An Important Theological Anthropology: Psalm 139

Psalm 139 paraphrased says that God really knows you. He is well aware of all of your thoughts. He tucks you in, even in your future and even in your past. He created you, with craft, with purpose, even when you were in your mother’s womb. Praise Him, for this creation of his (you, us) was respectfully and wonderfully designed. It’s beautiful in the truest sense of the word. Made for eternal good things, and strengthened for the opposition of evil here and now, humble yourself before a powerful, loving God, and continue in the journey toward His purposes.

Because you were created, you have worth. Because you were created, you have a design (physical attributes, personality, etc.) Because you were created, God knew about what were in your days ahead because he's outside of time.

So why don't we more often recognize how God has made us as correlated to what we should do? In my immature Christian days, I thought I had to wait for a gift to randomly come down before I understood how I can contribute to the body of Christ. Now that I know the Word better, I see how God called Abraham ("go"), Bezalel ("I've gifted you in all craftsmanship, and you will now train others for this calling of building the tabernacle"), David ("your skills shepherding will be useful in your kingdom calling"), and me ("use the tools that you were once using for your own glory for my glory").

Yes, of course, we believe that God can and will use people however the Spirit wills (1 Cor. 12:11). But what we're saying here is that God has also designed us generally in the imago dei (Gen. 1:26-27) and individually as seen in Psalm 139. If that is true, then it's also true that our design, our value, and our giftedness are given before birth (though also shaped throughout life). Then, when you become a regenerate, practicing believer, you become redeemed (2 Cor. 5:17) and your gift that God has given (1 Pet. 4:10) gets enriched (1 Cor. 1:5) and we gain a clearer picture of you being made in the image of God.

Use this Psalm to learn to value your identity as a redeemed child of God, made in his image.

He designed you on purpose.

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