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Commentary on Psalms 139 verses 7–16
It is of great use to us to know the certainty of the things wherein we have been instructed, that we may not only believe them, but be able to tell why we believe them, and to give a reason of the hope that is in us. David is sure that God perfectly knows him and all his ways,
I. Because he is always under his eye. If God is omnipresent, he must needs be omniscient; but he is omnipresent; this supposes the infinite and immensity of his being, from which follows the ubiquity of his presence; heaven and earth include the whole creation, and the Creator fills both (Jer 23:24); he not only knows both, and governs both, but he fills both. Every part of the creation is under God's intuition and influence. David here acknowledges this also with application and sees himself thus open before God.
1.No flight can remove us out of God's presence: "Whither shall I go from thy Spirit, from thy presence, that is, from thy spiritual presence, from thyself, who art a Spirit?" God is a Spirit, and therefore it is folly to think that because we cannot see him he cannot see us: Whither shall I flee from thy presence? Not that he desired to go away from God; no, he desired nothing more than to be near him; but he only puts the case, "Suppose I should be so foolish as to think of getting out of thy sight, that I might shake off the awe of thee, suppose I should think of revolting from my obedience to thee, or of disowning a dependence on thee and of shifting for myself, alas! whither can I go?" A heathen could say, Quocunque te flexeris, ibi Deum videbis occurrentem tibi - Whithersoever thou turnest thyself, thou wilt see God meeting thee. Seneca. He specifies the most remote and distant places, and counts upon meeting God in them. (1.) In heaven: "If I ascend thither, as I hope to do shortly, thou art there, and it will be my eternal bliss to be with thee there." Heaven is a vast large place, replenished with an innumerable company, and yet there is no escaping God's eye there, in any corner, or in any crowd. The inhabitants of that world have as necessary a dependence upon God, and lie as open to his strict scrutiny, as the inhabitants of this. (2.) In hell - in Sheol, which may be understood of the depth of the earth, the very centre of it. Should we dig as deep as we can under ground, and think to hide ourselves there, we should be mistaken; God knows that path which the vulture's eye never saw, and to him the earth is all surface. Or it may be understood of the state of the dead. When we are removed out of the sight of all living, yet not out of the sight of the living God; from his eye we cannot hide ourselves in the grave. Or it maybe understood of the place of the damned: If I make my bed in hell (an uncomfortable place to make a bed in, where there is no rest day or night, yet thousands will make their bed for ever in those flames), behold, thou art there, in thy power and justice. God's wrath is the fire which will there burn everlastingly, Rev 14:10. (3.) In the remotest corners of this world: "If I take the wings of the morning, the rays of the morning-light (called the wings of the sun, Mal 4:2), than which nothing more swift, and flee upon them to the uttermost parts of the sea, or of the earth (Job 38:12, Job 38:13), should I flee to the most distant and obscure islands (the ultima Thule, the Terra incognita), I should find thee there; there shall thy hand lead me, as far as I go, and thy right hand hold me, that I can go no further, that I cannot go out of thy reach." God soon arrested Jonah when he fled to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
2.No veil can hide us from God's eye, no, not that of the thickest darkness, Psa 139:11, Psa 139:12. "If I say, Yet the darkness shall cover me, when nothing else will, alas! I find myself deceived; the curtains of the evening will stand me in no more stead than the wings of the morning; even the night shall be light about me. That which often favours the escape of a pursued criminal, and the retreat of a beaten army, will do me no kindness in fleeing from them." When God divided between the light and darkness it was with a reservation of this prerogative, that to himself the darkness and the light should still be both alike. "The darkness darkeneth not from thee, for there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves." No hypocritical mask or disguise, how specious soever, can save any person or action from appearing in a true light before God. Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open and barefaced villanies.
II. Because he is the work of his hands. He that framed the engine knows all the motions of it. God made us, and therefore no doubt he knows us; he saw us when we were in the forming, and can we be hidden from him now that we are formed? This argument he insists upon (Psa 139:13-16): "Thou hast possessed my reins; thou art Master of my most secret thoughts and intentions, and the innermost recesses of my soul; thou not only knowest, but governest, them, as we do that which we have possession of; and the possession thou hast of my reins is a rightful possession, for thou coveredst me in my mother's womb, that is, thou madest me (Job 10:11), thou madest me in secret. The soul is concealed form all about us. Who knows the things of a man, save the spirit of a man?" Co1 2:11. Hence we read of the hidden man of the heart. But it was God himself that thus covered us, and therefore he can, when he pleases, discover us; when he hid us from all the world he did not intend to hide us from himself. Concerning the formation of man, of each of us,
1.The glory of it is here given to God, entirely to him; for it is he that has made us and not we ourselves. "I will praise thee, the author of my being; my parents were only the instruments of it." It was done, (1.) Under the divine inspection: My substance, when hid in the womb, nay, when it was yet but in fieri - in the forming, an unshapen embryo, was not hidden from thee; thy eyes did see my substance. (2.) By the divine operation. As the eye of God saw us then, so his hand wrought us; we were his work. (3.) According to the divine model: In thy book all my members were written. Eternal wisdom formed the plan, and by that almighty power raised the noble structure.
