If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
[Psalm 139:9-10]

As Johnathon noted last week, the inability to escape from God’s presence is a comfort to David. Because his life was surrendered to God, David knew that the Father’s constant eye was for his protection rather than his punishment.

That is, for David (and for every born-again believer) the all-seeing eye of God is more like a baby video monitor than a convenience store camera.

Baby monitors and surveillance cameras perform the same function: they keep a constant watch on their subjects. The difference between them, however, lies in why they are constantly keeping watch.

Parents use baby monitors to make sure their children are safe and at rest. If the baby starts to cry, they are notified by the monitor and respond by going to meet the need. Surveillance cameras, however, are in place primarily to document criminal customers who do wrong. The footage becomes the prosecutor’s evidence against anyone who steps out of line.

Whether or not God’s penetrating presence is a comforting baby monitor in your room or a threatening surveillance camera covering all your actions depends on your condition before him. Have you become his child through faith in Jesus Christ and now look to him with all your cares and in all your conduct? Or are you still trying to get away with what you can in this life, recklessly neglecting God’s watchful eye and wrath?