Contradictions and Paradoxes in Psalms 139:5

This verse states, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." It emphasizes God's constant presence and support, while Psalms 139:5 speaks of God setting boundaries around an individual, which may imply limitation rather than constant support.

These verses say, “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.” These imply that God can be elusive and not always perceptible, contradictory to the notion in Psalms 139:5 where God is described as surrounding the individual.

This verse states, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” It implies a separation due to sin, which contrasts with Psalms 139:5’s idea of God’s encompassing presence regardless of the individual’s state.

This verse says, “Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.” It suggests that there are times when God does not respond or is inaccessible, conflicting with the image of divine enclosure and attention in Psalms 139:5.

The verse states, “The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” This implies conditional presence, which contrasts with Psalms 139:5 where God appears to be persistently surrounding the individual.

This verse states, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” It describes a feeling of abandonment, which contrasts with the assurance of God's surrounding presence in Psalms 139:5.