The Importance of Not Overlooking God's Presence
The concept of God's presence is central to biblical understanding, encompassing both His omnipresence throughout creation and His special, manifest presence with His people. The Bible frequently speaks of God's "face" as a metaphor for His presence, favor, or even anger [2]. For instance, Adam and Eve hid from the "face of the Lord God" (Genesis 3:8), which the Revised Version renders as "presence" [2].
God's presence is understood to be universal; He fills both heaven and earth [9]. The prophet Job acknowledges God's invisibility, stating, "Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not" (Job 9:10), yet recognizes His active involvement in creation [6]. This omnipresence means that no one can escape His notice, as articulated in Psalm 139:7, which asks, "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?" [9]. This awareness of God's constant observation is intended to inspire awe and reverence [11].
Beyond His general omnipresence, God also manifests a special presence with His people. This manifest presence is a source of strength and steadfastness for believers [3]. For example, when Paul faced trials, he testified, "Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me... and strengthened me" (2 Timothy 4:17) [10]. The presence of God is considered more valuable than any human companionship and serves as a bulwark against enemies and fears [10].
The Bible emphasizes the importance of not overlooking or departing from God's presence. Ecclesiastes 5:2 warns against being hasty in word or impulsive in thought "in the presence of God," reminding individuals that "God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few" [1]. This verse underscores the reverence due to God and the seriousness of addressing Him. To "provoke God to his face" (Isaiah 65:3) is understood as openly sinning against Him [2].
Conversely, seeking and maintaining God's presence is a profound desire for believers. The psalmist expresses this longing, pleading, "Cast me not away from thy presence" (Psalm 51:11) [8]. Being deprived of God's presence, or the means of enjoying it through word and ordinances, causes significant distress for a child of God [8]. Humility is identified as a characteristic of saints who "enjoy the presence of God" [5].
The concept of God's presence is also tied to future hope. The "times of refreshing" are described as coming "from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19), referring to the Second Coming of Christ [4]. This future event is also called the "revelation of Jesus Christ" and the "glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour" [4].
In daily life, believers are encouraged to keep God, particularly Christ, always in view, never allowing Him to "depart from thine eyes" (Proverbs 3:21) [7]. This involves continually looking to Him by faith and contemplating His works [7]. The awareness of God's presence is not merely a theological concept but a practical guide for living, influencing one's words, actions, and overall steadfastness in faith [1, 3].
Sources
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NASB) — Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Face — Means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam and Eve hid themselves from the "face [R.V., presence'] of the Lord God" (Gen. 3:8; comp. Ex. 33:14, 15, where the same Hebrew word is rendered "presence"). The "light of God's countenance" is his favour (Ps. 44:3; Dan. 9:17). "Face" signifies also anger, justice, severity (Gen. 16:6, 8; Ex. 2:15; Ps. 68:1; Rev. 6:16). To "provoke God to his face" (Isa. 65:3) is to sin against him openly. The Jews prayed with their faces toward the temple and Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:38, 44, 48; Dan. 6:10). To "see God's face”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Steadfastness — Exhibited by God in all his purposes and ways -- Nu 23:19; Da 6:26; Jas 1:17. Commanded -- Php 4:1; 2Th 2:15; Jas 1:6-8. Godliness necessary to -- Job 11:13-15. Secured by The power of God. -- Ps 55:22; 62:2; 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24. The presence of God. -- Ps 16:8. Trust in God. -- Ps 26:1. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32. A characteristic of saints -- Job 17:9; Joh 8:31. Should be manifested In cleaving to God. -- De 10:20; Ac 11:23. In the work of the Lord. -- 1Co 15:58. In continuing in the Apostles' doctrine. -- Ac 2:42. In holding fast our”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Second Coming of Christ, The — Time of, unknown -- Mt 24:36; Mr 13:32. Called the Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. -- Ac 3:19. Times of restitution of all things. -- Ac 3:21; Ro 8:21. Last time. -- 1Pe 1:5. Appearing of Jesus Christ. -- 1Pe 1:7. Revelation of Jesus Christ. -- 1Pe 1:13. Glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour. -- Tit 2:13. Coming of the day of God. -- 2Pe 3:12. Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- 1Co 1:8. Foretold by Prophets. -- Da 7:13; Jude 1:14. Himself. -- Mt 25:31; Joh 14:3. Apostles. -- Ac 3:20; 1Ti 6:14. Angels. -- A”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 9:10: Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not,.... This is expressive of the invisibility of God; for though the angels in heaven always behold his face, and men, in the works of creation, may see his eternal power and Godhead, and other perfections of it displayed therein; and saints by faith have a comfortable and delightful view of him, of his countenance, his love, grace and mercy in his word and ordinances, and especially in the face and person of Christ, the image of the invisible God, and will in heaven most clearly see him as he is, in the greater display of his glory an”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 3:21: My son, let not them depart from thine eyes,.... Meaning not the things done by Wisdom; though it is good to contemplate his works of creation and providence, which serve to set forth the glory of Christ, and lead into adoring and admiring views of him, and to thankfulness to him; but wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, whereby these things are done, which are but so many names of Christ: we should always set him before us, keep him always in view, be ever looking to him by faith, and never suffer him to depart from our eyes; we should always have in sight his div”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 51:11: Cast me not away from thy presence,.... As abominable; as a vessel in which he had no pleasure; with indignation and wrath; as one that is angry with another, cannot bear him in his sight, but bids him be gone from him. Nothing is more desirable to a child of God than the presence of God; and nothing gives him more sensible pain than his absence; and even to be deprived of or denied the means of enjoying his presence the word and ordinances, makes them very uneasy: to be utterly, and for ever deprived of it, is the case of the damned in hell, and is the punishment of”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 139:7: It is of great use to us to know the certainty of the things wherein we have been instructed, that we may not only believe them, but be able to tell why we believe them, and to give a reason of the hope that is in us. David is sure that God perfectly knows him and all his ways, I. Because he is always under his eye. If God is omnipresent, he must needs be omniscient; but he is omnipresent; this supposes the infinite and immensity of his being, from which follows the ubiquity of his presence; heaven and earth include the whole creation, and the Creator fills both ”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 4:15: Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me,.... Either personally appearing to him, as in Act 23:11 or by the ministry of an angel, Act 27:23 or else by granting him his gracious presence, which was what Christ had not when he was forsaken by his disciples: the presence of God or Christ is more than all friends whatever, and is often enjoyed by the believer, when they drop him; and is a bulwark against all enemies and fears of them; if God is with him, and on his side, though friends fail, and enemies rage, he has nothing to fear: and strengthened me; inwardly with s”
- Ezekiel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 10:1: To inspire us with a holy awe and dread of God, and to fill us with his fear, we may observe, in this part of the vision which the prophet had, I. The glorious appearance of his majesty. Something of the invisible world is here in the visible, some faint representations of its brightness and beauty, some shadows, but such as are no more to be compared with the truth and substance than a picture with the life; yet here is enough to oblige us all to the utmost reverence in our thoughts of God and approaches to him, if we will but admit the impressions this discover”