Psalm 139:13-16
Mar 04, 2025 by Addison Crissone
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret.
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one
them, the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there were none of them."
-Psalm 139:13-16
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret.
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one
them, the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there were none of them."
-Psalm 139:13-16
This beloved psalm begins with David stating that God formed his (and our) inward parts and knitted them together (v.13).
His thoughts here echo what we read in the prophecies of Isaiah-
"But not now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, o Isreal; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'" (Isa. 43:1).
God formed you. Just as the potter shapes the mound of clay into an instrument or utensil- like a spoon, a cup, or a vase. You are a masterpiece, and God has a purpose for you.
God formed you with intention.
The next thing that David says is that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made!" (v.14). This is one of the most quoted verses in all of scripture, but what does it mean exactly?
One of the varying definitions of the word "fearfully" is "very great".
Meaning you and I are greatly made.
But the second part gets even better.
"Wonderfully" means "in a way or to an extent that excites wonder, astonishment, or amazement."
This is not to say that God was surprised or amazed at his work when he made you- He knew full well what He was making, and why.
Rather, this is to say that you are amazingly, remarkably made by the God of Heaven.
Next, David says this:
His thoughts here echo what we read in the prophecies of Isaiah-
"But not now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, o Isreal; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'" (Isa. 43:1).
God formed you. Just as the potter shapes the mound of clay into an instrument or utensil- like a spoon, a cup, or a vase. You are a masterpiece, and God has a purpose for you.
God formed you with intention.
The next thing that David says is that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made!" (v.14). This is one of the most quoted verses in all of scripture, but what does it mean exactly?
One of the varying definitions of the word "fearfully" is "very great".
Meaning you and I are greatly made.
But the second part gets even better.
"Wonderfully" means "in a way or to an extent that excites wonder, astonishment, or amazement."
This is not to say that God was surprised or amazed at his work when he made you- He knew full well what He was making, and why.
Rather, this is to say that you are amazingly, remarkably made by the God of Heaven.
Next, David says this:
"My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth," (v.15).
'Frame' here is used to symbolize human form, character, and soul. This idea is found in David's earlier psalm. "He knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust," (psalm 103:14).
he knows our frame- meaning our character, our flaws, our mistakes, our habits, and our hearts- and He still values us.
And now, my favorite part of his whole psalm-
"Your eyes saw my unformed substance," (v.16).
When God saw your unformed substance, He saw your worth.
he saw your value.
He saw His child.
Only God, who created you and formed you, can give you value.
Only He can give you identity.
All over the world, there is a generation searching desperately for value, worth, and a source of identity.
But they are looking in the wrong places.
We need not look any further than Jesus for this. We do not need to wander around in search of identity as if we had no shepherd.
Jesus' word is all that matters.
Imagine he says this to you-
"I remember the day I made you. You were them and are now perfect in every way. You are mine. My chosen. And I will call you by name."
Do you believe Him?
he knows our frame- meaning our character, our flaws, our mistakes, our habits, and our hearts- and He still values us.
And now, my favorite part of his whole psalm-
"Your eyes saw my unformed substance," (v.16).
When God saw your unformed substance, He saw your worth.
he saw your value.
He saw His child.
Only God, who created you and formed you, can give you value.
Only He can give you identity.
All over the world, there is a generation searching desperately for value, worth, and a source of identity.
But they are looking in the wrong places.
We need not look any further than Jesus for this. We do not need to wander around in search of identity as if we had no shepherd.
Jesus' word is all that matters.
Imagine he says this to you-
"I remember the day I made you. You were them and are now perfect in every way. You are mine. My chosen. And I will call you by name."
Do you believe Him?
