FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!

 

Sunday, May 16, 2021

 

FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!

 

 

Ps 139:14

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

 

Isa 43:1-4

43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

 

The psalm reminds us of our magnificent and mysterious physical formation. How we inspect our newborns for any defect and in doing so are amazed at the details of this new life. We count tiny fingers and toes, even the eyelashes, and we marvel at the intricate attention to detail. We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

 

But Isaiah talks about the formation of a people and a nation. Israel belonged to God by FOUR marvelous things.

 

1.      CREATION – “I have created thee”

 

The nation of Israel was formed every bit as marvelously as the tiny newborn to which we have already referred. Called from Ur of the Chaldeans, Abraham and his sons were conceived in the mind of the Almighty and formed in the womb of Egypt when Joseph was sold by his brothers. Joseph the slave became Joseph the sovereign until the people became too numerous and once again became slaves. Moses the sovereign chose slavery with his people and instead of leading Egypt became a tender of sheep. From the sheep folds he then became the leader of a rag tag troupe which became Israel the nation. Created? Oh, yes!

 

2.      FORMATION – “I have formed thee”

 

Our minds return to that unmeasured time when Jehovah scooped out earth and sculpted the first man after His own image. He then breathed into him the breath of life (literally “lives”) and man became a living soul. Marvelous are His works and that “my soul knoweth right well.”

 

Pressed upon by circumstance, we complain at the pressure of the Divine thumbs that form our eyes that we might see. We cry out in complaint at the hands that stretch our limbs that we might work and walk. If we could but see what the master was about our complaint might be silenced somewhat. We would say with Job “when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” We are formed and are still being fashioned until we resemble the sculptor who formed us.

 

3.      REDEMPTION – “I have purchased thee”

 

“I have loved thee: therefore, will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” I am preferred over others for reasons I can’t fathom. I am loved for no good reason. I am taken from the shelf and given to the One who purchased me. Oh, the cost of making me His very own! God loved me and gave his very own son in trade for me. How valuable I must be to him! How it saddens me to think God made such a poor purchase at such a price. Oh, how I love Him for setting my value high above rubies and my worth above fine gold! With the apostle Paul I can cry, “this is a faithful saying, and worthy of being believed, that Jesus came to save sinners – and I am the worst of them all.” Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! His child and forever I am!

 

4.      CALLED THEE BY HIS NAME!

 

I am taken from the orphanage of sin to the new home of the beloved. I am cleansed of my sinful rags and my body washed by the water of the Word. I am given a robe of righteousness and take my seat at the table with the saints. I am given a name to which I was not born. The official adoption papers are written in blood and my name is recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. Angels applaud at the proclamation and my addition to the family is celebrated throughout heaven. I am humbled! I am brought to tears! I am called by His name.

 

           I am given the protection of the Father. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow – pursue me – all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

Oh my God! I am not worthy of the least of thy blessings! Thank you for reminding me of Thy love for me today. AMEN!