Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1O LORD, you have searched me

and you know me.

2You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.

5You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

13For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand.

When I awake,

I am still with you.

19If only you would slay the wicked, O God!

Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20They speak of you with evil intent;

your adversaries misuse your name.

21Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,

and abhor those who rise up against you?

22I have nothing but hatred for them;

I count them my enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Seaweed Was Wrapped Around My Head

Jonah's Prayer

 ¹ From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 

² He said:      

  "In my distress I called to the LORD, 

       and he answered me. 
       From the depths of the grave I called for help, 
       and you listened to my cry.

 ³ You hurled me into the deep, 
       into the very heart of the seas, 
       and the currents swirled about me; 
       all your waves and breakers 
       swept over me.

 ⁴ I said, 'I have been banished 
       from your sight; 
       yet I will look again 
       toward your holy temple.'

 ⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,
       the deep surrounded me; 
       seaweed was wrapped around my head.

 ⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down; 
       the earth beneath barred me in forever. 
       But you brought my life up from the pit, 
       O LORD my God.

 ⁷ "When my life was ebbing away, 
       I remembered you, LORD, 
       and my prayer rose to you, 
       to your holy temple.

 ⁸ "Those who cling to worthless idols 
       forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

 ⁹ But I, with a song of thanksgiving, 
       will sacrifice to you. 
       What I have vowed I will make good. 
       Salvation comes from the LORD."

 ¹⁰ And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Smoking 100 Cigarettes at a Time is Not Recommended

The Surgeon General has determined that smoking approximately 100 cigarettes at a time might have deleterious effects on your health. The Surgeon General could not make any specific comments on smoking lower numbers - such as 50 or 60. But, the Surgeon General was certain, absolutely certain, that smoking 100 at a time would be a bad idea, in general.

Cigarette manufacturers lauded the decision. "We fully support the Surgeon General's conclusions about smoking 100 cigarettes at a time. While the scientific studies are not necessarily conclusive that users will necessarily have any negative side effects, we nevertheless agree that it might be prudent to avoid the possibility. At this time, we have no opinion on lower numbers, and decline to make any comments in that regard."

Tar E. Lungs, a frequent smoker, was surprised, and a bit concerned, by the decision. He reported that he chooses to smoke 100 cigarettes frequently, finding that the massive injection of nicotine into his blood stream gives him a good, rewarding feeling. "It really kick starts my day," said Tar, in a gravelly, raspy voice. "I really don't know what to make of the Surgeon General's comments," he muttered to himself, while casually flipping a penny around with his yellow fingernails. "I really get sick of all this government regulation, and wish they would just get off my back. If I want to smoke 100 cigarettes at a time, I should be free to do so. The Surgeon General is not a Surgeon anyway. And he's certainly not a General. So where does he get off?"

Other addicted smokers made similar comments. "Where will this lead us? Someday, the Surgeon General will find that smoking 50 cigarettes at one time is bad for your health. I need my smokes, man! They can't take that away from me. I gots rights!" said Flem A. Lot, as he pulled out his oxygen inhaler for a quick pull.

Certain pro-smoking legal scholars were befuddled by Flem's comments, as they had not previously found support in the Constitution, or other laws, for his claim to have a "right" to smoke 100, or even 50, cigarettes at a time. Yet they were highly persuaded by his comment about the fact that he "gots rights." It was hard to dispute such commentary. These scholars committed themselves to fully researching the issue, with the hope of finding such rights in the emanations and penumbras of various Amendments contained in the Constitution.

Radiant, Unveiled Faces

Moses spoke with God.  The scriptures say that when Moses came down from Mount Sinai -- after spending forty days and forty nights there -- he "was not aware that his face was radiant." People were even afraid to come near him, because of his radiant appearance.  The radiance was reflective of God's glory.  (Moses had just asked God, "teach me your ways" and "show me your glory."  [Ex. 33:18]) 

Ironically, Moses would later put a veil over his face because of its appearance, but would remove the veil when he entered the Lord's presence. 

Our faces, too, should shine when we encounter our Living God. We should be changed.  And it should be noticeable.  Others should see it. 

Paul would later talk about Moses's radiance in 2 Corinthians, contrasting the old covenant with the new covenant.  If the ministry that brought about death (the law) could give Moses a noticeable radiance, "will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?" 

"If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!" 

We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face. The law does not separate believers from God. Access to God is not obscured. Rather, when anyone turns to God, the veil is taken away. "And we, who with UNVEILED faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Corin. 2:18.