Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: Where God is Absent. (Psalm 139:7-12) Sermon Series: Come Alive LET S REVIEW 1. Answers to the sermon supplement blanks: The Lord is - everywhere present. - ruler over all (sovereign). - transcendent (separate and surpassing). - personal. - Immanent (continuously, benevolently active within the world). - Faithful. Come Alive to His presence. Profit from His presence. 2. What are 1 or 2 key truths you take away from this sermon? DIGGING DEEPER 1) Further understanding our internal confliction a) Read John 3:19; Isaiah 30:10; Jeremiah 5:31; Ezekiel 8:12 What do you notice about the extent of our inclinations? List some ways in which we are prone to wander. John 3:19 We love darkness and as John points out, specifically because our works are evil. The notion is that darkness will cover us so no one will see. The connotation here is that we know it is wrong or at least not wanting others to see or know, yet we willing go ahead anyway. Isaiah 30:10 We do not want to know to see the truth. We do not want to hear the truth. We prefer falsehood over truth if it makes us feel better. Jeremiah 5:31 This problem is widespread. Even priests and those who are meant to be trustworthy comply and go along with it. Page 1 of 7
Ezekiel 8:12 This is similar to the above, but with the added component of thought that since the Lord is not here has left the building so to speak we can do whatever we please. Again the connotation, or recognition is that the Lord is holy and righteous; knows and desires something other than what these elders are on about. 2) The depth of God s presence a) Read Genesis 1:1-2; Jeremiah 23:24; Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 4:13. What is the extent and the ramifications of God s God has always been. He is not created. In this sense He is completely other than creation, including time and space. However, we also learn from Jeremiah 23:24 God fills time and space. He works within time and space within His creation to accomplish His purposes. Proverbs 15:3 God s presence means He is also always watching seeing knowing. God s omnipresence and omniscience are interconnected. Both are specific unique divine attributes (characteristics) of God. He alone is everywhere present. Hebrews 4:13 All must give an account and the account will be fully known. b) Read Exodus 33:12-33; 40:34-38. What is the quality and nature of God s God knows us by our name. He is personal. God s presence will accompany people. He will give rest. God s presence itself is a sign of favor and blessing. God chooses He has free will to choose how He interacts with people. God interacts with people in different ways. He is gracious, compassionate, merciful by His own description. It is not possible to see God s face and yet live on earth. God is faithful to His word. 3) God s Righteous Right Hand. a) Read Genesis 48:13-14; Isaiah 41:10; Exodus 15:6, 12; Psalm 16:11, 98:1. What do you observe about God s righteous right hand? It is an indication of blessing; it is how God upholds people (helps, comes to aid); God defeats His enemy; and defends righteousness; God s righteous right hand has immense power; God s righteous right hand is seen as holy and salvific; at His right hand is pleasure forevermore. Although this may be perceived as being entirely symbolic, it should help in form our prayer life. This is how the Lord has determined to convey His blessing and favor. Let us seek God s right hand. Page 2 of 7
IN MY LIFE 1. Hold unswervingly to the truth and reality: Memorize Psalm 139 a few verses at a time. There is a difference between feeling lonely and being alone. God is present wherever I go. The truth is I am never alone. Another truth is that God is faithful (Hebrews 10:23 is one of many verses). Can you think of other verses (e.g. Lamentations 3:21-23)? What are some circumstances in your life where the truth of God s presence and faithfulness are very helpful? 2. Be faithful, consistent, dependable: To the Lord first and foremost, and then also in all my relationships. What are ways I can demonstrate and act upon this. The Lord is faithful, consistent, dependable, and because we have His Spirit, we can be as well. He will enable us to be so. Let your yes be yes, and no, no. This is a divine characteristic. Can you think of some specific ways you can put this into practice in your life? 3. Be intentional, honest, and aware: How will I profit from the presence of the Lord today? When do I avoid Him ignore Him? And why? Why is it you sometimes try to avoid the Lord or His ways? Can you think of the specific motivating factor(s)? How can you profit from the Lord s presence in your daily life? 4. Pray: Be accurate and specific in prayer. How will this truth change the way I pray? How will this truth change the way you pray? Does it make sense to say, Lord please be with, since we know God is already present. What are we really trying to say? We know it is God s will to lead and guide. So how can we be more accurate when we pray, Lord, please guide me, or please lead that person What else could we pray which might be more specific and accurate? e.g. Lord please help me enable me to be strong and courageous. To follow your guidance. Lord please help that person to respond to your presence and not reject you. Etc Page 3 of 7
