A Verse-by-Verse Study of Psalm 139: "I am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"
Psalm 139 stands as one of the most profound and comforting declarations of God's intimate knowledge, omnipresence, and creative power. Penned by King David, this psalm eloquently describes the Lord's unparalleled understanding of humanity, from our innermost thoughts to the very fabric of our being. It culminates in the awe-inspiring declaration, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made," a truth that profoundly shapes our understanding of self-worth, purpose, and our relationship with the divine. This verse-by-verse study will explore the depths of this magnificent psalm, revealing the breathtaking scope of God's care for each individual.
God's Omniscience: He Knows Me Completely (Psalm 139:1-6)
The psalm opens with David's direct address to the Lord, acknowledging His absolute knowledge:
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
This isn't a casual acquaintance but a thorough, penetrating search. God doesn't just know about us; He knows us completely. This foundational truth sets the stage for the verses that follow, detailing the extent of this divine knowledge.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
God knows our every action, from the mundane to the momentous. More astonishingly, He understands our thoughts from a distance, even before they fully form in our minds. This speaks to a level of intimacy that transcends human comprehension.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Every journey, every rest, every decision, every habit – God is thoroughly familiar with them all. There is no aspect of our lives hidden from His all-seeing eye.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
Before a single word leaves our lips, God knows it. He understands the intent, the tone, and the full meaning. This truth is both humbling and comforting; it reminds us of the purity God desires in our speech, while also assuring us that He understands our deepest cries even when we lack the words.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
To be "beset" means to be surrounded, hemmed in. God's presence is not merely a distant observation but an encompassing reality. His hand upon us signifies both His authority and His protection, a constant, tangible presence in our lives.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
David concludes this section with an expression of awe. God's knowledge is so vast, so profound, that it surpasses human understanding. It is a divine attribute that evokes wonder and humility.
God's Omnipresence: There is No Fleeing From Him (Psalm 139:7-12)
From omniscience, David transitions to God's omnipresence, exploring the impossibility of escaping His Spirit and presence:
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
This rhetorical question introduces the theme: there is no place where God is not.
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
"Heaven" represents the highest heavens, the dwelling place of God. "Hell" (Sheol in Hebrew) refers to the grave or the realm of the dead, the lowest depths. Even in these extremes, God is present. There is no corner of existence, no state of being, where His presence is absent.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
The "wings of the morning" evoke the speed of light, traveling from east to west. The "uttermost parts of the sea" represent the farthest reaches of the known world. Even if one could travel with incredible speed to the most remote places, God would still be there.
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
This verse offers immense comfort. God's omnipresence is not a threat of inescapable judgment for the righteous, but a promise of constant guidance and support. His hand leads, and His right hand (symbolizing strength and authority) holds us fast, even in the most desolate or frightening circumstances.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
Darkness, often associated with concealment and evil, offers no hiding place from God. For Him, there is no distinction between light and darkness; both are equally transparent. This emphasizes God's moral purity and His absolute perception of all things, whether hidden or exposed.
God's Omnipotence and Intimate Creation: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:13-16)
Having established God's boundless knowledge and presence, David moves to the astonishing reality of God's active involvement in our very creation, culminating in the psalm's most famous declaration:
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
"Reins" refer to the innermost being, the seat of emotions and affections. God "possessed" or formed these intimately. He "covered" or knitted David together in his mother's womb, a profound picture of divine craftsmanship beginning at conception.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
This is the heart of the psalm. David breaks into praise, recognizing the miraculous nature of his own existence.
David declares that his "soul knoweth right well" this truth, indicating a deep, personal conviction that stems from both intellectual understanding and spiritual revelation.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
"Substance" refers to the entire physical and spiritual being. Though formed "in secret" within the womb, nothing was hidden from God. To be "curiously wrought" means to be intricately and skillfully woven, like fine embroidery or tapestry. The phrase "lowest parts of the earth" is a poetic metaphor for the hidden, profound, and mysterious process of creation within the mother's womb, akin to how precious metals are mined from deep within 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.
Before David even began to form, God saw his entire being. In God's "book" (His eternal counsel and plan), every detail of David's development was already recorded. This speaks to God's foreknowledge and meticulous planning, a divine blueprint that predates our existence. Every member, every organ, every cell, was designed and fashioned according to His perfect will, even when no part of him had yet come into being.
God's Thoughts and the Psalmist's Response (Psalm 139:17-24)
Overwhelmed by God's knowledge, presence, and creative power, David reflects on God's thoughts toward him and then transitions to a plea for spiritual purity.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
God's thoughts are not merely numerous but "precious" – valuable, weighty, and full of good intent. The sheer number of them is immeasurable.
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
God's thoughts are as innumerable as the grains of sand. His presence is constant; upon waking, David finds himself still enveloped in God's presence and care.
The psalm then shifts to an expression of righteous indignation against those who oppose God:
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
This section can be challenging for modern readers. David's "hatred" is not a personal vendetta but a righteous abhorrence of evil and rebellion against God. It is a zealous alignment with God's holy hatred for sin, not for the sinner's person. He grieves over those who blaspheme God's name and desires to distance himself from their wicked ways. This "perfect hatred" is a hatred of evil that aligns perfectly with God's justice, not a sinful, personal animosity.
Finally, David returns to the theme of God's intimate knowledge, inviting divine scrutiny and guidance:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Having acknowledged God's all-encompassing knowledge, David invites it into his own life. He desires God to search his heart, test his thoughts, and reveal any "wicked way" (any sinful path or motive) within him. The ultimate goal is to be led in "the way everlasting" – the path of righteousness that leads to eternal life and communion with God. This is a prayer for sanctification, a desire to live in alignment with the God who knows us so intimately.
Conclusion
Psalm 139 is a profound journey into the attributes of God and their implications for human existence. It begins with the comforting assurance that God knows us completely, from our innermost thoughts to our every action. It then moves to the inescapable reality of His omnipresence, demonstrating that there is no place we can go where His hand does not lead or hold us. The psalm's climax, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made," reveals God's meticulous and miraculous work in creating each individual, demonstrating His omnipotence and personal investment in our being.
The psalm concludes with David's response: a desire to align his will with God's, to hate what God hates (sin), and to invite God's purifying scrutiny into his own life, seeking guidance on the path of righteousness. This psalm offers immense comfort, reminding us that we are never alone, never unknown, and never unloved by our Creator. It also presents a challenge: to live in a manner worthy of such an intimate and powerful God, embracing our identity as His fearfully and wonderfully made masterpieces, and walking in the "way everlasting" that He has ordained for us.