Journal for Christ: Our "Omni-" God

November 10, 2020

Worship in the WORD

Ps 31

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

31 In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.

NIV

Ps 31

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

31 1 O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don't let me be disgraced. Save me, for you do what is right. 2 Turn your ear to listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection, a fortress where I will be safe. 3 You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. 4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone.

Ps 31

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

31 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.

KJV

Ps 31

Into Your Hand I Commit My Spirit

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

31 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! 2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

3 For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me; 4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge.

ESV

I. Hope – vv. 1-8

A. Verse 1: Action

B. Verse 2: Appeal

C. Verses 3 & 4: Acknowledge

D. Verse 5: Abandon

II. Help! – vv. 9-20

III. Hail – vv. 21-22

IV. Heart – vv. 23-24

I. Hope – vv. 1-8

C. Verse 3 & 4: Acknowledge

"Be to me what You are, a rock of refuge and a strong fortress." So, in essence, David prays. And he now confidently makes his petition found in verses 3-4, having believed and acknowledged these truths and having meditated on their implications. Through these metaphors, David declares that Yahweh is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and omni-custodiens. Most Christians are probably familiar with the first three terms in the previous sentence. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present. The last one – omni-custodiens, maybe not. In fact, I do not believe the word exists. I coined the term because I believe it perfectly fits David's understanding of who Yahweh is and how He acts.

"Omni," of course, means "all" or "every" in Latin. The term "custodiens" is the present participle of the Latin word "custodies," which means:

1 to guard, to protect, to preserve, to watch over, to keep safe. 2 to take heed or to care, to observe. 3 to restrain.
https://www.online-latin-dictionary.com/latin-english-dictionary.php?parola=custodio

David saw God as the "all guarding, preserving, watching, and safekeeping" One. And even the One who is "all restraining" (see vv 8, 17-18) in some cases.

(A note of disclosure, before I go any further, let me say I do not know Latin. In popular parlance – "I don't know a lick of Latin." I stumbled on the word "custodiens" when searching for a word that would be in keeping with the other "omni" words used as technical terms for God's attributes. Who knows, maybe it will find its way into some systematic theology someday. 🤣 )

David, I believe, recognized that these attributes inhered in the very being of God. He expressed this belief by calling God his "Rock of Refuge" and "Strong Fortress." Somebody might not infer God's omnipresence and omniscience from these ascriptions. However, they might from the phrase "lead me and guide me." David trusted that God, as his Rock and Fortress, would also be wherever he was. He not only believed that God was with him, but he desired that God would lead him in the way he should go. In other words, David wanted God to follow him wherever he went. Still, more importantly, he wanted to follow God wherever He led. According to verses 3 & 4, he considered that God's protection and preservation are accomplished in some instances by piloting him through the troubles and traps he faced. And only a being who was big enough and strong enough and knew enough could be trusted to "lead and guide" and preserve him.

³ Since you are my rock and my fortress,

for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

⁴ Free me from the trap that is set for me,

for you are my refuge.

NIV

David did not desire a hunkered down life; he wanted an unhindered life. He did not ask that all hindrances or traps be removed. He knew these were inevitable in this life.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous...

Ps 34:19 ESV

Our Lord promised as much:

Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Matt 18:7-8 TNIV

³³ I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."

John 16:33 (from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

I'm sure the Apostle Paul was aware of these words of our Lord when he wrote the following to the Phillipian believers:

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved — and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Phil 1:27-30 NIV

Worship in Witness:

In light of this truth, one can hide, or one can abide. One can choose to be a spiritual hermit or a spirit-filled herald. To abide in the Lord does not mean to stay stationary (though it does mean we must stand firm!), nor does God want us to live life in constant reverse or retreat. No, He wants us to advance. What if more Christians truly believed and knew that He is All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Everywhere Present, and All-Preserving and Protecting? What would their (our? my?) Christian walk look like then? Our Lord exhorts us to "Be courageous! I have conquered the world."

There are promises that come with each of these attributes mentioned. And I could add numerous more to the lists that follow, as I am sure you can too!

