Focus On The Almighty

1. Focus on the Omniscience of God (v. 1-6)

First, God knows you (v. 1). He knows everything about you, every detail of your life. He is not searching and knowing you presently, He has already searched and known everything about you.

God knows your actions (“thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,” v. 2a). Everything you see, He sees. Everything you do, He knows about it. Hebrews 4:13 tells us, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

God knows your thoughts (“thou understandest my thought afar off,” v. 2b). God knows what you will think even before you think it. Think about that! God knew you were going to think about that. This is quite remarkable. We have no way of knowing what someone is thinking unless they speak it. We sometimes say, “A penny for your thoughts.” God has a lot of pennies.

God knows that which is unique to you (v. 3). The word “compassest” means “to scatter, to spread out.” Ex: when I was a kid, I would play with legos; I would scatter them out to see all the pieces.

God knows the words you speak (v. 4). Words are audible; other people can hear them. So it should be no surprise that if God knows your thoughts, He certainly hears all the words you speak. Every word is important to God. Jesus said this in Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

Illustration: Many years ago, little Johnny Sylvester was kicked in the head by a horse and doctors were fearful that he might not make it. Johnny told his father, “I wish I could see Babe Ruth hit a homer before I die.” A telegram was sent off to the New York Yankees in St. Louis, where they were playing the Cardinals in the 1926 World Series. A few days later, Johnny received autographed balls from both the Yankees and the Cardinals, including one the Babe had inscribed with these words, “I’ll hit a home run for you in Wednesday’s game.” Instead of hitting one homer, he hit 3! The doctors called the effect on the boy’s condition a miracle. Some months later, during spring training, an uncle of the boy approached Ruth and thanked him profusely. Babe Ruth smiled and said, “You’re very welcome.” After the uncle left, Babe turned to the reporters who were standing around and asked, “Who in the blankety-blank is Johnny Sylvester?” Aren’t you glad God never forgets who we are? He will never forget you or me.

God protects you (v. 5). The word “beset” means “enclosed.” Because God knows everything about you, you are precious to Him. He has enclosed you within His hand of protection. Jesus said that we are held within His and within His Father’s hand in John 10:28-29. That’s secure!

We see the psalmist’s response in verse 6. It should blow our minds that God’s mind is omniscient! God knows everything about everything. And here’s the convicting part: do you think God knows about your problems and struggles? Do you think God knows what you might be going through? Of course He does; and yet many times we act as though God does not know or understand.

2. Focus on the Omnipresence of God (v. 7-12)

The fact that God is everywhere should affect the saint and the sinner. This brings great comfort to the saint, but great fear to the sinner.

We see this in verse 7. It is a comfort to the saint (“Whither shall I go from thy spirit?” v. 7a). You cannot go anywhere without God. He goes with you to your job, to the store, to the mall, even across the country to visit relatives. He is your constant companion. But notice that this same fact should bring fear to the sinner. “or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” v. 7b. The sinner cannot escape the presence of God. Jonah found this out the hard way. The Bible tells us in Jonah 1:3, “[he] rose up to flee…from the presence of the LORD.” As a result of his disobedience, Jonah was cast into the sea and swallowed by a whale. But get this: even in the depths of the sea inside a whale’s belly, Jonah prayed and God heard him. God’s presence was with him even inside the whale.

Notice the places which the psalmist gives in verses 8-10. He is giving us two extremes: way up in the sky or way down in the earth (hell meaning the grave or a deep pit). From the highest point you can go to the lowest point, God is there. But He is not just there; while He is there, He will lead you (v. 10). God is not content to just be in our lives, He wants to be involved in our lives. This is so encouraging for the saint.