The Omnipresence Of God
Adapted From A Sermon By
George Burder
Where shall I flee from your presence?
Psalms 139:7 ESV
Our text this morning is the seventh verse of Psalm 139: Where shall I flee from your presence? And our subject is another attribute which God only possesses, his omnipresence.
When the great and glorious God is the subject of our meditation, a holy awe should take hold of our minds as happened to Moses when he approached the burning bush, which displayed a visible sign of the presence of God; he was then commanded to take off his shoes as a mark of reverence, for the presence of God made the place itself holy. So when Abraham spoke with Jehovah in prayer, being deeply aware of his own unworthiness, he cried out, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes!” (Genesis 18:27) Such thoughts as these should fill our hearts, when we attempt to display, with our feeble and polluted powers, the infinite perfections of the infinite God.
That awful, sublime, and most useful truth, which now calls for our serious attention, is this,
The Great God Is Present Everywhere.
This doctrine seems necessarily to result from our belief of a divine Being—at least of such a Being as deserves the title Divine; for to suppose him confined to certain bounds and limits, is, in fact, to make him no God at all. Although some of the heathens said great things of their deities, yet in general their notions of them were low and superficial. They imagined that different gods presided over different countries; and, in some instances, chained down their idols for fear that they would abandon them. Elijah, the prophet of Jehovah, derided the disappointed worshippers of Baal; for, when they had cried from morning until noon, “O Baal, answer us!” and there was no answer, Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god,” (so you profess to believe) but perhaps he is too busy to pay attention to you—“he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” (1 Kings 18:26, 27) But the glorious God, whom we adore, cannot be mocked in this way; he is present everywhere; and especially “where two or three” (Matthew 18:20) are assembled for his worship, He is there.
That God is, and cannot but be, present everywhere, will be evident if you consider,
1. His Infinity;
2. His Universal Providence; and,
3. The Testimonies of Scripture.
1. God is Infinite; and therefore omnipresent.
To be infinite, is to be without bounds, or limits; consequently, there are no limits to his presence. An infinite being cannot be contained in a finite space. It is the property of all creatures to be confined within certain bounds; and therefore we call them finite: but it is the property of the Creator to be unlimited, confined by no bounds; and therefore he is termed infinite. He is so in all his perfections: his knowledge is infinite; his power is infinite; his holiness is infinite, and so is his presence. “Where shall I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7)
Let us illustrate this great truth from the psalm before us; and especially from the verses which follow our text. “If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, even the darkness is not dark to you.” It is impossible then to avoid his presence. Search the universe; explore all nature; but you will find no place without God!
Search Heaven. Heaven is his throne, the seat of his glory; there he will certainly be found: for it is the happiness of saints and angels that they “always behold his face.” (Matthew 18:10) We do not know the extent of the heavenly world; its blessed inhabitants are innumerable, but, “all the pure in heart see God;” (Matthew 5:8) nor can we suppose that any person who is so happy as to be admitted into that glorious state, can hide, or wish to hide, himself from his presence.
Or if, by the heavens, we understand the visible, the material heavens, that vast space in which we behold the sun, the moon, and the stars; vast as these are beyond our comprehension, there is no spot, in all the vast domain, to be found, in which God is not. The sun is 150 million kilometers from the earth; and the closest star to our own is 40 million million kilometers away. What immensity, what grandeur, what glory is here! God is here.
“If I make my bed in Sheol” If by Sheol we understand the place of torment, where impenitent sinners are confined in chains of darkness, there, indeed, in a most awful sense, is God present!—present in the dreadful power of his incensed justice, inflicting the deserved punishment of sin; for among the myriads of those miserable creatures, there is not one who escapes his notice, or avoids his wrath.
But the word Sheol sometimes stands for the invisible world, the state of departed souls, whether in happiness or in misery. Of this state, as to the manner of their existence, we who are still alive know very little; it is invisible to us, the unknown state: but it is not so to God. Jesus Christ is said to have “the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18) —that is, of the invisible world, and of death, by which the spirits of men are separated from the body, and enter into the invisible world; consequently this state, and all the souls which are in it, are perfectly known to him; it is therefore impossible to avoid his presence there.
And so, if we consider the most distant parts of the sea and land, though far removed from inhabited parts of the planet, in deserts and forests where no one has yet set foot, even there, everywhere, God is present; and to make the foolish attempt of hiding from him, would be as futile as the effort of the disobedient prophet Jonah was, who fled “from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3) in the land of Israel: but God followed him to the ocean, and by a dreadful storm, convinced him of his error, and taught him obedience.