All-Powerful (Omnipotent):

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2 Cor 12:9 NIV

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Cor 10:4 NIV

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Cor 4:7 NIV

All-Knowing (Omniscient):

9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.

But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10 NIV

All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;

my sighing is not hidden from you.

Ps 38:9 NIV

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Rom 8:28-30 NIV

Everywhere Present (Omnipresent):

For this is what the high and lofty One says —

he who lives forever, whose name is holy:

"I live in a high and holy place,

but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,

to revive the spirit of the lowly

and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isa 57:15 NIV

5 You hem me in — behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

Ps 139:5-10 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matt 28:18-20 NIV

All Preserving and Protecting (Omni-Custodiens):

But you are a shield around me, O Lord;

you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

Ps 3:3 NIV

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.

Ps 9:9 NIV

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Ps 46:1 NIV

Though considered separately, these attributes are one in essence and outworking in the being of God. They are unceasingly at work in all creation by our Omnisapient (All-Wise) God. They are a blessing for the believer, but the lost will find no relief or deliverance in them in the end.

Perhaps we all might pray this simple prayer:

Lord, help me grow in my understanding of who You are and how it affects my life. Help me to believe [sincerely] what I know [concerning who You are] and know [experientially] what I believe [concerning who You are].

— Amen

[ ] Bracketed words are included to clarify what I mean concerning the word that comes just before them.

Worship in Promise, Poetry, and Praise:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9e/63/4c/9e634cfa8593ed85a9766d8f9f8c92bc.jpg

A Prayer for Guidance and Deliverance

All-powerful, All-knowing, Ever-present

Wise God

Please guide me on these paths

I trod

Lead me through the ways

unknown

Between the briers that evil has

sown

On the thorny path, In the darkest

vale

Where doubts and fears maliciously

assail

Oh God of immeasurable wisdom and

brength

Save me, deliver me, in Your infinite

strength

— Amen

God Leads Us Along, written by George Young, 1903

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,
God leads His dear children along.

o Refrain:
Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
In the night season and all the day long.

2. Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in the darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.

3. Though sorrows befall us and Satan oppose,
God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
God leads His dear children along.

4. Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
God leads His dear children along;
Away up in glory, eternity's day,
God leads His dear children along.

Lyrics: https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/God_Leads_Us_Along/

Video: https://youtu.be/AMU0G7pTeLo - – Acapella version sung by the Mennonite Hour Singers

Video: https://youtu.be/pjk_xiMYnjs - This is a medley of sorts. I really thought they did a great version of the song, but they left out the song's last two verses.

Some Further Notes & Quotes:

Background to God Leads Us Along:

George A. Young (dates unknown) was a carpenter by trade and a preacher who humbly served in small rural communities, often with small payment and resulting hardship on his family. Despite the hardships, he and his wife were faithful and loyal servants of God. After many years of struggling, Young was finally able to build a small home and move his family in. While he was away on a preaching trip, the house was burned down by a group of locals who didn't care for his preaching. The house was totally destroyed. Again, despite the hardship, Young remained faithful; and this hymn grew out of that experience.

Noted hymn writer and publisher Haldor Lillenas (1885-1959) migrated to the U.S. from Norway early in his life. He learned English from a neighbor who befriended him. Lillenas has related that the woman often sang "God Leads Us Along" to him as an expression of comfort when he was struggling. Years later, recalling the woman's kindness and the song she sang to him, Lillenas sought to learn about the song and its composer. He discovered that Young had died, but that his widow was still alive and lived nearby. He found her living in a poor house, visited with her, and heard her relate this about the hymn:

My husband and I were married while we were very young. God gave us a wonderful life together; he led us from day to day. We had so much of Jesus. But then God took my husband. Now God has led me here, and I'm so excited and glad about it! God has used me in this place. Isn't it wonderful that God leads his children day by day and step by step? Many people come to this place and they are so sad and in such great need. They need help and comfort. I have been able to cheer many of them and lead scores of them to the Lord Jesus Christ. How thankful I am that God has brought me to this place, where I can be of so much help to these people!

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/god-leads-us-along1

¹⁷ But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

2 Tim 4:17-18 NIV

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

"For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 8:31-39 NIV

Journal for Christ

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Our "Omni-" God

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