Psalms 139:2-16

I would not make a chasm in the reading of these verses, because the latter of them, according to my view, throw a light upon the former. It may, no doubt, be truly said by David, and by every man like David, that the Lord that made us, knows whereof we are made, and that nothing can escape his all-pervading eye. He knoweth our down-sitting, and our uprising, and understandeth our thoughts afar off; everywhere, and in all places, he is present, and seeth an d knoweth all things. But though such thoughts might, and would be propel to be kept alive in our remembrance, if there were no other, nor higher reasons, than what such solemn considerations are calculated to inspire, to induce the corresponding effect upon the mind of man; yet, I venture to believe, a far more glorious subject is proposed to our consideration; and surely it is our wisdom, as well as our happiness, to make inquiry concerning it. If we suppose (as many other parts of scripture, and particularly the psalms, lead us to suppose) that a greater than David is here, shall not the true believer in Jesus find comfort and delight, if the least glimpse be seen in these expressions of Him, whom truly to know is life eternal? John 17:2. Supposing then that we contemplate the whole of this Psalm as spoken by David, typically considered, as David's Lord, let us consider how the several expressions are applicable to him, from the authority of scripture. The speaker, be he whom he may, here saith, that the Lord covered him in his mother's womb; and he adds, I am fearfully, and wonderfully made. All this, it may be said, is generally and universally true, considered only as referring to the formation of the human frame, and the same, it may be said, is equally true of all God's works in creation. But the terms fearfully and wonderfully made, certainly imply somewhat of a more than ordinary work in the act of creation. Now if we refer to the individual body of Christ, and take in the other passages of scripture in confirmation, we find a suited correspondence to such particular and striking expressions. The apostle Paul, commenting upon the prophecy of David concerning Christ, as set forth in Psalms 40:1 saith, Wherefore, when he cometh into the world he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me, Hebrews 10:5. And how this body was prepared, the angel, who announced to Mary the miraculous conception, explained, when he said, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, Luke 1:35. Here was a body prepared, that might duly be said to be fearfully and wonderfully made. For this was not only a new thing (being contrary to the common mode of generation, and without the intervention of a human father) but is yet farther, fearful and wonderful, in that it was without the act of the mother also, she being altogether passive in it. For it is not said that Christ was begotten of a woman, but made of a woman; and as such Christ is elsewhere called the man from heaven, 1 Corinthians 15:47. The Holy Ghost then being the great agent in this formation of Christ's body, it may be truly and properly said, that Christ was fearfully and wonderfully made. Christ was indeed made secret, and curiously wrought in the dark place of the virgin's womb, called the lowest parts of the earth. And moreover, that expression is exactly corresponding to this, wherein it is said, Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect, and in thy book all thy members were written. The members of Christ's mystical body are said to be. written in the Lamb's book of life, Philippians 4:3; Revelation 21:27; this cannot be said with strict propriety of the mere formation of any man, nor any set of men, who by the divine volition are called into existence in a moment, as when God said, Let there be light, and there was light, Genesis 1:3. Hence when God would make man, he said, Let us make man, Genesis 1:26. But we never read of a book, where the members of each were written before their creation. Put all these things together, and I conceive, that without violence to the words, we may infer that what is said in this Psalm, is said with peculiar reference to Christ.