Whither shall I go from thy spirit?
&c.] Or, "from thy wind?" which some interpret literally, the
wind being God's creature; which he brings out of his treasures,
and holds in his fists, and disposes of as he pleases; this takes
its circuit through all the points of the heavens, and blows
everywhere, more or less. Rather God himself is meant, who is a
Spirit, ( John 4:24
) not a body, or consisting of corporeal parts, which are only
ascribed to him in a figurative sense; and who has something
analogous to spirit, being simple and uncompounded, invisible,
incorruptible, immaterial, and immortal; but is different from
all other spirits, being uncreated, eternal, infinite, and
immense; so that there is no going from him, as to be out of his
sight; nor to any place out of his reach, nor from his wrath and
justice, nor so as to escape his righteous judgment. It may
signify his all-conscious mind, his all-comprehending
understanding and knowledge, which reaches to all persons,
places, and things; compare ( Isaiah 40:13
) ; with ( Romans 11:34
) ( 1
Corinthians 2:16 ) ; though it seems best of all to
understand it of the third Person, the blessed Spirit, which
proceeds from the Father and the Son; and who is possessed of the
same perfections, of omniscience, omnipresence, and immensity, as
they are; who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and
pervades them all; and is the Maker of all men, and is present
with them to uphold their souls in life, and there is no going
from him; particularly he is in all believers, and dwells with
them; nor do they desire to go from him, but deprecate his
departure from them;
or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
which is everywhere, for God's presence is omnipresence; his
powerful presence and providence are with all his creatures, to
support and uphold them in being; he is not far from, but near to
them; in him they live, move, and have their being: and so there
is no fleeing from him or that; and as to his gracious presence,
which is with all his people, in all places at the same time;
they do not desire to flee from it, but always to have it; and
are concerned for it, if at any time it is removed from them, as
to their apprehension of it. Or, "from thy face" F5; that
is, from Christ, who is the face of Jehovah; the image of the
invisible God, the express image of his person, in whom all the
perfections of God are displayed; and such a likeness, that he
that has seen the one has seen the other; he is the Angel of his
face or presence, and who always appears before him, and in whom
he is seen. Now there is no fleeing from him, for he is
everywhere; where God is, his face is: and a sensible sinner
desires to flee to him, and not from him; for there is no other
refuge to flee unto for life and salvation but to him; and
gracious souls desire to be always with him now, and hope to be
for ever with him hereafter; they seek him, the face of God, now,
and expect to see it more clearly in the world to come.