Psalm 139:14 says “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” This verse speaks to the awe-inspiring way that God has created human beings. There are several important truths contained in this verse about how God sees us and how we should see ourselves.
We are created by God
First, the verse establishes that we are created by God. He is the one who made us and formed us. We exist because of Him. This stands in contrast to views that see humans as merely accidents of nature or highly evolved animals. The Bible is clear that we are special creations of a loving God who handcrafted each one of us (Psalm 119:73).
We are fearfully made
What does it mean that we are “fearfully made”? This phrase conveys the profound complexity, intricacy and significance of how we have been created. Human beings have been described as “fearfully and wonderfully made” because of qualities like:
- Our physical bodies which have hundreds of bones, muscles, organs, nerves, etc. all working together in harmony.
- Our minds which have amazing capacities like self-awareness, rationality, creativity, emotion, memory, and free will.
- Our spirits which allow us to connect with God.
- Our souls which will last for eternity.
Even today with all scientific knowledge, the incredible biology, psychology and spirituality of human beings still induces a sense of awe and wonder. Truly we have been made in a way that is “fearfully” – meaning extremely and astonishly – complex.
We are wonderfully made
Not only does the verse state that we are fearfully made, but also “wonderfully made.” This means that in addition to the complexity of the human condition, there is also great beauty, value and purpose ingrained in the way we have been designed by God. Some examples of the wonderful qualities that God has created us with include:
- We are made in God’s image which gives us immense value (Genesis 1:27).
- We have the abilities to love, create, and do good on the earth.
- We have the capacity for relationships with God and others.
- We have worth to God who sent Jesus to die for us (John 3:16).
- We are crowned with glory and majesty (Psalm 8:5).
These are just glimpses of the many wonderful, beautiful facets of our humanity. From our unique personalities, talents, and interests down to our fingerprints and irises, we have been crafted by God in wonderful ways that inspire awe.
We are known by God
Psalm 139 declares “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13). God intimately knows us because He personally created us and all our specific attributes. He saw our unformed substance before we were even born and knit together our intricate details (Psalm 139:15-16). We are not forgotten or unknown to the Lord. This brings comfort in knowing that the God who made us sees us fully and understands us completely.
We should praise God
Because God has created human beings in such an astounding, complex and beautiful way, praise is due to Him: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). The only right response to grasping the wonder of our creation is worship to the Creator. When we meditate on how amazing God’s designs and plans are for human beings, it should lead our hearts to be lifted high in thanksgiving to Him.
We are a display of God’s craftsmanship
As God’s skillful works, we are designed to glorify Him: “Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14). Our very existence showcases the Creator’s grand imagination, attention to detail, and omnipotent abilities. We are the handicraft of the Master. Our lives are also on display before a watching world as exhibits of what God is able to form with His hands. As such, we should seek to honor God with how we exercise our bodies, minds, spirits in light of being images crafted by the Divine Potter.
We have responsibilities
Since we are not random accidents of nature or just animalistic biomachines, this truth comes with responsibilities. Made in God’s image, we are called to pursue His purposes on earth, develop righteous character, love/serve others, and glorify our Creator with our lives. We are designed for a reason and should not waste the potential invested in these “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7) that God has so meticulously and lovingly formed.
We are the pinnacle of God’s creation
Humanity is described by the psalmist as being made “a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:5). Of all creatures on earth, only humans bear God’s image and have a spirit that connects with the Divine. This sets us apart as the apex of God’s creation and shows that He sees us as His most wonderful earthly work. Though higher than the animals, the verse also reminds us we are “lower” than the angels, and so should balance our value with humility.
Science complements this truth
The supernatural origin and profound complexity of human beings that the Bible attests to is complemented by science. Modern biology, anatomy, neuroscience and psychology continue to uncover awe-inspiring details about the human body and mind. The more we discover through natural sciences, the more it confirms Scriptural statements about being “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Science is uncovering the complexity, while Scripture reveals the loving Creator behind it.
Fearfully and wonderfully made in the womb
Psalm 139:13 speaks of God forming us in the womb. Modern ultrasound technology now allows us to actually look inside the womb and observe the incredible development of a baby from a fertilized egg into a fully formed infant. We get glimpses of the complex growth from a tiny embryo into a fully functioning human being with fingers, toes, eyes, ears and every organ. The wonder of this transformation in the womb confirms that we are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made” even from conception.
Implications for how we should live
Recognizing that we have been uniquely crafted by God’s hand should affect how we live. For one, we are called to glorify God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20). Also, we should not envy others since we have each been made just as God intended. Neither should we devalue human life, since all bear God’s image. Additionally, our strengths and weaknesses comprise God’s sovereign design, so we rest in His grace to use us as He sees fit. While complex, as God’s workmanship we need not succumb to pressures to measure up to worldly standards of success or comparison. We can walk in confidence that the Master Potter’s work is wonderful already. As jars of clay containing His matchless treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7), we aim to showcase the excellence of the Potter, not the vessel He fashions.
A reassurance for when we doubt our worth
When plagued by feelings of inadequacy, episodes of depression or identity confusion, the truth that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” is a light to which we can cling. No matter how broken or marred His vessels may become through trials of life, God never loses sight of the beauty and purpose with which He created us. He is the Potter who can make broken things new and whole again (Romans 9:21). A godly sense of self is rooted in recognizing that we are lovingly designed by the hands of the Divine Craftsman.
Motivation to care for our bodies
Since God wonderfully crafted our physical bodies, we should be motivated to steward them well. Following principles of healthy eating, exercise, and moderation allows these earthen vessels to thrive in service to God. Resting well, practicing self-control, and abstaining from harmful substances also honors the Lord as we care for the temple of the Holy Spirit He has created in us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We aim to glorify God in how we care for the physical bodies He has fearfully and wonderfully made.
Spur for worship
Meditating on the remarkable way God fashioned humanity inspires worship. Just considering the intricacies of the human eye, heart or brain should propel praise from our lips to the Creator. Through corporate worship, songs of praise and raising thankful hearts to God, we respond to the wonder of being so thoughtfully crafted by Him. Worship is the right spiritual posture to maintain as we begin to grasp the majesty of the Lord’s handiwork in creating us.
Hope in our eternal destiny
Not only has God wonderfully crafted us in this earthly realm, but He has also prepared an even greater design for us in eternity. He promises to transform our lowly bodies to be like Jesus’ glorious resurrected body (Philippians 3:20-21). The splendor, abilities and joys of our eternal state will utterly surpass what we experience in this fallen, mortal existence. The wonders of how we are made point to even greater wonders to come for those who hope in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).
In summary, recognizing that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” means grasping the astonishing complexity, beauty, value and purpose that God has built into every human being that He lovingly created. This truth should inspire ongoing reverence, worship and thanksgiving to our gracious Creator. As His unique masterpieces, we find strength, meaning and destiny in understanding how we have been thoughtfully and wonderfully fashioned by the hands of the Potter. Science continues to reveal new facets of our biological complexity that confirm the Creator’s skill and care in making us. As God’s workmanship, our calling is to live out the fullness of our identity in Christ and bring glory to the One who made us for wonderful purposes. Though fearfully and wonderfully designed in this age, as believers in Christ we await the full revelation of God’s wondrous plan in the age to come when we will be perfectly transformed into the image of God’s magnificent Son.