May 26 (Daily reading: Psalms 131, 138-139, 143-145) In David’s prayer in Psalm 139 (NIV), we see his belief in God’s absolute nature: His omniscience, His omnipresence, and His omnipotence.
He is omniscient (all-knowing, vv. 1-6). “Oh Lord, you searched me, you know me, you understand me, you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” God’s knowledge is personal and unlimited. He knows our ways and actions, and He also knows our thoughts! He knows when we sit and when we rise; He knows when we go out and when we lie down. He knows everything about us! We are encouraged and not threatened by this fact.
He is omnipresent (always present, vv. 7-12). David asked, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” God is present everywhere, in the highest heavens and in the lowest depths. He is present “on the far side of the sea.” He is even present in our darkness. David said to God: “Even the darkness will not be dark to you … for darkness is as light to you.” This means we are never invisible to Him!
He is omnipotent (all-powerful, vv. 13-16). Many psalms are written about God’s awesome power in nature, and in His ability to deliver us from evil. But here, we see one of the most convincing proofs of His power: the creation of a human being! “You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.” We also see His omniscience here: He knows us before we are born. Jeremiah added to that thought, saying that God also called us before we were born: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jer. 1:5).
– Al Gary
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