He’s All Around Me 2 Of 3

God knows all things. His knowledge is infinite (unlimited) where ours is very limited.

Speaking of having limited knowledge, sometimes it is more noticeable in some folks.

Illus: For example, a man says to God:

• "God, why did you make a woman so beautiful?" God says: "So you would love her."

• "But God," the man said, "why did you make her so dumb?" God says: "So she would love you."

But speaking of limited knowledge -

Illus: This was an actual news story from a San Diego newspaper! WANTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER (the actual AP headline).

The story goes like this, “Linda Burnett, 23, a resident of San Diego, was visiting her in-laws, and while there went to a nearby supermarket to pick up some groceries. Several people noticed her sitting in her car with the windows rolled up and with her eyes closed, with both hands behind the back of her head. One customer who had been at the store for a while became concerned and walked over to the car. He noticed that Linda's eyes were now open, and she looked very strange. He asked her if she was okay, and Linda replied that she'd been shot in the back of the head, and had been holding her brains in for over an hour. The man called the paramedics, who broke into the car because the doors were locked and Linda refused to remove her hands from her head. When they finally got in, they found that Linda had a wad of bread dough on the back of her head.

A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded from the heat, making a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot, and the wad of dough hit her in the back of her head. When she reached back to find out what it was, she felt the dough and thought it was her brains. She initially passed out, but quickly recovered and tried to hold her brains in for over an hour until someone noticed and came to her aid.”

Our knowledge is limited and for some folks it is very limited.

We looked at GOD’S OMNISCIENCE in two ways:

(1) THE PAST TENSE

Look at verse 1, we read, "thou hast searched me...known me"

• "Searched" means to penetrate, examine intimately.

• "Known" means to comprehend, discern or understand.

Because God is omniscient, we cannot say He has ever "learned" anything about us. He knows -

• WHAT WE HAVE DONE

• WHAT WE WILL DO

This is what gives some folks a hard time about predestination. Listen, God has never predestined anyone to go a Devil’s Hell. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels.

But since God is Omniscient and He knows all things:

• He knows those who will accept Him

• He knows those who will reject Him

Therefore, the psalmist speaks of the knowledge of God in the past tense.

The Omniscience of God is not only dealt with in the past tense, it is also dealt with in the -

(2) PERSONAL SENSE

Look at verse 2, we read, "Thou knowest." God knows our -

• Actions - v. 2a "My down sitting...mine uprising"

• Attitudes - v. 2b "My thought"

• Avenues - v. 3,5 "My path...all my ways"

He knows our ATTITUDE, ACTIONS, DEEDS AND WORDS.

He knows -

• Where we are

• Where we are going

• Where we have been

Illus: A plate of sweet cakes was brought in and laid upon the table. Two children were playing on the hearth rug before the fire.

• "Oh, I want one of these cakes!" cried the little boy, jumping up as soon as his mother went out of the room, and going on tiptoe toward the table.

• "No, no!" said his sister, pulling him back. "No, you must not touch them."

• "Mother won't know it. She did not count them,"

• "Perhaps not, but God counted," the little girl answered.

The little boy's hand stopped.

God knows all about us, but again, what makes the teaching of God’s Omniscience so special is that it is indescribable.

Look at verse 6, speaking of His love he says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

The word "wonderful" means remarkable, and is a reference to the realization that even though God knows us, He still cares for us.

• In a human perspective, sometimes those who know us best love us the least.

• When it comes to God, He who knows us best loves us most!

God’s OMNISCIENCE was overwhelming to the Psalmist, David. But Psalm 139 also reveals-

II. THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD

Look at verse 7-18, we read, “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. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully 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.”