Psalm 123:1-4

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Psalm 130, and the Mind of the Spirit engaged me in verse 7:

Psalms 139:7 ¶ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

Read Psalm 139:1-11. David regarded this truth as a great comfort to him. Even if he tried, and no matter how hard, he could never escape the presence of GOD. Why would anyone try?

Adam tried! (Genesis 3:7-8) Guilty and ashamed, he tried to hide from God. It did not work. Have you noticed that when God asked, “Where art thou,” Adam was standing before Him?

Have you ever felt like you wanted to hide from God? The truth is, few desire to live in His presence. The flesh loathes the presence of God. Adam was the first to demonstrate that. Adam’s son, Cain, “went out from the presence of the LORD” (Genesis 4:16). Sinners and saints, too, are more comfortable in fig leaves, hiding among the trees. They cover themselves with the camouflage of the world and imagine that they hide from God in it (See Ezekiel 9:9). But God sees all (Jeremiah 20:12; Psalm 33:13; Proverbs 5:21; and many more).

Along the still waters, as I reflected on the times when I wished I could hide from God. Embarassed by my failure, like Peter, I have had a strong compulsion to remove my unworthy self from His presence (Luke 5:8). I have felt like Job, and wished I had not been born (Job 3:3), and had nothing remotely like the excuse Job did. I confess, there have been times when I felt uncomfortable in His presence, but that was because I was aware of it. And it was not, as Cain, because I resented Him. But for fear that He was displeased with me. I find myself understanding, although not approving, of Adam’s inclination.

As I continued my reflections, it occurred to me that there are others whose presence I cannot escape: the LORD, ourselves, and someone we have hurt, defrauded, or disappointed, especially when it’s someone we love. Paul said, “When I would do good, evil is present with me” (Romans 7: ), so you can be certain that Satan is always there, lurking somewhere about, passing out fig leaves.

Then it came to me why David zeroed in on the great truth that he could never escape the presence of God, and why this gave him so much comfort. Imagine being left alone with your failures, foibles, sins, and inadequacies, without GOD being there to say, “I love you,” and “I can make all things new.” Imagine being alone with the haunting memories of those you have hurt, defrauded, or disappointed, even if you genuinely have the excuse that you meant no injury to them. Knowing God is present to forgive, and to heal the hurt, replenish, and work grace in your own and their hearts is a comfort impossible to find anywhere. And when Satan prowls so near that you smell the sulfur, there is no greater comfort than to know God is nearer. What rejoicing filled my heart as I reflected on this great truth: GOD IS NEAR!

Jeremiah 23:23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?

Jeremiah 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

God is our refuge! A very present help in time of trouble: Psalms 46:1 ¶ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

In the valley of the shadow of death, I was reminded that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). I saw the shadow of death form into the shape of His Cross. And I heard Him say, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I never feel closer to Him and with greater joy than when the flesh and its fig leaves are “denied,” and His Cross embraced.

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace.

Praying for revival! 🙏

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