A. MY OMNISCIENCE, OMNIPRESENCE AND OMNIPOTENCE – PSALM 139
“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. 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” (Psalm 139:1-18, The Prayer Bible, KJV).
GOD’S ATTRIBUTES
Omniscience – knows all things all the time.
Omnipresence – everywhere at all times.
Omnipotence – all power to do all things.
B. MY OMNISCIENCE (vv. 1-6)
1. God knew David, “I have searched . . . I your Lord, know you thoroughly” (v. 1). It is God’s nature to know us.
2. God knows our every move. “I know your journeys and your rest . . . everywhere you go” (vv. 2-3). “Thou compassest my path” (v. 3, KJV), means to sift to know.
3. Every word. “Before your tongues speaks . . . I know” (v. 4). I know thoughts being developed into words.
4. Everywhere. “In front and behind” (v. 5). I am following you to record all you do (good and bad), and I go before to foreknow all you do. “You cannot escape God going backwards or running ahead.”
5. I know the real you. “Being known by Me is a wonderful ...” (v. 6). You have no imagination/idea what God knows about you.
C. MY OMNIPRESENCE (vv. 7-12)
1. Every place. “Impossible to escape My Spirit (v. 7). When they ask, “Where is God,” answer, “Where is He not?”
2. Since you can’t hide from God, it is both comforting and convicting.
3. Where? Heaven, I am there ... hell, I am there” (v. 8). “If I fly to a new day ... across the sea” (v. 9). “There you would find My right hand” (v. 10). God is magnificently present everywhere at all times.
4. Space and time. “You cannot hide from Me in the darkness” (v. 11). God's light is brighter than the darkest night.
D. MY OMNIPOTENCE (vv. 13-18)
1. “Thou has possessed my reins” (v. 13, KJV). The King James word reins means emotion or desire. “Thou has covered me” (v. 13, KJV), means to weave as to use skill and art to knit together.
2. God overseeing. “I saw you being conceived in . . . womb” (v. 14). Two forces (1) God works through nature’s law, (2) God oversees His law.
3. Sovereignty. “Your life . . . preordained . . . I wrote them in a book before they happened” (vv. 15-16). The King James Version, “lower parts” reference to womb. God oversaw from conception till finish.
4. “Substance yet being imperfect” (v 16. KJV). Substance is “together as a ball” meaning fetus or the embryo. “Praise Me for reverently and wonderfully forming you, recognize My marvelous creative works” (v. 16).
5. Innumerable. “If forming the fetus is precious, My thoughts are greater than precious, they are innumerable.”
E. YOUR TAKE AWAYS
“I, your God, will search you to know the intent of your heart; I will try you to know your thoughts. I will point out any wicked inclination in you, and lead you in the way of eternal life” (Psalm 139:23-24).
1. Past tense. “Thou hast searched Me” (v. 1, KJV). Now David prays for God to do it again. “Search me O God” (v. 23, KJV).
2. David submits to divine scrutiny. “I . . . will search you . . . to know your heart . . . I will try you . . . to know your thoughts . . . I will point out any wicked inclination” (vv. 23-24).
3. The King James “wicked way in me” is secret sin. What else can you be before God than honest!
God is everywhere possible, knows everything possible, and can do everything possible. Lord, You know everything about me past and future. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know everything about everyone. Lord, You are equally present at every place possible, and You stay there forever. You can do everything that is possible to do or anything You want to do. So, examine me to know my heart, try me to understand my ways and lead me in the way I should God. Amen.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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