What does Psalm 139:9 mean?

David continues to assert that he cannot escape God's presence—even if he takes "the wings of the morning." This figure of speech is the ancient equivalent to the modern phrase "the speed of light." The Hebrew word translated "morning" in this verse means "daybreak." At daybreak light moves rapidly across the sky from east to west, but even that cannot outrun God's presence.

David comments further that God's presence would be with him even if he made his abode "in the uttermost parts of the sea." The sea is the Mediterranean Sea, and the uttermost parts of it would be the far western region of the Mediterranean, the area where Jonah mistakenly thought he could escape from God's presence. No matter where we live or move we will never live where God is not present. This should be a comforting realization in our highly mobile civilization. God dwells with His people everywhere.