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²² “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. ²³ But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, ²⁴ eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵ burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” (Exodus 21:22–25 (ESV)

Today’s biblical passage is cited as the definitive text for the personhood of the unborn. Moses describes the circumstances, and consequences, of both the premature birth and accidental death of an unborn child.

If a pregnant woman was hit by someone and gave birth due to the injury, but no harm came to the premature baby, then the perpetrator paid a fine as a judge determined. However, if under the same circumstances the premature baby died due to the mother’s injury, the judge would sentence the guilty party to death. The death of the unborn baby would be a capital offense. This is based upon the Fifth Commandment that says, “You shall not murder.” (“Exodus 20:13 (ESV).

“The usual Hebrew word for child is used (as in Ex. 21:4 and 1:17-18). The Hebrew verb describes the emergence of a child in Gen. 25:26; 38:28-30. There is no reason to limit the ‘harm’ spoken of to the mother. If there is no lasting harm either to the mother or the child, compensation for the hurt inflicted is to be paid to the husband, fixed by a third party. Otherwise, the penalty is proportionate to the injury to the mother or child. Although the harm to the woman or child was not intentional, there was culpable negligence in disregarding the welfare of the pregnant woman,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

The Fifth Commandment is based upon a previous precept from the LORD. The LORD prescribed the inherent value of human life in His covenant with Noah. This was establish years earlier in the aftermath of the Flood.   

“And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. ² The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. ³ Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. ⁴ But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. ⁵ And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. ⁶ “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. ⁷ And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.” (Genesis 9:1–7 (ESV)

While neither text says, “Abortion is murder” the implication is clear. An unborn baby is a person, who God created in His image. If injured unto death, the individual causing the death of the child is guilty of murder. The punishment must fit the crime.

This is God’s truth. It is a sobering truth compared to our contemporary culture’s blatant desire to abort unborn children based upon a woman’s so-called right to choose. God places importance upon the sanctity of all human life. May we, a believers in Christ, do the same.

Soli deo Gloria!

The His Word Today Weekly Podcast begins Monday, September 5 featuring expository messages from the Epistle to the Ephesians.

^13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV).

“David no doubt means figuratively to express the inconceivable skill which appears in the formation of the human body. When we examine it \,even to the nails on our fingers, there is nothing which could be altered as at something disjointed or put out of place; We need not then wonder if God, who formed man so perfectly in the womb, should have an exact knowledge of him after he is ushered into the world,” explains John Calvin.

Psalm 139:16 says, “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” This text reveals to us that God not only knows our life prior to our birth but also how long our life will be following our birth.

The word eyes (ʿǎ·yin) refers to God’s understanding and knowledge. The word saw (rā·ʾā(h) also means to understand and to perceive. Both the noun and verb harmonize each other.

With perfect omniscience the LORD understood and comprehended David’s unformed substance. The phrase unformed substance (gō·lěm) refers to the human embryo or fetus. God perceived life in David’s developing body in his mother’s womb.

What follows in the text is David’s reference to the length of his life. He wrote, “in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me.” Book (sē·p̄ěr) is a scroll or document. This symbolizes God’s wise counsel in determining how long David would live. This would include the everyday details (Psalm 139:1-4).

“God prerecorded all the days of the psalmist before he was even born. This statement may mean that God determined how long he would live. God marvelously planned out his life,” states Dr. John Walvoord.

Job 14:5 says, “If his days are determined, the number of his months is with you; you have appointed his boundaries, and he cannot cross them.”

Psalm 56:8 says, “You have kept count of my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle; are they not in your book?”

Deuteronomy 32:39 (ESV) says, “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”  

All of life is in the sovereign control of God. Therefore, His creation must obey the One who is the author of life. Unfortunately, the fallen world does not and lives in rebellion against the giver of life.

May each believer in Christ resolve to live this day to the honor and glory of the One, True God of life. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!    

The His Word Today Weekly Podcast begins Monday, September 5 featuring expository messages from the Epistle to the Ephesians.

^13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV).

“Psalm 139:13–16 expands upon David’s earlier references to divine presence, showing that the Lord’s presence is close and intimate—so close, in fact, that God was there in the womb of David’s mother knitting him together. The image pictures the Lord as attending to the details, just as a knitter has to pay close attention in order to knit a blanket and not produce a tangled mess. This passage also has important implications for how we view the unborn. If God knits people together in their mothers’ wombs, we are forbidden from taking the life of the unborn for reasons of convenience,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul. .

Psalm 139:15 says, “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. There are four images presented in this verse.

