Where Can I Go

“One asks a rhetorical question for dramatic effect, not to elicit an answer.  In Psalm 139, David is musing upon God’s attributes – predominantly his omniscience and his omnipresence – he asks, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or, where can I flee from Your presence?”  It appears he is coming to grips with the fact that God’s transcendence is inescapable.

The Holman Christian Study Bible has an observation about this, “The concept is both frightening and comforting.”  The effects of this realization upon David were profound.  After contemplating God’s searching, his knowledge, his understanding, observations, and awareness – even feelings of being encircled and touched by God’s hand, he simply responds, “This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.  It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.”

Likewise, any soul who suddenly discovers that God knows and sees all, will find comfort or fear in their heart.  The believer finds comfort and peace in God’s knowledge and presence while the unbeliever dreads God’s “intrusiveness”.  The believer trusts that God – his Creator – has his best interests at heart, while the unbeliever prefers his “autonomy”.  The problem with autonomy – freedom from external control or influence – is that it does not exist for any individual in this life or the next.  No one can ever be free from God’s control or influence.  It is his common grace alone that provides us with all the necessities of life, down to our last breath.

David’s discoveries are many as he continues to meditate:

• God is my Creator who knit me in my mother’s womb
• I am remarkably and wonderfully made
• God’s works are wonderful (and I know this very well)
• God made me in secret and also planned my entire life, writing my story in his own book

We have a unique vantage point from those who lived prior to Christ’s birth because we can look back to the cross where he suffered and died to rescue us and to open our eyes to the glorious gospel of salvation.  In the last verse of the song, “Where Can I Go” we learn He was “there” for those who place their trust in him for rescue:

When my soul was thirsty and lost
Behold, You were there
When my sin was nailed to the cross
Behold, You were there
The lashes on your back
Underneath the heavy burden of our sin
In the grave behind the rock
‘Til the glory of Your light came shining in

These truths are hard to understand, even for the believer.  Knowing this, we need to pray humbly as David did, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.  See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.”

Enjoy this video!
(All video scenes taken from the video game, “Red Dead Redemption 2”)

the weak & the few

: )~