Introduction
Webster’s dictionary defines omni as combining form, universally or all.[1] In trying to explain our God, we find these profound words: Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence. Words can not explain our God as He is above all definitions and explanations, but we can see what God is like through His Word He has given us.
Opening Prayer
Father God, thank you for being our infinite God. I ask that your Holy Spirit help us to understand your Word and reveal to us your ways and the love you have for us, as the very Word you have provided for us is because you love us. I ask these things in Jesus’s holy name, Amen.
Scripture Reading
Psalm 139:1-6
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar.3 You search out my path, and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
Purpose
We need to marvel at God’s attributes and understand their significance in our lives.
The Omniscience of God
Psalm 147:5
“Great is our Lord and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” God knows everything—past, present, and future. (Psalm 147:5) This verse tells us that the greatness of God is evident in His sustaining power inside the universe He has fashioned. He is familiar with each of the countless stars. Nevertheless, the One endowed with immense strength and wisdom supports the humble amidst adversity. This also demonstrates His grace.[2]
There is comfort in knowing God understands our struggles and joys. In Hebrews 4:15, we read that Jesus the One acting as their High Priest had been in their shoes and had experienced every temptation. While He never sinned (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 3:5), unlike them, He was able to feel their reality as a man (much as an immovable boulder can withstand the brunt of a raging sea), and as such, He is able to sympathize with their and our weaknesses. It is true—and has been—that the only person who can truly resist temptation is the one who can truly gauge its power. Therefore, the One who is without sin is more compassionate toward another sinner than any sinner could be.[3]
The Omnipotence of God
Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you (Jeremiah 32:17). This verse tells us that God is all-powerful and can do anything consistent with His nature. A good example of this is creation, miracles, and His sovereignty over all things. This verse is a testament to the grandeur of God. It shows His omnipotence, compassion, justice, wisdom, and mighty acts, as well as his power in creation. Nothing is too difficult for our God, so we must trust His power during all of the trials we face.[4]
The Omnipresence of God
Psalm 139:7-10
In verse 7, there are two vague questions that make you want to know the answer. The two questions go hand in hand, which is a beautiful example of Hebrew parallelism. “Where can I get away from your Spirit?” The answer is nowhere! “What can I do to get away from you?” The answer is the same: nowhere! “If I go to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol [the grave, the place where the dead are], you are there” (v. 8). God is all over the place. God knows what space is![5] We must understand that we are never alone, no matter what we are going through, whether good or bad.
Conclusion
The many other attributes of God are his holiness, faithfulness, and His love. The holiness of God in that He is completely pure and separate from sin (Isaiah 6:3). His holiness calls us to live righteously and strive for holiness in our own lives. Faithfulness Is that He is unchanging and keeps his promises (Lamentations 3:22-23). A good example of this is God’s covenant with Israel and promises in our lives. Understanding this will help us to stand firm in faith during uncertain times.
Lastly is the Love of God, as we read in 1 John 4:8, that God is love and the same God that is Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence loves us and desires to have a relationship with us. The only way to have this relationship is to understand Jesus’ sacrifice and grace as we read in Romans 5:8, “ But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” and Romans 10:13, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Would you like to make sure you have that relationship today?
[1] “Definition of OMNI-,” Merriam-webster.com, accessed September 17, 2024, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omni-.
[2] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 897.
[3] Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 790.
[4] F. B. Huey, Jeremiah, Lamentations, vol. 16, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993), 293.
[5] Daniel L. Akin, Johnny M. Hunt, and Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Psalms 101–150, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2021), 286.