from you,
when I was made in secret
and sewed together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb.
All the days ordained for me
were recorded in your scroll
before one of them came into existence.
How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God!
How vast is their sum total.
If I tried to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
Even if I finished counting them,
I would still have to contend with you.” Psalm 139:13-18
He put thought and care into you. You’re not an afterthought to Him.
So, we’re never alone meaning that we should think before we do anything with the assumption “we’re alone” and that God cares so deeply for us and wants to be our bff. What’s the second thing I wanted you to draw from this passage? Well, it’s simple, He’s everywhere, so why aren’t we acting like it?
See, if you are traveling and you take someone with you, do you ignore them the entire time? No! That’s rude, and uncomfortable for everyone involved. Yet, we can do hours, even days sometimes without even acknowledging God. Awkward…
“If only you would kill the wicked, O God!
New English Translation
Get away from me, you violent men!
They rebel against you and act deceitfully;
your enemies lie.
O Lord, do I not hate those who hate you,
and despise those who oppose you?
I absolutely hate them;
they have become my enemies.
Examine me, O God, and probe my thoughts.
Test me, and know my concerns.
See if there is any idolatrous way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:19-24
What does this part of the Psalm have to do with the price of beans in China? Everything. See, we’re more than ready to shun the “evil doers” in our life who “rebel against God,” but what if we are one of them? Seriously, do you ignore someone you’re close to? Or do you tend to ignore someone you hate and don’t like? Someone you have ill feelings toward?
With that in mind, the “examine me, O God” becomes a little more frightening. When He examines my heart, will He find deep love for Him or that I’ve filled my time with everything but Him? Rebellion doesn’t have to be a crazy aweful action done in defiance. Sometimes rebellion is just letting something become more important to you than God.
“See if there is any idolatrous way in me…” Yikes. Are there? Well, do you value money over trusting God to provide? Do you value entertainment over letting God have your thoughts? Do you value a relationship more than letting God be in relationship with you? Those are just the tip of the iceberg.
God is everywhere. Do we live like it? I encourage you to take a moment and evaluate your life. Are you proud of what your priorities are? Are you happy that God sees you this way? What do you see that needs to change? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one making changes.