First, “my frame was not hidden from you.” The word frame (ʿō·ṣěm) means skeletal framework. David considers his unborn, physical human body stressing the bones as a central part. His skeletal structure was not hidden (kā·ḥǎḏ) or unknown to God.

Second, “…when I was being made in secret.” To be made (ʿā·śā(h) means to be purposefully created. Secret (sē·ṯěr) means to be hidden or concealed. Today’s medical technology allows us to see the unborn baby while still in their mother’s womb. Such was not the case in the ancient world.  

Third, “intricately woven” (rā·qǎm) refers to be “created and fashioned out of existing materials, as a figurative extension of weaving cloth into a product. This apparently refers to the gestation process as a figurative extension of forming dust in or under the ground into a person,” explains one commentator.  

Fourth, “in the depths of the earth” Depths (tǎḥ·tî) figuratively means the womb. Of the earth (ʾě·rěṣ) refers to humankind.

“Like toddler and adolescent, the terms embryo and fetus do not refer to nonhumans but to humans at various stages of development. It is scientifically inaccurate to say a human embryo or a fetus is not a human being simply because he is at an earlier stage than an infant. This is like saying that a toddler is not a human being because he is not yet an adolescent. Does someone become more human as he gets bigger? If so, then adults are more human than children, and football players are more human than jockeys. Something nonhuman does not become human or more human by getting older or bigger; whatever is human is human from the beginning, or it can never be human at all. The right to live does not increase with age and size; otherwise, toddlers and adolescents have less right to live than adults,” explains author Randy Alcorn.

“Every child in the womb is God’s handiwork and part of God’s plan. Christ loves that child and proved it by becoming like him—He spent nine months in His mother’s womb,”

Meditate upon the preciousness of every human life. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

The His Word Today Weekly Podcast begins Monday, September 5 featuring expository messages from the Epistle to the Ephesians.

^13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV).

Psalm 139:13 says that the LORD intricately created and crafted each human being during the nine month gestational period. This creative craftsmanship is supported by science. Logically, it supports the idea of a master craftsman.

David’s response to this truth is found in Psalm 139:14. “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

David’s response is praise. The Hebrew word for praise is yadah. It means to give a public confession of praise for a person acts of power. Attention is also given to the person giving the praise and thanksgiving (1Ch 29:13).

Why does David praise the LORD? It is because God made him; fearfully and wonderfully. Fearfully (yā·rē) means reverence and respect. Wonderfully made (pā·lā(h) refers to that which is extraordinary.

David’s conclusion is that Yahweh’s work in creating humankind is wonderful. This knowledge David exceedingly possesses within the center of his being.

“Psalm 139:13–16 paints a vivid picture of God’s intimate involvement with a preborn person. God created David’s “inward parts” not at birth, but before birth. David says to his Creator, “You knitted me together in my mother’s womb” (v. 13). Each person, regardless of his parentage or handicap, has not been manufactured on a cosmic assembly line, but personally formed by God,” explains Christian author Randy Alcorn.

Both Job and the Prophet Isaiah describe the way the LORD created them before they, and Israel, were born.

⁸ Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether. ⁹ Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust? ¹⁰ Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese? ¹¹ You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. ¹² You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.” (Job 10:8–12 (ESV)

 “But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! ² Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.” (Isaiah 44:1–2 (ESV)

“The most significant thing about abortion legislation in Biblical law is that there is none. It was so unthinkable that an Israelite woman should desire an abortion that there was no need to mention this offense in the criminal code.” All that was necessary to prohibit an abortion was the command, “You shall not murder” (Ex. 20:13). Every Israelite knew that the preborn child was a child. So do we, if we are honest. We all know a pregnant woman is “carrying a child,” explains theologian Meredith George Kline.

Remember, each person, regardless of his parentage or handicap, has not been manufactured on a cosmic assembly line, but personally formed by God. Like David, may each of us understand this truth in our soul.

Soli deo Gloria!

^13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV).

For the next several days, I will explain what David wrote concerning God’s knowledge of the unborn. We begin with vs. 13 which says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”

The subject is God and has been for the first twelve verses of this psalm. He alone knows not only our spiritual condition (vs. 1-6) but also our physical location (vs. 7-12). Why is this so?

It because the LORD formed out inward parts. The Hebrew word formed (qā·nîʹ·ṯā) means to create. The grammar indicates that this creative act occurred as a past, completed action with continuing results.

What is it that God formed? David said our inward parts. In the Hebrew (ḵil·yōṯ) it means the reins of a persons or their most vital organs. This includes the kidneys.

