◄ What Does Psalm 139:13 Mean? ►

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.

Psalm 139:13(NASB)

Verse of the Day

The wonder, glory, and sovereignty of the Lord, weaves its way like a golden thread of wonderment, through so many of David's psalms, but none so beautifully than Psalm 139.

The shepherd king of Israel is deeply affected by the overarching supremacy of God, over the conception and formation of a new little human being. He is awe-stuck by the intricate form of each tiny baby, as it is knitted together in secret - within the womb of its mother.

The psalmist considers the miraculous development of the unborn child, from conception and birth, right on into manhood and old age, and David recognises that God deserves both praise and worship, for the miracle of his own conception and development. He considers the wonderful way he was knitted together, within the hidden recess of his mother's body... and so he writes, "for You formed my inward parts. You wove me together in my mother's womb."

The exquisite description of the development of a tiny human form from conception to birth, is a message that speaks of the omniscience and omnipresence of the Lord, during the development of every child in the womb of their mother.

The growth of the unborn baby, is one beautiful example of the manifestation of the Lord's magnificent wisdom in His unfolding plan of redemption. Indeed, the language and content of this special song of praise, dictates that every unborn child should be treated with great respect - and that God should be glorified in the formation of each little embryo, and every unborn baby.

For the first 12 verses of this well-loved Psalm, the writer lays out the doctrine of God's omniscience and omnipresence. He outlines the master-plan of our Creator, Who determined at the beginning, that man should be fruitful and multiply, and that he should fill the earth with his seed. God determined from the beginning that a man would leave his father and mother and be united with his wife... and together, they would become one flesh - not only spiritually but physically.

God is the Creator of the human embryo, and speaking of the moment of conception, the psalmist writes, "For thou hast possessed my reins. You formed my innermost parts. You have covered me in my mother's womb." This beautifully explains that the Lord is the Originator and Owner of the little life within the womb. God's supreme sovereignty over every newly formed life, is the meaning behind this verse, "for the Lord formed my inward parts. The Lord wove me together in my mother's womb."

God has the ownership rights over every human life, which should be treated with reverence and respect, but too often the Lord is held in contempt by those He knitted together at their conception - and too frequently the value of the unborn is considered inconsequential, or a matter of unfortunate inconvenience.

The womb of the mother should be a place of safety, where the unborn is nurtured. The secret place in the bowels of the mother should be a place of peace and protection, but too often the rights of the unborn are not valued, nor are they treated with awe-struck wonderment.

God in His grace, takes an interest in the life of every conception, for each one is specially created. The Lord forms and fashions every single one, and the psalmist rejoices that God lays out the life-plan of each - and schedules every day of our lives.

Psalm 139 is a most beautiful sacred song, which brings our rapt attention to the hallowed essence of the child in utero, and of God's sovereign role in each little life. While this Psalm can excite our wonder and praise, it can also stir up much regret and deep-seated grief, in those that may have wittingly or unwittingly participated in an abortion, or been instrumental in the termination of an unborn child.

Though abortion is a sin, and the loss of life through terminating a pregnancy is a travesty, Jesus died to pay the price for the sin of every man and woman, including this one. The Lord offers cleansing and forgiveness for the unsaved sinner, who in recognising their need of salvation, trusts that Christ is the acceptable sacrifice for their sin - including the sin of abortion.

There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus, for He even gives forgiveness and healing to those who commit this sin, both in their pre-salvation and post-salvation life - for if we, who have been justified by faith, confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness - including this one.

Let us read through this beautiful Psalm of David, and recognise that the life of the unborn is given as a sacred trust, and that God is sovereign over all living things - and let us give Him all the praise and glory for the wonder of life.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for this beautiful Psalm on the sanctity of human life. Thank You that You gave me life, formed my inward parts, and have scheduled every day of my life. How I praise and thank You that I have been born-again into Your family, and have received a new life in Christ. Forgive me individually, and forgive us as a nation for the careless value that we too often place on life, and especially on the value of the unborn child. Bless and protect those that are pregnant and may those that are guilty of wittingly or unwittingly being involved in terminating a pregnancy, experience Your grace and forgiveness in their lives. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.