INTRODUCTION: Psalm 139 is built on the theme of God’s knowledge of His servants.

• Opening statement – Psalm 139:1O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
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• Closing prayer – Psalm 139:23-24 [23] Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
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• The breadth of His knowledge (Psalm 139:1-6 [1] O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. [2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. [3] Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. [4] For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. [5] Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
  See All...) – “too wonderful for me” (Psalm 139:6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
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• The length of His knowledge (Psalm 139:7-12 [7] Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. [11] If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. [12] Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
  See All...) – “Whither shall I go from” (Psalm 139:7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
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• The depth of His knowledge (Psalm 139:13-16 [13] For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. [14] I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. [15] My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. [16] Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
  See All...) – “in the lowest parts of the earth” (Psalm 139:15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
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• The height of His knowledge (Psalm 139:17-24 [17] How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! [18] If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. [19] Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. [20] For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. [21] Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? [22] I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. [23] Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
  See All...) – “how great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
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1. THE PROBLEM OF GOD’S PRESENCE
1. Not That God Leaves Us - Joshua 1:9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
   See All... Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
2. But That We Leave Him (Psalm 139:7Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
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1. We roam – “Whither shall I go from thy spirit?
2. We run – “whither shall I flee from thy presence?”
2. THE POSSIBILITIES OF GOD’S PRESENCE
1. Dominion
1. If I ascend up into heaven (Psalm 139:8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
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2. A picture of times of blessing and elevation in this world
3. We tend to think we do not need God and these times become a great temptation (1 Timothy 3:6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
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4. Paul had learned to abound and to be full (Philippians 4:11-13
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5. The example of David
1. His elevation (2 Samuel 7:8-11 [8] Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: [9] And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. [10] Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, [11] And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
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2. His temptation (2 Samuel 11:1-2 [1] And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. [2] And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
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3. God’s presence (2 Samuel 12:7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
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2. Depth
1. If I make my bed in hell (Psalm 139:8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
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2. A picture of times of despair and trouble
3. The example of Joseph
1. His troubles (Psalm 105:17-18 [17] He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: [18] Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
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2. God’s presence (Psalm 105:19Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
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3. His elevation (Psalm 105:20-21 [20] The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. [21] He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
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3. Distance
1. If I take the wings of the morning (Psalm 139:9If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
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2. A picture of times when we get away from God
3. The example of Jonah
1. His flight from God (Jonah 1:1-3 [1] Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, [2] Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. [3] But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
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2. His descent (Jonah 1:4-5 [4] But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. [5] Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
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3. God’s presence (Jonah 2:1Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,
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4. Darkness
1. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me
2. A picture of times when men feel hidden from God
3. The example of Mephibosheth
1. His condition (2 Samuel 9:3And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
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2. God’s presence (2 Samuel 9:1And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
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3. His provision (2 Samuel 9:9-10 [9] Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house. [10] Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
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3. THE PROVISION OF GOD’S PRESENCE
1. To Lead Us – “Even there shall thy hand lead me” (Psalm 139:10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
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2. To Lift Us – “thy right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
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3. To Lighten Us – “even the light shall be light about me” (Psalm 139:11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
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CONCLUSION: Where are you today? Wherever it is, God is even there. Do you know Him as your Saviour? Do you trust Him as your friend? Do you submit to Him as your Lord and Master? Would you pray the prayer of verses Psalm 139:23-24 [23] Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
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