David continued to say, “you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Using metaphorical language, the psalmist evokes the image of a silk weaver who interweaves, intertwines and shapes. God does this during the nine-month gestational period. This activity occurs within the mother’s womb during three distinct stages: The Germinal Stage, the Embryonic Stage, and the Fetal Stage.

Following the Germinal and the Embryonic Stage, there is the Fetal Stage.  

Once cell differentiation is mostly complete, the embryo enters the next stage and becomes known as a Fetus. The fetal period of prenatal develop marks more important changes in the brain. This period of development begins during the ninth week and lasts until birth. This stage is marked by amazing change and growth.

The early body systems and structures established in the embryonic stage continue to develop. The neural tube develops into the brain and spinal cord and neurons continue to form. Once these neurons have formed, they begin to migrate to their correct locations. Synapses, or the connections between neurons, also begin to develop.

Between the ninth and twelfth week of gestation (at the earliest), reflexes begin to emerge. The fetus begins to make reflexive motions with its arms and legs.

During the third month of gestation, the sex organs begin to differentiate. By the end of the month, all parts of the body will be formed. At this point, the fetus weighs around three ounces. The fetus continues to grow in both weight and length, although the majority of the physical growth occurs in the later stages of pregnancy.

The end of the third month also marks the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. During the second trimester, or months four through six, the heartbeat grows stronger and other body systems become further developed. Fingernails, hair, eyelashes, and toenails form. Perhaps most noticeably, the fetus increases about six times in size.

The brain and central nervous system also become more responsive during the second trimester. Around 28 weeks, the brain starts to mature faster, with an activity that greatly resembles that of a sleeping newborn.

During the period from seven months until birth, the fetus continues to develop, put on weight, and prepare for life outside the womb. The lungs begin to expand and contract, preparing the muscles for breathing.

While development usually follows this normal pattern, there are times when problems with prenatal development occur. Disease, malnutrition, and other prenatal influences can have a powerful impact on how the brain develops during this critical period.

“Brain development does not end at birth. A considerable amount of brain development takes place postnatally, including growing in size and volume while changing in structure. The brain quadruples in size between birth and preschool. As children learn and have new experiences, some networks in the brain are strengthened while other connections are pruned,” writes one physician. (Information accessed from http://www.verywellmind.com).

What should be our response and wonder? We will see how David’s reaction to the truth of psalm 139:13 should mirror ours. May we realize how holy, and awesome is our Creator and Sustainer.

Read and meditate upon today’s passage of Scripture. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

The His Word Today Weekly Podcast begins Monday, September 5 featuring expository messages from the Epistle to the Ephesians.

¹¹ “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (Titus 2:11-12 ESV).

Godliness is an effect brought about by a preceding cause. The cause is the grace of God.

For the grace of God. Grace (χάρις; charis) refers to God’s unmerited and kind favor. It is favor originating from and sourced solely in God; the One, True God.

Paul stated that this grace of God has appeared (ἐπιφαίνω; epiphainō). Grace is a manifested and revealed work by God for sinners. Grace appeared not as a doctrine but more importantly as a person; Jesus Christ. Jesus is the embodiment of grace and the source of grace (Rom. 3:21-26).

Grace brings salvation (σωτήριος:sōtērios) or deliverance from sin’s penalty, power and eventual  presence. This gracious salvation is extended to all people, or all kinds of people.

“Bringing salvation to all people is sometimes misunderstood as meaning that all people will be saved. However, such a reading is not necessary here and flatly contradicts other Scripture (I Tim. 2:4). It means, rather, that salvation has been offered to all people (including all ethnic groups), not just to some,” explains Dr. Ray Van Neste of The University of Aberdeen.

This gracious salvation does not just address our past sins, along with our future hope of heaven. It also speaks to our daily pursuit of godliness. In the midst of this quest for Christ-like character, the believer battles the world, their remaining sinful desires (the flesh) and the Devil.

God’s grace presently and actively trains (παιδεύω; paideuō) or disciplines believers to renounce (ἀρνέομαι; arneomai) or deny certain behaviors. “Salvation is transforming (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:8–10), and transformation (new birth) produces a new life in which the power of sin has been broken (Rom. 6:4–14; Phil. 3:8–9; Col. 3:9–10),” states Dr. John MacArthur.

What is the believer in Christ to personally disown? Paul lists ungodliness (ἀσέβεια; asebeia) and worldly passions (κοσμικός; kosmikos/ ἐπιθυμία; epithymia).

Paul then instructs Titus regarding what the believer in Christ should do. This includes being self-controlled (σωφρόνως; sōphronō), upright (δικαίως; dikaiōs), and godly (εὐσεβῶς; eusebōs). This is how the Christian ought to live.