2.Glorious things are here said concerning it. The generation of man is to be considered with the same pious veneration as his creation at first. Consider it, (1.) As a great marvel, a great miracle we might call it, but that it is done in the ordinary course of nature. We are fearfully and wonderfully made; we may justly be astonished at the admirable contrivance of these living temples, the composition of every part, and the harmony of all together. (2.) As a great mystery, a mystery of nature: My soul knows right well that it is marvellous, but how to describe it for any one else I know not; for I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the womb as in the lowest parts of the earth, so privately, and so far out of sight. (3.) As a great mercy, that all our members in continuance were fashioned, according as they were written in the book of God's wise counsel, when as yet there was none of them; or, as some read it, and none of them was left out. If any of our members had been wanting in God's book, they would have been wanting in our bodies, but, through his goodness, we have all our limbs and sense, the want of any of which might have made us burdens to ourselves. See what reason we have then to praise God for our creation, and to conclude that he who saw our substance when it was unfashioned sees it now that it is fashioned.
Let them not persuade themselves that they should not do penance, who, although they have not contaminated their hands by impious sacrifices, yet have defiled their consciences with certificates. That profession is of one who denies; the testimony is of a Christian who rejects what he had been. He said that he had done what another actually did, and, although it is written, “You cannot serve two masters,” he served a secular master, he submitted to his edict, he obeyed human authority rather than God. He should have seen whether he published what he committed with less scandal or less guilt among people; however, he will not be able to escape and avoid God as his judge, for the Holy Spirit says in the Psalms, “Your eyes have seen my imperfection, and all will be written in your book,” and again, “People look on the face, but God [looks] on the heart. Let the Lord himself also forewarn and instruct you with these words: “And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the desires and hearts.” He perceives the concealed and the secret and considers the hidden, nor can anyone evade the eyes of God who says, “Am I a God at hand, and not a God afar off? Shall a person be hid in secret places and I not see him?” He sees the hearts and breasts of each one, and, when about to pass judgment not only on our deeds but also on our words and thoughts, he looks into the minds and the wills conceived in the very recess of a still closed heart.
Watch, for when the body is sleeping it is nature that holds sway over us, and our activity is directed not by our wills but by the impulse of nature. When a heavy torpor of weakness and sadness rules over the soul, it is the enemy who holds sway over it and leads it against its own desire. It is force that holds sway over nature and the enemy who holds sway over the soul. That is why our Lord spoke of vigilance of soul and of body lest the body sink into a heavy sleep and the soul into a sluggishness born of timidity; just as [Scripture] says, “Let justice awaken you,” and, “When I awake I am still with you,” and, “Do not lose heart.” This is why “we do not lose heart” in the ministry confided to us.
Therefore the Lord supported us when he fashioned us; he supports us also when he bids us to be born. Consequently, the just person says, “You have supported me from my mother’s womb.” Whose mother’s? “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” Those, whom the Lord forms, he also supports; he supports them even in their coming forth: “And before you came forth from your mother’s womb, I sanctified you.” He is our supporter, for he has supported us with his hands. He is called a supporter as the Creator of the human race. And he is our supporter, for he has supported us by his visitation, that he may protect us. In view of this, the psalmist himself says in another passage, “He that dwells in the aid of the most High shall say to the Lord, ‘You are my supporter and my refuge.’ ” The first support is that of God’s working in us, the second in that of his protection of us. Indeed, listen to Moses saying, “Spreading his wings he received them and supported them upon his shoulders.” He supported them like the eagle, which was accustomed to examine its progeny, so as to keep and to bring up those whom it observed to possess the qualities of a true offspring and the gift of an undamaged constitution and to reject those in whom it detected weakness of a degenerate origin even at that tender age.
