Psalm 139

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Our Song to God

Bible Passage: Psalm 139 -Knowing is a key theme as the psalm opens and ends with very similar verbiage

Summary: Psalm 139 celebrates God's intimate knowledge of us, His divine presence in every moment of our lives, and His unending love, inviting us to respond in song and worship.

Application: This Psalm encourages individuals to find comfort in God's omnipresence and omniscience, reminding them that they are seen, known, and loved unconditionally. It can help them embrace their identity in Christ amidst struggles with self-worth or loneliness.

Teaching: The sermon can teach that our worth comes from being created intentionally by God, and we should respond to His love with songs of praise and gratitude, acknowledging His continual presence in our lives.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the context of the Bible, Psalm 139 points to Christ as the ultimate revelation of God's presence and love, where through Jesus, we can find forgiveness, relationship, and affirmation of our value as God's creation.

Big Idea: Recognizing that we are fearfully and wonderfully made leads us to worship God authentically and joyfully, celebrating our identity in Him despite our shortcomings.

Intro: As we read responsively the text that serves as the foundation for the message today, David starts and ends this psalm with the idea “knowing”. What does David want us to know? I might first point out that this is a song that was sent to the choirmaster. It is good to remember and know that worship matters, specifically singing matters. If King David himself was taking time to write songs specifically for the sacred assembly of believers to sing in response to a God who knows us, then we should probably read and pay close attention to the truth of these verses that David penned. Feel free to open your pew bibles in front of you to page # as we dig in and see how

1. Pondering God's Knowledge

As we look at the first stanza, verses 1-6, we see that God has an all-encompassing knowledge of us. This is not a reason for fear, but a profound invitation to intimacy. David is less theologically minded in these opening verses and rather, in his humanity he is emoting in response to this amazing and beautiful truth that he is pondering.

David is helping to assure us that God knows our deeds, thoughts, and even unspoken words…think about that…He knows everything… yet loves us fully!

We observe this firsthand throughout the season of Lent when we reflect once again how Christ willingly went to Calvary on our behalf and in our place.

David is helping to lead you, I, and all followers of Jesus to respond with gratitude for such intimate care in the hope that we are able to lay down our defenses and embrace God’s love with openness and worship.

Based on what David says in verse 6, you might say he is praying we have a WOW! moment at the realization of God’s heart and knowledge of us! When is the last time you said Wow!? Jesus is wonderful! God is amazing!

2. Presence Without Limit

In light of the amazing, wowing, wonderful knowledge and love of God for us, David realizes the unending limit of God’s presence with us. In foreknowledge and a forthtelling way, these verses continue to drip of the truth of who Jesus is.

If we need reminders of God’s presence in our lives, look no further than some of the names and titles for Christ.

Jesus is our Emmanuel- God with us. Jesus is the light of the world.

David is helping us to see through the poetic language in this psalm that God's presence surrounds us at all times, whether we face joy or despair.

His omnipresence reveals His commitment to us, offering comfort that we are never alone.

Think about the promises of Christ in the Gospel of John to never leave us or forsake us. Because God’s presence knows no bounds or limits, we can be encouraged. We can lean on His strength, no matter where we find ourselves.

We can’t escape the knowingness or knowledge of God! This is amazing news!

There is nowhere in the universe that God will not be present to lead and hold a believer. There is nowhere to dark for God to see you. There is no place beyond God’s care, all because of Jesus Christ.

3. Purposeful Creation

David continues to take in the truth and reality of who God is as he observes the purpose and intent of all creation from an all knowing and all present God.

David sees and invites us to know that there is intentionality behind our creation. David affirms and highlights the worth God places on each life.

The intentional language that David uses when he writes that he, along with all of us, are 'fearfully and wonderfully made,' helps to instill dignity and purpose within us.

Knowing and understanding this urges us to value ourselves and others.

This is what Jesus thought about you. Christ modeled it with how he lived, loved and served others.

David is urging us to see the purpose in our lives, that we are not an accident, and to live out our identity in Christ with joy, boldness, and confidence!

If one’s confidence or self-esteem is lacking, may it be filled to the brim as we reflects on the very important truths that we are fearfully set apart by God for God.

Think about this…God has set his love for you upon your life in Jesus through your baptism! God won’t abandon us, period.

He proves it by helping us to see that in the dark creation of the mothers womb, the LORD is already showing his care for the worshipper.

If this care and love of God wasn’t real, then there would be no need for Jesus.

4. Pathway to Holiness

David starts to wrap up his newly penned song by helping people to see what implications this has for us personally.

Moved by God's intimate knowledge, David encourages and has a personal response of self examination and commitment. David ends with a plea for God to search and guide him.

What a perfect penitent response for the season of Lent.

Like David, we, too, are invited to examine our hearts, confess our shortcomings, and align our lives with God's desires, trusting Jesus as our guide and redeemer.

The truth is, we can still oppose God and his gracious purpose by rebelling and living contrary to what he calls us to.

But because of the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and through the grace offered to us, Jesus welcomes and invites us to humbly ask Him to search us and know us. The path to holiness, to being more like Jesus, is through repentance.

So what does it look like to live in the truth and know that God knows us, is with us, purposefully loves and created us, in order to make us more holy like Him?

The next time we are faced with the daily struggles of maintaining harmony in our relationships with our spouses, kids, or other family members or friends… instead of reacting in frustration, perhaps we take a moment to pray and invite God into the conversation or moment.

This attitude of prayer and worship can transform disputes of any kind into opportunities for growth.

By acknowledging God's knowledge of us, presence, love for us, and His desire to make us more holy like Him… you can cultivate a space for forgiveness and understanding that reflects His purposeful love.

Or maybe in your work environment, you might often feel overwhelmed by demands or office politics.

This is a chance to reflect on the truth that God is not only aware of your challenges, but is actively leading you towards His purpose.

If you don’t already, I want to invite and encourage you to start your day with a brief devotion or a prayer asking for guidance and clarity on how to navigate your responsibilities.

When faced with a difficult colleague or project, ask for God’s wisdom before responding or making decisions. This practice can create a peace-filled atmosphere and encourage your coworkers to see your faith as an example of stability.

When you find yourself in public life, especially during contentious discussions or heated debates, it’s easy to lose sight of God’s calling towards holiness.

Remember that God is omnipresent and encourages you to be a light in the world. Before engaging in difficult conversations, pray for humility and love in your approach, and aim to listen more than you speak.

In the context of parenting, you may be struggling with how to instill faith and moral values in your children amidst a chaotic world.

Recognize that God's purpose is to raise them with love and discipline, celebrating His Gospel work in our families. Perhaps try implementing a routine where you pray together each night, discussing how God is active in your lives. We encourage this through our Faith 5 Alive time at Trinity for families to utilize. Encourage your kids to identify moments where they see God's handiwork in their day-to-day realities, fostering a connection with Him.

In all these things, may we know and remember, that we have reason to sing. We have a song to sing because God knows us, is always with us, loved and created us, in order to make us holy, as Jesus is holy. This lent, may we continue to repent, that God might have His way in us, in Christ Jesus’ name and power I pray and ask these things, Amen.