Is your Christian life characterized by not only what you do not do, but also what you do? Take time today to examine your walk with the Lord. Ask Him to reveal to you where you need strength and courage to be godly.

Soli deo Gloria!

^13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV).

For the next several days, I will explain what David wrote concerning God’s knowledge of the unborn. We began with vs. 13 which says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”

The subject is God and has been for the first twelve verses of this psalm. He alone knows not only our spiritual condition (vs. 1-6) but also our physical location (vs. 7-12). Why is this so?

It because the LORD formed out inward parts. The Hebrew word formed (qā·nîʹ·ṯā) means to create. The grammar indicates that this creative act occurred as a past, completed action with continuing results.

What is it that God formed? David said our inward parts. In the Hebrew (ḵil·yōṯ) it means the reins of a persons or their most vital organs. This includes the kidneys.

David continued to say, “you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Using metaphorical language, the psalmist evokes the image of a silk weaver who interweaves, intertwines and shapes. God does this during the nine-month gestational period. This activity occurs within the mother’s womb during three distinct stages: The Germinal Stage, the Embryonic Stage, and the Fetal Stage.

Following the Germinal Stage, what the occurs is known the Embryonic Stage.

At this point, the mass of cells is now known as an Embryo. The beginning of the third week after conception marks the start of the embryonic period, a time when the mass of cells becomes distinct as a human. The embryonic stage plays an important role in the development of the brain. 

Approximately four weeks after conception, the neural tube forms. This tube will later develop into the central nervous system including the spinal cord and brain. The neural tube begins to form along with an area known as the neural plate. The earliest signs of development of the neural tube are the emergence of two ridges that form along each side of the neural plate.

Over the next few days, more ridges form and fold inward until a hollow tube is formed. Once this tube is fully formed, cells begin to form near the center.

 The tube begins to close and brain vesicles form. These vesicles will eventually develop into parts of the brain, including the structures of the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.​

Around the fourth week, the head begins to form, quickly followed by the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. The blood vessel that will become the heart start to pulse. During the fifth week, buds that will form the arms and legs appear.

By the eighth week of development, the embryo has all of the basic organs and parts except those of the sex organs. At this point, the embryo weighs just one gram and is about one inch in length.

By the end of the embryonic period, the basic structures of the brain and central nervous system have been established. At this point, the basic structure of the peripheral nervous system is also defined.

The production of neurons, or brain cells, begins around day 42 after conception and is mostly complete sometime around the middle of pregnancy.

As neurons form, they migrate to different areas of the brain. Once they have reached the correct location, they begin to form connections with other neural cells, establishing rudimentary neural networks. (Information accessed from http://www.verywellmind.com).

More to come. May we realize how holy, and awesome is our Creator and Sustainer.

Read and meditate upon today’s passage of Scripture. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

The His Word Today Weekly Podcast begins Monday, September 5 featuring expository messages from the Epistle to the Ephesians.

^13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV).

For the next several days, I will explain what David wrote concerning God’s knowledge of the unborn. Let’s begin with vs. 13 which says, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”

The subject is God and has been for the first twelve verses of this psalm. He alone knows not only our spiritual condition (vs. 1-6) but also our physical location (vs. 7-12). Why is this so?

It because the LORD formed out inward parts. The Hebrew word formed (qā·nîʹ·ṯā) means to create. The grammar indicates that this creative act occurred as a past, completed action with continuing results.

What is it that God formed? David said our inward parts. In the Hebrew (ḵil·yōṯ) it means the reins of a persons or their most vital organs. This includes the kidneys.

David continued to say, “you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” Using metaphorical language, the psalmist evokes the image of a silk weaver who interweaves, intertwines and shapes. God does this during the nine-month gestational period. This activity occurs within the mother’s womb during three distinct stages: The Germinal Stage, the Embryonic Stage, and the Fetal Stage.

More to come. May we realize how holy, and awesome is our Creator and Sustainer.

Read and meditate upon today’s passage of Scripture. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

The His Word Today Weekly Podcast begins Monday, September 5 featuring expository messages from the Epistle to the Ephesians.

^13 “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV).

Abortion is nothing new. It is not an act exclusive to the 20^th or 21^st century. Rather, it can be traced throughout recorded history.

