The Inescapable Presence
Reflections On The Book of Psalms As A Guide For Our Faith Journey
by
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C. We can neither Escape nor be Lost from the Presence of God
The inescapable presence of God means that the One who searches and knows us will never be absent from us throughout our faith journey. Even the person who may want to “go it alone” in life will not be able to run from God, and the person who trusts God’s promises will never fail to have God’s presence through whatever are the joys or sorrows along the journey.
In one of the most profound and magnificent passages of the scriptures, the psalmist gives us the images and message of the inescapable presence of God throughout the universe of his creation and within the depths of the human heart and mind. Psalm 139:7-12:
“Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle in the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.”
Not only does God search and find us, and know every thought and action throughout our lives, but God is everywhere present, and therefore we cannot hide, nor can we go beyond his care. The words of the psalmist describe the unlimited scope of God’s presence. The image portrayed in these verses is God’s presence in the heights (heaven), in the depths (Sheol) and (darkness), and in the breadth (farthest limits of the sea) of the universe. The creation account in Genesis 1: “In the beginning God created” is projected by the psalmist to unlimited dimensions, in space and time, into our current era when the scientists speak of the universe beginning thirteen or more billion years ago. Neither human scientific investigation nor human imagination can outdistance the presence of God, the Creator.
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About the Book
THE INESCAPABLE PRESENCE is based on the Book of Psalms in the Scriptures; and provides a guide for our faith journey through life. Selected Psalms are quoted and matched with the many troubles and joys of life. These include: Times when we are confronted by overwhelming odds; Times when we face physical, emotional or spiritual suffering; times when God seems absent and we look for his presence. Psalms are also matched with times in our lives when we long to express our trust and confidence in God, and times when we are moved to express thanksgiving and praise to God.
Psalm 139 is the launching psalm, where the psalmist expresses confidence in God’s presence by saying, “Where can I go from your spirit; where can I flee from your presence?” His answer is that wherever I go You are there! The book also examines Psalm 139 in careful detail, and gives a background account of how the Psalms came to be, and shows the many references to psalms in the New Testament. The prominent use of the Psalms in our worship is described by references to various worship traditions.
The book concludes with the author’s reflection on his own faith journey guided by the psalms. A bibliography of sources for further inquiry into the Psalms is also provided.
About the Author
Arvid Anderson was born and raised on a dairy farm in
He was ordained in 1950 and served congregations in
In addition to “The Inescapable Presence”, his writings include “From Seedtime to Harvest, the story of my life and thought”, “The Center and Circle of Christian Faith”, and “Reading Jewish Scriptures in the New Testament”
His wife Nancy, who contributed to the editing and design of “The Inescapable Presence”, served as a missionary in