..."Your eyes did see Mine imperfect one, and in Your book shall all be written" [Psalm 139:16], not only the perfect, but also the imperfect. Let not the imperfect fear, only let them advance. Nor yet, because I have said, "let them not fear," let them love their imperfection, and remain there, where they are found. Let them advance, as far as in them lies. Daily let them add, daily let them approach; yet let them not fall back from the Body of the Lord: that, compacted in one Body and among these members, they may be counted worthy to have that said of them. "By day shall they wander, and none among them." "The Day" was yet on earth, even our Lord Jesus Christ. Whence He said, "Walk while you have the day." [John 12:35] But "by day shall" His imperfect ones "wander." They too thought that our Lord Jesus Christ was only man, that He had not within Him the hidden Godhead, that He was not secretly God, but that He was that only which was seen: this they too thought....But what is, "In the day they shall wander"? Shall they perish? Where then is, "In Your book shall all be written"? When then did they "wander in the day"? When they understood not the Lord set upon earth.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 139:16 stands as a profound testament to God's intimate knowledge and meticulous design of every human life, even from its most nascent, unformed stages within the womb. The psalmist, David, expresses awe at the Creator's omnipresence and omniscience, affirming that God's comprehensive plan for each individual, down to the very formation of their physical being, is not only established but also divinely recorded in His celestial "book" long before birth, before any part of them has taken discernible shape. This verse powerfully underscores the intentionality, personal involvement, and pre-ordained purpose of God in the creation of humanity, revealing that every life is a masterpiece of divine foresight and sovereign craftsmanship.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse is rich with Metaphor, primarily seen in the concept of God's "book" where David's "members were written." This is not a literal book but a powerful, anthropomorphic image representing God's comprehensive knowledge, meticulous planning, and pre-ordained blueprint for every individual's life. It conveys the idea of a divine record, a detailed design established before physical existence, ensuring nothing is left to chance. Anthropomorphism is also prominently present, as God is described with "eyes" that "see" and as one who "writes" and " fashions" (like a potter). These human-like actions and senses are attributed to God to help human understanding of His divine attributes, making His intimate involvement and creative power more relatable and comprehensible. Furthermore, the verse employs a degree of Hyperbole or emphatic language to stress the totality and precision of God's knowledge, stating that "all" members were written and fashioned "when as yet there was none of them," emphasizing the complete pre-existence of divine knowledge concerning David's entire being, even before its physical manifestation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 139:16 is a foundational text for understanding God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His profoundly intimate relationship with humanity. It reveals that human life is not a product of random chance or biological accident but the direct result of divine intention, meticulous design, and active involvement. This verse speaks to the profound truth that every individual is known, purposed, and valued by God from the very moment of conception, if not before, underscoring the inherent dignity and intrinsic value of human life at every stage of development. It affirms God's active providence, not only in the grand sweep of history but in the minute, intricate details of individual biological formation and life trajectory. This divine foreknowledge provides a deep sense of security, identity, and purpose, knowing that our very existence is part of a greater, divinely orchestrated plan, meticulously crafted by the Creator of all.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers profound comfort and a robust foundation for our identity and self-worth. In a world that often measures value by achievement, appearance, or social standing, Psalms 139:16 reminds us that our intrinsic worth is established by God Himself, who meticulously designed us before we even drew our first breath. This liberating truth can free us from the relentless pressure to be "perfect" in human eyes, as God saw our "unperfect substance" and still deemed us worthy of His detailed, loving design. It invites us to embrace our unique identity, knowing that every aspect of our being – our talents, our personality, even our physical characteristics – was intentionally crafted for a divine purpose. For those struggling with feelings of inadequacy, brokenness, or a lack of direction, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that God knows our full potential and has a plan for us, even when we feel incomplete or undeveloped. Our worth is not based on our perfection or performance but on God's perfect design and His intimate, unwavering knowledge of us from eternity.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does this verse imply predestination or negate human free will?
Answer: While Psalms 139:16 powerfully asserts God's foreknowledge and meticulous design of human life, particularly our physical formation, its primary emphasis is on His sovereignty as Creator and His intimate, personal knowledge of us. It highlights that our existence is not accidental but divinely purposed and intricately planned. The verse focuses on God's pre-existent knowledge and creative act ("Thine eyes did see... in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned"), rather than dictating every moral choice or decision we will make throughout our lives. The broader theological discussion of predestination and human free will is complex and spans many biblical texts, often emphasizing both God's sovereign plan and human responsibility. This verse strongly supports the idea of God's intentional creation and knowledge of individuals from their very beginning, which is foundational to understanding His overarching sovereign plan for humanity, as seen in passages like Ephesians 1:4-5.
What does "unperfect" (gôlem) mean in a modern context?
Answer: The Hebrew word gôlem (H1564) translated "unperfect" refers to an "unformed mass" or "embryo." In a modern context, it speaks to the earliest, most nascent stages of human development, before distinct organs, limbs, or body parts are fully formed and recognizable. It's the biological equivalent of raw material, a work in progress, or an initial blueprint that has not yet been fully actualized. The verse emphasizes that even at this nascent, undifferentiated stage, God's eyes saw, and His plan was already complete and recorded. This highlights God's comprehensive knowledge of our entire developmental journey, from conception onward, affirming the value and intentionality of life even when it is not yet fully developed or outwardly recognizable to human eyes.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 139:16 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. If God meticulously designed and knew David in his "unperfect substance," how much more was the pre-existent Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, known and purposed by the Father from eternity? Jesus is the perfect embodiment of God's divine blueprint for humanity, the "image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation" (Colossians 1:15). In Him, all things "were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him" (Colossians 1:16). The "book" in which our members were written can be seen as a shadow of God's eternal plan for redemption, a plan centered on Christ, who was "foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake" (1 Peter 1:20). His miraculous incarnation, the formation of His human body in Mary's womb, was the ultimate act of God "fashioning" a perfect human being, without sin, to fulfill the divine purpose of salvation and reconcile all things to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus, therefore, is the very pattern and purpose for which humanity was created, and in Him, our own divinely designed lives find their meaning, redemption, and ultimate completion (Ephesians 1:4-5).