“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Psalm 139 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”

Psalm 139 A contemplative psalm Maybe even a philosophical one…

Psalm 139 What’s it all about? God’s omnipresence God’s omniscience - Omni = all / presence = presence - Omni = all / science= knowledge

Psalm 139 God is Omniscient it’s a fact … but that’s not quite what David is saying David is saying: God is omniscient because he’s omnipresent

Psalm 139 An intimate, personal, all-knowing God two possible reactions Fear Denial run-away and hide Joy Love Praise

Psalm 139

Psalm 139 v1-12 God’s Omnipresence v13-16 David’s place in God’s universe v17-24 David’s reaction to this

Psalm 139 1-12 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139 13-16 You’re amazing… 100 trillion cells (100,000,000,000,000) 46 chromosomes in each cell (23 pairs) Each one of those is made up of DNA DNA is made up of four different bases (ACGT) which form the genetic code

Psalm 139 13-16 But what does David say? 3.2bn bases make up you! 20,488 genes Each set of three bases in gene = 1 amino acid String of amino acids = a protein Proteins make cells Cells make tissues Tissues make organs Organs make bodies But what does David say?

Psalm 139:17-24 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!  They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.  Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you?  I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Psalm 139 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”