This glorious perfection of God is intimately connected with another, equally essential to his being, that is, his Omniscience or Universal Knowledge. God's knowing all things, implies his being present everywhere. The imperfection of man is very obvious; his knowledge, like his presence, is confined to very narrow limits. His relations, his friends, it may be, are in a foreign country, and he is anxious to know their condition; but he may have to wait weeks and months before he can obtain it. His dearest friends are at a few kilometers distance; they have an accident and die, and he is totally unaware of it. Distance deprives him of the knowledge of the event. He is confined to one place. But God sees, in one glance, all the children of men in every place; all their actions, all their words, all their thoughts.
Indeed He has said, “every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.” (Psalm 50:10) Even more still: “He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.” (Psalm 147:4) “A man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.” (Proverbs 5:21) “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether!” (Psalms 139:4) “He knows worthless men.” (Job 11:11) “He sees in secret.” (Matthew 6:4) “Hell and Destruction are before the Lord; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men!” (Proverbs 15:11 NKJV) Surely, then, God is present everywhere. And this will become even more apparent, if we refer to,
2. His Universal Providence.
We have already noticed how he sees all men, their thoughts, their words, and their actions: but he is not a mere spectator of what passes in the world. Of that world he is the constant Supporter and Governor. He “upholds the universe by the word of his power;” (Hebrews 1:3) “in him all things hold together,” (Colossians 1:17) that is, they stand together, in the same harmonious order in which he first placed them. Nothing in the universe lives or moves, independent of him. The sun, the moon, the planets move in their orbits by his influence. The seasons revolve, summer and winter, springtime and harvest, succeed each other at their appointed times. The earth produces food for man; indeed, we are told that the beasts of the field and the birds of the air, look to him for sustenance, and he gives them their food in due season. The very sparrows are not beneath his notice and the hairs of our head are all numbered.
He controls the affairs of empires and nations; the “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1) He overrules even the policy, the pride, the ambition, and the greed of wicked men, for the purposes of his own glory, and makes them the unwilling instruments of promoting the very objects which they wished to destroy.
But this special providence of God is exercised in behalf of his church: and so it is that God has committed the management of the whole world to Christ the Mediator. Angels, principalities, and powers, are all subject to him; and he employs them for the benefit of his people.“All authority,” he said to his disciples, “in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations;” (Matthew 28:18) and for your encouragement in that work, whatever difficulties you may encounter, whatever opposition you may meet with, remember this, “I am with you” (and will be with your successors in the Christian ministry) “always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) It was the belief, and the sense, of the presence of Christ, that made the apostles and martyrs diligent and dauntless in their holy labors, and serene and joyful in prisons, and at the stake; it was this which made the apostle Paul rejoice that, when all men forsook him, when he appeared before Nero, “the Lord stood with him and strengthened him:” (2 Timothy 4:17) and this presence of the Lord (miraculously visible) animated Stephen, the first confessor, when he said to the Sanhedrin, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)
If more evidence is necessary to prove the universal presence of God, let us, in the last place, consider it from,
3. The Testimonies of the Scriptures.
Many of these have already been brought out in the previous headings. A few more will add to the evidence.
It is expressly affirmed in Proverbs 25:3 that “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good;” and again, in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” It must be so, if you consider that the divine inspection reaches even to the hearts of men, so that the most secret springs and movements of our minds, though unknown to our fellow-mortals, are fully exposed to his view. And so when aged David transferred the kingdom to Solomon his son, he exhorted him to serve the Lord “with a whole heart and with a willing mind,” enforcing his exhortation with this solemn truth, “for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Happy would it have been for Solomon had he duly paid attention to this! Happy will it be for us if we pay attention to it!
When Jesus Christ dictated to the apostle John the seven epistles to the angels of the seven churches in Asia, he says to each of them, “I know your works;” and he adds to one of them— “The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire; all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.” (Revelation 2:18, 23) The belief of this truth enabled Peter to appeal to his Master, when the question was repeated three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (John 21:17) In a word, “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)
The presence of God is, in a most precious way, granted to his church. The name of the church, as predicted by the prophet, was to be “Jehovah Shammah”—“The Lord is there.” Of the temple at Jerusalem, the centre of the ancient church, God was pleased to say, “My eyes and my heart will be there for all time,” (1 Kings 9:3) demonstrating his most gracious presence, and parental affection; and we are sure that the church of Christ is not deserted by its glorious King. “Where two or three are gathered in my name,” said the Savior, “there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20) None but an Omnipresent, and consequently a divine Person, could say this; and what an encouragement is this to public worship and social prayer! Jesus, the Son of God, is always present to assist, accept, and bless his pious friends!
We scarcely need multiply Scripture testimonies to that point. The truth is sufficiently established. Would that it were more generally regarded! Few deny the omnipresence of God! but sadly! many forget it. It stands in need, therefore, not so much of proof, as of practical encouragement.
Let us therefore learn from God’s omnipresence how much there is of Practical Atheism in all wilful sin.
