Psalm 139:7-8 – “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”
The awesome God whom we serve has many attributes. One of those attributes is that He is omnipotent (all-powerful). Another of God’s attributes is that He is omniscient (all-knowing). God is also omnipresent (everywhere at the same time).
In this passage written by David, he is contemplating the omnipresence of God. Where can he go that God is not already there? As he wonders at the truth that God is everywhere, David asked, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” The picture here is all-encompassing: from east to west, north to south; from high to low; soar as high as heaven or burrow your way as low as hell—you cannot go anywhere where God is not.
Jonah attempted to flee from God’s presence. But to no avail. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God in the cool of the garden. But again, to no avail. Where can we go from God’s presence? There is not a corner in this big world we live in where He is not present.
Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in time of need.” That Psalm goes on to describe the worst possible circumstances: “though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,” God is “very present.” No matter how tumultuous your situation is, behold, God is always there!
What a comfort to know that when we are in distress, when we have those sleepless nights, when our hearts are heavy, or when we face our troubles seemingly all alone, God is with us. He will never leave nor forsake you. He is a true Friend who sticks closer to you than a brother ever would, and He is immediately accessible!