Word Study Spirit: the divine Power of God, which can be grieved, closely identified with the LORD himself i 12.1 θεός a, οῦ m: the one supreme supernatural being as creator and sustainer of the universe God. ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιήσας τὸν κόσµον καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐν αὐτῷ God who made the world and everything in it Ac 17.24. Flee: run away, escape, i.e., make linear movement away from something, safety from danger ii Presence: face; i.e., the personal existence of something in a particular place or space, that usually interacts with objects around it iii IN GREEK: to be in a place iv Ascend: (x1 this word used only once in the O.T.) go up, i.e., make a linear motion of ascent v Heavens: atmosphere, i.e., the area of the stars, skies, air, as a region above the earth including the horizon (1Ki 18:45); vi OR highest heaven, i.e., the very uppermost part of the sky, stars, and air (Dt 10:14); vii IN GREEK: (either singular or plural without distinction in meaning): space above the earth, including the vault arching high over the earth from one horizon to another, as well as the sun, moon, and stars sky. viii Make my bed: formally, spread out a cover, i.e., prepare to sleep by spreading out coverings, with a focus that one stays in a place for an extended period of time ix IN GREEK: part of the word set for household activities Sheol: the Underworld, Hades, the Grave, i.e., a place under the earth where the dead reside, the realm of death x ; Hebrew term Sheol) the world of the dead, Hades. xi ; Wings of the morning: east, formally, wing of the dawn, i.e., east, the direction of the sunrise xii ; IN GREEK: `east (as the direction of the rising sun). ἥξουσιν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ δυσµῶν people will come from the east and the west Lk 13.29. xiii Uttermost: far side, the other side, as a limit point of a space xiv ; the extreme limit of a space extreme boundary, final limit, end. xv Lead: guide, i.e., direct the movements of others implying leadership and rulership, see also domain xvi Right hand: God s good, helping hand (see links) Hold: uphold, make secure, i.e., give aid and help to an object so as to have a successful outcome of an event or Page 4 of 7
action, as a figurative extension of a hand grasping and holding up an object so as not to fall or fail xvii Darkness: (same word used in first part of vs. 12); valuable secrets, formally, treasures of darkness; obscurity; secret place(s) Isa. 45:3 Jb 12:22; = hiding-place Jb 34:22, cf. ψ 139:11, 12; on Ez 8:12, xviii ; IN GREEK: pertaining to not being able to be seen or known, and thus to be hidden hidden, unknown. οὐκ ἔστιν κτίσις ἀφανὴς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ there is nothing that can be hidden from him He 4.13. It is possible to render that can be hidden from him as that people can keep God from seeing or that people can prevent God from knowing about. xix ; (an idiom, literally in the darkness ); ἐν (τῷ) κρυπτῷ (an idiom, literally in the hidden ): pertaining to not being able to be known by the public but known by some in-group or by those immediately involved in secret, in private, secretly, privately. xx note: there are many associative meanings to darkness, including terror, ignorance, sadness, confusion, evil; the dark, i.e., the lack of light in a space (Ge 1:4; Ex 10:21), xxi Aside: based on context (i.e. light about me be night ) obscurity / secret place seems to be the most appropriate Darkness: (2 nd use at the end of vs. 12 this is a different Hebrew word): the dark, i.e., the lack of light, with the associative meanings of distress or mystery xxii Light (vs. 12 only): morning light, i.e., light compared to the darkness of night, which can make dew sparkle xxiii ubiq ui tous \yü-ˈbi-kwə-təs\ adj 1830 : existing or being everywhere at the same time : constantly encountered : WIDESPREAD a ubiquitous fashion ubiq ui tous ly adv ubiq ui tous ness n ubiq ui ty \yü-ˈbi-kwə-tē\ n [L ubique everywhere, fr. ubi where + -que, enclitic generalizing particle; akin to L quis who and to L -que and more at WHO, SESQUI-] 1579 : presence everywhere or in many places esp. simultaneously : OMNIPRESENCE xxiv Page 5 of 7
Text Study English Standard The New International New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update The New King James The New Revised Standard New Living Translation 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your 7 Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your 7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 9 If I rise on the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 9 If I ride the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night, darkness shall fall on me, Even the night shall be light about me; darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night, 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night 12 even the not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for as light with you. 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for as light to you. 12 Even the not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. 12 even the not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for as light to you. 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you. Page 6 of 7
i Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.) (DBLH 8120, #1). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc. m masculine ii Swanson, J. (1997). iii Ibid. iv Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:723). New York: United Bible societies. v Swanson, J. (1997). vi Ibid. vii Ibid. viii Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). ix Swanson, J. (1997). x Ibid. xi Ibid. xii Ibid. xiii Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). xiv Swanson, J. (1997). xv Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). xvi Swanson, J. (1997). xvii Ibid. = equivalent, equals. cf. confer, compare. xviii Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (2000). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Strong's, TWOT, and GK references Copyright 2000 by Logos Research Systems, Inc. (electronic ed.) (365). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems. xix Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). xx Ibid. xxi Swanson, J. (1997). xxii Ibid. xxiii Ibid. xxiv Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc. Page 7 of 7