Surely Adam forgot himself, when he sought to hide himself “from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8) How could he suppose that the thickest trees of Eden could conceal him from the sight of his Omniscient Maker? So soon did sin introduce guilt, and fear, and folly! And yet his posterity approve and imitate his conduct. They think, or seem to think, that they may sin without him seeing it. The wicked “says in his heart, (if not with his tongue) God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it,” but the Psalmist reproves this atheistical belief, and immediately adds, “But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands.” (Psalms 10:11, 14)
Why then do evildoers avoid the light of day, court night’s darkness, shun the notice of fellow-mortals, and hide in secret places? The reason is, they “love the darkness rather than the light because their works are evil.” (John 3:19) “There are those,” said Job of old, “who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.” On the contrary, “The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he veils his face.” In like manner the thief is described, “In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light. For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.” (Job 24:13, 15-17)
Now, see what a practical form Atheism is all of this! Do these night-sinners believe there is a God? What a God! A God, like a man, who is deceived by darkness? But such a God would be no God at all. “There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.” (Job 34:22) Let them observe what is said in this Psalm “If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” (Psalms 139:11) May sinners awake from this deceit! A moments reflection will reveal the mistake.
Why do they avoid man’s scrutiny? Are they afraid of man? And will they not be afraid of God? Will the presence of a child keep them from a wicked action? And will not the presence of God do it? Even their “secret sins are set in the light of your presence;” (Psalm 90:8) and if not repented of, and pardoned, and forsaken, they will all be published before an assembled world at the day of judgment; for, “God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” He will then “bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.” Then the book of God’s remembrance, in which is recorded every sinful deed, will be opened, and the dead will be judged out of those things which are written in the book, according to what they have done. (Ecclesiastes 12:14, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Revelation 20:12)
Let us never then cheat our own souls with the pretense of secrecy; and know that there is no house so private, no time or place so unsuspected, no room so remote, no curtains so closely drawn as to hide the guilty deed from the all-seeing eyes of an ever-present God. You cannot deceive him; and why then should you deceive yourself?
While this subject suggests reproof, and even of terror, to guilty sinners, it may become a source of consolation to the sincere Christian. It provides him with comfort in his private times of devotion. He withdraws from the busy and the frivolous world, to interact with his Bible and his God in secret; and his Father, “who sees in secret will reward him.” (Matthew 6:18) So Jesus said to the devout Nathaniel, that “Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit—when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” (John 1:47,48) He had retired probably to his garden, secluded from the eyes and ears of men, for the purpose of meditation and prayer; perhaps earnestly desiring to know whether Jesus was the true Messiah or not. There the eye of Christ beheld him; not the eye of his humanity, but of his divinity, from which nothing is hidden. This display of Christ's knowledge fully convinced Nathaniel that Jesus was the Messiah. The omnipresent Savior still observes the private religion of his people, though carefully concealed from the eye of the world, and he will, in the great day, reward it openly.
When deeply troubled, it is a comfort to know that the Lord is at hand—“a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) Friends may be far away. Relations and physicians may be at a distance; but God is not far from us; and the language of his promise is, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:10) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2) Encouraged by these gracious declarations, the Christian may boldly say, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.” (Psalm 46:2) “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4) These promises have been made good to believers, and they have found “joy and peace in believing.” (Romans 15:13) Christians, banished from their native country, have still enjoyed the presence of their God, which is confined to no particular spot. Shut up in awful dungeons, prisons have become palaces, for the King was there; and encircled with furious flames, the raging fire could not scorch them, for the son of God was present with them in the furnace.
Finally, let us all take care to often remember the presence of God. This will prove the most powerful restraint to our remaining corruptions, the most effectual shield against Satanic temptations, and the greatest encouragement to holy duties. Remember that God is present. This is a rule in religion which is of the greatest practical importance. The luxuries of Pharaoh’s court had no power over Moses; nor did the threatening of the terrors of Pharaoh’s anger: “he endured as seeing him who was invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27) When Satan tempts us to sinful actions, let us remember that God sees us; “he knows the way that we take;” (Job 23:10) and let his presence overrule over the presence of the tempter. Are we called to perform difficult and hard services? Weak as we are in ourselves, we can “do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.” (Philippians 4:13) Why should we faint or fear, when, by his Spirit, “he works in us, both to will and work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) And in the performance of every duty, let the presence of God keep us close to our business.
Bad servants are called in Scripture, “eye-servants,” (Colossians 3:22) because they will not work unless their masters’ eyes are upon them. When they know they are being watched even lazy servants will be hard working. We work under the eye of our divine and gracious master. He is always present with us. Let us therefore “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord our labor is not in vain;” (1 Corinthians 15:58) and when that work is finished, he will say to each, of us, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:23)
Then will we know, in a far higher and happier way than we can now know, what the presence of the Lord means. Now “we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face,” (1 Corinthians 13:12) and so “we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17,18) The text will never more become a question, “Where shall I flee from your presence!” (Psalm 139:7)—for “in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)