“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”
The full verse · Psalm 139:7 · KJV
Whither shall I from thy ? or whither shall I from thy ?
Asked by
Asked to
The Lord (Yahweh), spoken directly in second person as part of David’s meditation on God’s attributes.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionDavid uses rhetorical questions to confess God’s inescapable omnipresence rather than to seek information. The questions function as worship, acknowledging that no spatial location exists outside God’s Spirit and presence. By asking rather than merely stating, David invites the reader into personal contemplation of this truth.
The Response
What Scripture recordsDavid provides his own answer in verses 8-12, affirming that whether he ascends to heaven, makes his bed in Sheol, takes the wings of the morning to the sea’s far reaches, or dwells in darkness, God’s hand will lead him and His right hand will hold him. No location or condition removes him from God’s presence.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyDavid’s paired questions express wonder at God’s comprehensive presence through Hebrew parallelism. The word translated Spirit (ruach) carries the sense of breath, wind, or animating force, emphasizing God’s dynamic activity throughout creation. David asks in interrogative form rather than declarative because the question format engages the reader’s own experience and invites personal reflection. The impossibility of the answer, there is nowhere, carries more force when the reader must confront it as a question. This rhetorical structure transforms doctrine into doxology. The psalmist stands amazed that the Creator of heaven and earth concerns Himself with individual human existence, making omnipresence not a philosophical concept but a relational reality that shapes how David lives before God’s face.
You cannot outrun God’s love or hide from His gaze. When shame tempts you to flee from God, remember that David found comfort in this very truth. The Spirit who saw your worst moment is the same Spirit who intercedes for you now (Romans 8:26-27). Rather than running from His presence, run toward it. Confession brings you into the light you were already standing in. God’s omnipresence is not a threat to the repentant heart but the greatest security, wherever you go today, His hand will guide you and His right hand will hold you fast.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
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