The Glory of God's Presence

Psalm 139:1–18 NLT

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

INTRODUCTION:

*Illustration: “The Jewish Peddler’s Tribute”

An author in the Sunday School Times related an incident that occurred in his parent’s home some years ago. He stated that in their living room, they had hung a picture depicting Jesus giving his farewell to his disciples that captioned Jesus’ words of assurance to them “... be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

One day a Jewish door to door salesman came came to their house. The author was the only one at home during the salesman’s visit. As the salesman looked around the room, his gaze fell upon the picture. He became fascinated with the picture and seemed to be fixated upon it. He turned and asked the author, “Is this your Messiah?” The author told the salesman that it was Christ, our savior and described to the salesman the meaning of the picture.

The Jew thought for a minute, then turned and said, “Boy, what a wonderful savior you Christians have. He is always with you.” Then he gazed at the picture again. Then he picked up his pack of wares and left the house. The author heard him whispering to himself...”What a wonderful Messiah, He is always with you.”

Some Christians seem to forget what a wonderful Savior we have in Christ!

TS: Notice three things in the text that we need to remember about the Glory of God’s Presence:

I- THE PLACES OF HIS PRESENCE (Psalm 139:1-10)

A- The innermost parts of your life.

(searched = “pierced through” He sees all.)

(Psalm 139:1-4)

Psalm 139:1–4 NLT

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

1- There is not a movement that you make that He does not see. (Psalm 139:1-3)

Psalm 139:1–3 NLT

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

2- There is not a motive for your actions that He does not know. (Psalm 139:3)

Psalm 139:3 NLT

3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

Jesus knew people’s thoughts. (Matthew 12:22-25)

Matthew 12:22–25 NLT

22 Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.

3- There is not a word you speak that He does not hear. (Psalm 139:4)

Psalm 139:4 NLT

4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

We will give an account for every idle word. (Matthew 12:36-37)

Matthew 12:36–37 NLT

36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

Quote: “Many things are opened by mistake; but none as frequently as the mouth.”

God hears positive words as well as negative. (Malachi 3:16)

Malachi 3:16 NLT

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.

B- The outermost reaches of the Earth. (Psalm 139:5-10)

1- The uppermost par of heaven. (Psalm 139: 7-8)

Psalm 139:7–8 NLT

7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.

2- The innermost part of Hell (Psalm 139: 8b)

Psalm 139:8b NLT

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.

a. Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31)

3- The uttermost part of the planet Earth (Psalm 139: 9)

Psalm 139:9 NLT

9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

Jonah

4- The unlimited ways we may travel. (Psalm 139:5-6)

Psalm 139:5–6 NLT

5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

II- THE POWER OF HIS PRESENCE (Psalm 139:11-24)

A- When I am discouraged, His presence sees me through. (Psalm 139:11-12)

Psalm 139:11–12 NLT

11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

1- When we are in darkness, it is not dark to God. (Psalm 116:6-9)

Psalm 116:6–9 NLT

6 The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. 7 Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. 8 He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. 9 And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!

B- When I am lonely, His presence cheers me. (Psalm 139:17)

Psalm 139:17 NLT

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!

(Psalm 25:16)

Psalm 25:16 NLT

16 Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.

(Hebrews 13:5)

Hebrews 13:5 NLT

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

C- When I am worried, His presence calms me down. (Psalm 139:19-22)

Psalm 139:19–22 NLT

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! 20 They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name. 21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you? 22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.

1- Jesus instructed believers to trust in God and quit worrying.

(Matthew 6:27-34)

Matthew 6:27–34 NLT

27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

D- When I am tempted, His presence strengthens me. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Psalm 139:23–24 NLT

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

1- Jesus understands temptation and helps us when we are tempted.

(Hebrews 4:15)

Hebrews 4:15 NLT

15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

(Hebrews 2:18)

Hebrews 2:18 NLT

18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

III- THE PRACTICE OF HIS PRESENCE (Psalm 139: 5,14)

Psalm 139:5 NLT

5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Psalm 139:14 NLT

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

A- Consciously think about His presence. (Psalm 139:5-6)

Psalm 139:5–6 NLT

5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!

1- Spend quiet time with Him daily.

2- Saturate you awareness with the truth of His presence.

(Matthew 28:20)

Matthew 28:20 NLT

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

B- Carry on a constant conversation with God.

1- Pray without ceasing. (1 Thess. 5:17)

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT

17 Never stop praying.

2- Talk to God as you go through the day.

the psalmist addresses God personally 24 times in this Psalm.

C- Cultivate a spirit of praise. (Psalm 139:14)

Psalm 139:14 NLT

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

1- Praise Him for His wonderful creation.

2- Praise Him for His mighty power.

3- Praise Him for His marvelous salvation.

God inhabits the praise of His people. (Psalm 22:3)

Psalm 22:3 NLT

3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

CONCLUSION:

Father’s Voice (KMB 508)