Psalm 139:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

NIV: Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

NASB: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

CSB: Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

NLT: I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

KJV: Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

NKJV: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If David wanted to escape from God's all-encompassing knowledge, he would not find any place to hide from God.

Elijah fled to the desert south of Judah to escape Jezebel's wrath, but he could not distance himself from the Lord. The Lord revealed Himself to Elijah in a low whisper and gave him new opportunities to serve Him (1 Kings 19:9–18).

Jonah tried to flee from God's presence when God commanded him to go to Nineveh and call out against it. Instead of going east to Nineveh, he boarded a ship headed west to Tarshish (Jonah 1:1–3). He soon discovered God was present, no matter how far he ran. The Lord prepared a great storm which led to Jonah being cast into the sea, and still God was there (Jonah 1:11–12). He had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah (Jonah 1:17). In the belly of the fish, Jonah repented and vowed to obey the Lord (Jonah 2:1).

For an obedient believer, the omnipresence of God is a comfort. Jesus said, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Hebrews 13:5 echoes the promise "I will never leave you nor forsake you." This promise means we do not have to fear what anyone can do to us (Hebrews 13:6).

Psalm 139:7–12 follows a passage focused on God's omniscience. This section of the psalm describes His omnipresence: His ability to be everywhere at once. David mentions some of the places he might go, only to discover that God is there. The knowledge of God's presence comforted David. He knew God would be with him everywhere he went.

In this psalm David marvels at God's amazing characteristics. God knows everything about him: where he goes, all David's thoughts and everything about his conduct. The Lord knows what David will say even before David says it. There is no place David can go that God isn't already present. David marvels at God's creative work in the womb. He is thankful for God's innumerable thoughts for him and for God's presence day and night. Finally, David's thoughts turn to the wicked. He considers them God's enemies and his, and longs for God to slay them. David is disgusted by evil people because they rail against God and take His name in vain. He asks God to search his heart to see if any sin is there, and he asks God to lead him in the way everlasting.

This psalm of David lies in the fifth division of Psalms, Psalms 107—150. It discloses information about God's omniscience: He knows everything. It explains His omnipresence: that He is everywhere. It declares His omnipotence: He formed every part of human beings. It also describes His holiness: He judges the wicked and searches the heart. These attributes reflect common themes across both the Old and New Testaments.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.