Dear Woodland Hills Family,
In case you weren’t with us Sunday, our worship time grew out of this foundational truth from Psalm 139:7-12.
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?”
What a comfort is the nearness of our God! Deepest depth or loftiest height–He is there; darkest night or brightest day–He never leaves us. Fantastic!
After the worship I challenged us to think more deeply on that theme–the presence of God. We surveyed a number of Scripture texts that speak of God’s presence. I asked why the Bible speaks of God being present everywhere, yet it also speaks of Him being particularly present in specific places or with certain people. On occasion God even casts some from His presence.
But the psalmist indicated there’s nowhere we can go from His presence. What’s up with these seemingly contradictory statements?
My intention is to discuss this further in the service on September 27th. In the meantime, I encourage you to wrestle with how the Scripture texts I’ve listed below square with the one from Psalm 139:7.
Blessings,
Paul
* Cain “went out from the presence of the Lord.” (Gen. 4:16)
* Isaac wanted to bless his son “in the presence of the Lord.” (Gen. 27:7)
* Sinai quaked at the presence of God, and the people were forbidden to go near or touch the holy mountain, made holy because of God’s presence. (Ps. 68:8; Ex. 19:12, ff.)
* The LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. (Ex. 19:2, 18-20)
* Moses was in the Lord’s presence long enough that his face began to shine. (Ex. 34:28-33)
* The children of Israel were to eat their offerings to the Lord “in the presence of the Lord.” (Deut. 14:23)
* The covenant was made “in the presence of the Lord.” (Deut. 29:15)
* David “sought the presence of the Lord.” (2 Sam. 21:1)
* Elijah was told to “go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” (2 Kings 19:11,12)
* The Lord cast Jerusalem & Judah out from His presence. (2 Kings 24:20; Jer. 23:39)
* We are to come before His presence with thanksgiving and singing. (Ps. 95:2; 100:2)
* Satan departed from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:12; 2:7)
* Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:3)
* The angel Gabriel stands “in the presence of God.” (Luke 1:19)
* Times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)
* Paul charged Timothy “solemnly, in the presence of God.” (1 Tim. 5:21; 2 Tim. 2:14; 4:1)
* Those who do not know God will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, “away from the presence of the Lord.” (2 Thess. 1:9)
* We are to humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord. (James 4:10)
* Heaven & earth will flee away from God’s presence. (Rev. 20:11)