“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Ps. 139:14). 

When anyone deeply contemplates his own personal existence, he is challenged to explain where his life and thus all life originated.  David magnifies the Lord God when he considers his life. Consider three points about humanity being fearfully and wonderfully made.

1.  Identity Even Before Birth.  David, by inspiration, reveals a basic concept of God’s knowledge about David before his birth.  He states, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb” (Ps. 139:13).  Again, “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps. 139:15-16).  Here is a marvelous declaration of the personal identity of David in the womb.  Those who would affirm that there is only tissue and not human life before birth (and even today some saying that a child immediately born is still not viable life and therefore ethically can be destroyed) stand opposed by these words of inspiration.  Notice the words “thou hast covered me” (Ps. 139:13) and “when I was made in secret” (Ps. 139:15).  While the body of David was developing in the womb (cf. Ps. 139:16), David was really existing and identifiable.

2.  Intricate Weaving of the Complicated Human Body.  David addresses the growing process in the womb of the amazing human body, where he states, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps. 139:16).  Medical science today with all the studies and technological advances can truly verify the continual fashioning of a child from conception to full term.  When one thinks of cells to tissues, tissues to organs, organs to systems, systems to a cohesive, functioning being and all interconnected as woven by a master weaver more complex than anything brought about by industry or engineering, it truly can be said that one is fearfully and wonderfully made.  Just the immune system of the human body is an amazing part of human anatomy.  The world of bacteria, viruses and potential sicknesses and injuries were foreseen by God as needed for physical bodies to survive and thrive.  Learning to keep one’s body healthy in many areas is due to the proper understanding of God’s amazing work.

3.  Indescribable Knowledge of Such a Creator.  David addresses God’s knowledge and understanding with the words, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it” (Ps. 139:6).  Again, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand” (Ps. 139:17-18).  Highly complex machines and intricate computer advances today are praised as products of human ingenuity.  Looking at the human body and its complexity argues for intelligent design on a scale far larger than man’s wisdom or pure chance.

Jimmy Clark