Psalm 139 is a favorite of mine because it shows God’s indescribable love and care for us. We can think of ourselves as “awesome wonders”; because He knows us so completely, we’re always in His sight. Just imagine! There is no place in all creation where we find ourselves separated from His presence. David’s psalm is worthy of our meditation.
Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair
Awesome in His Sight
With little snow this winter, it’s been easier to get around, unlike last winter when we northerners were inundated with snow. Almost everyone I meet agrees that the winter has been a blessing, with its warm temps and little snow. It seems the birds and many animals are also blessed with ease in searching for food. For sure, they do have easy pickings, and that includes the bald eagle.
Ever watched an eagle dive through the air like a bullet to pluck a large fish from the water, or a rodent from the bare grass, with its sharp talons? Or soar above the trees? It’s an awesome sight to watch such a beautiful creature.
But what about the poor fish? Being lower on the food chain, its life is much more tenuous than the eagle’s. The fish must spend its entire life trying to avoid danger. Its life seems not only tenuous but meaningless. Nature can be awesome in its beauty, but it can seem cruel at times, too.
Like the fish, women in many countries live in danger because others consider them less than meaningful. Even in America, there are individuals who put little value on the lives of some human beings. But with God, everyone’s life is precious. In Psalm 139, the author David praises God because David was “…fearfully and wonderfully made…my 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, your eyes saw my unformed body.”
In January we observed Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, a time to reflect on the value God puts on us, His ultimate creation. The Bible is full of examples of God rescuing men and women because, with Him, their lives counted for something. Jesus healed people who were considered the dregs of society. He loved and valued even the most low-down sinner. He told parables that emphasized God the Father’s deep concern for His people. One parable Jesus told is about the shepherd who risked his life to save one of his 100 sheep. What’s one sheep compared to 99? To God, everyone is important and worth saving, even the weak, the poor, and the dumb. Jesus said that we are worth more than many sparrows. We might add, worth more than even a fish or a rodent.
Lord, thank You for loving each one of us enough to die for us, for loving and knowing us even before birth. Cause us to love and care for others as You do, remembering the value of all Your creation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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