“Virtually every culture in antiquity was stained with the blood of innocent children. Unwanted infants in ancient Rome were abandoned outside the city walls to die of exposure or from attacks by wild foraging beasts. Greeks often gave their pregnant women harsh doses of herbal or medicinal abortifacients. Persians developed highly sophisticated surgical curette procedures. Primitive Canaanites threw their children onto great flaming pyres as a sacrifice to their god Molech. Egyptians disposed of their unwanted children by disemboweling and dismembering them shortly after birth—their collagen was then ritually harvested for the manufacture of cosmetic creams. None of the great minds of the ancient world—from Plato and Aristotle to Seneca and Quintilian, from Pythagoras and Aristophanes to Livy and Cicero, from Herodotus and Thucydides to Plutarch and Euripides—disparaged child-killing in any way. In fact, most of them recommended it. They callously discussed its various methods and procedures. They casually debated its sundry legal ramifications. They blithely tossed lives like dice. Indeed, abortion, infanticide, exposure, and abandonment were so much a part of human societies that they provided the primary literary leitmotif in popular traditions, stories, myths, fables, and legends—from Romulus and Remus to Oedipus, Poseidon, Asclepius, Hephaestus, and Cybele,” explains Dr. George Grant, pastor of Parish Presbyterian Church, Franklin, TN.

Are humans nothing less than animals? Is the historical practice of infanticide a simple way of disposing unwanted babies who are totally dependent creatures? If not, where in Scripture does it teach the inherent value of the unborn? I direct your attention to today’s text from Psalm 139.

Psalm 139 is a Psalm of David. A key word in the psalm is “know.” God knows (vs. 1, 2, 4, 6, 23) and the faithful soul knows (vs. 14). God possesses intimate knowledge of His people and there is no place where anyone can flee from that knowledge (vs. 1-15). Verses 13-16 illustrate this truth by describing God’s knowledge of the life of the unborn child.

“This intensely personal Davidic psalm expresses the psalmist’s awe that God knew him, even to the minutest detail. David might have remembered the Lord’s words, “the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). The exact occasion is unknown,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.  

For the next several days, I will unpack what David meant by what he wrote about God’s knowledge of the unborn. May we realize how holy, and awesome is our Creator and Sustainer.

Read and meditate upon today’s passage of Scripture. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!

The His Word Today Weekly Podcast begins Monday, September 5 featuring expository messages from the Epistle to the Ephesians.

^26 “Then God said, ‘Let us make man^[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26-27 ESV)

One of the results of God creating humankind in His image was giving us the responsibility of dominion over God’s creation. Dominion involves the righteous use of power, authority and control.

Unfortunately, the fall into sin (Genesis 3) perverted man’s delegated dominion over God’s creation. This is because the human heart became wicked and sinful (Ps. 51:5-6; Jer. 17:9).

“Tragically, the man and the woman turned away from God and fell into sin, seeking to become yet more like God (3:5); to choose for themselves what is good and evil. The image of God was defaced. Though made upright, they sought out many schemes (Eccl. 7:29). Their descendants would likewise bear this defaced image (Rom. 5:12–21),” states Dr. Mark Ross, professor of systematic theology at Erskine Theological Seminary in South Carolina.

Christians understand that human beings were created good, but fell into sin and rebellion against God and alienation from one another. Apart from God’s redeeming and renewing grace, fallen man finds only violence in his heart. David expresses the truth eloquently as he writes of God’s attitude toward the wicked: “The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man” (Ps. 5:5–6),” explains Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, president of Westminster Seminary, California.  

The wicked are boastful in what they do. They are evildoers. They speak lies and feel little to no remorse for doing so. The are bloodthirsty and deceitful. It is the result of a secular worldview born of a sinful soul.

“In one way or another, they (the wicked) claim that the victims of their violence are in some way inferior or less human than they are. I can justify violence against those who are not like me: they are not part of my family, my neighborhood, my tribe, my nation, my race, or my religion,” Godfrey comments about the secular individual’s propensity for violence.

With respect to abortion, the advocacy of it rests not only on the woman’s right to choose, but also on “scientific” arguments that argue that the unborn baby is sub-human tissue. Is this argument legitimate?

“Proponents of abortion insist that they are exercising their freedom legitimately. However, they have actually dehumanized the unborn child to justify their elimination of unwanted pregnancies. The real problem is not science, but the abuse of science. The horrendous effect of these pseudo-scientific justifications is dehumanizing violence born of selfishness,” concludes Godfrey.

Are humans nothing less than animals? Aside from today’s text, where else in the Scriptures does it teach the inherent value of the unborn? When next we meet, we will examine Psalm 139:13-16.

Have a blessed day in the Lord. I appreciate your prayers. You have mine.

Soli deo Gloria!

The His Word Today Weekly Podcast begins Monday, September 5 featuring expository messages from the Epistle to the Ephesians.