YOU KNIT ME TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER’S WOMB
Two of my daughters are expecting babies this week. Anne, we think, is first. Here she is — 9 months and four days pregnant. She is praying labor happens naturally, but if it doesn’t, she will be induced this Thursday. Beth is due next Monday. I am going to start driving to be near them (Nebraska and Iowa) tomorrow. The psalm we “happen” to be on, certainly is timely for our family, but it is enormously timely for each of us.
This week will conclude A Woman of Worship, but we will be doing some interesting passages until we begin a new study in the fall.
Before we begin the study, I’ve a question for you to ponder:
What are the strengths of an internet study? How could we better use this gift to make this study better? What are the weaknesses? What could be done to overcome the weaknesses?
BIBLE STUDE — TAKE A QUESTION OR TWO A DAY, OR ALL AT ONCE IF YOU PREFER
READ PSALM 139 IN ITS ENTIRETY, ASKING GOD TO GIVE YOU THE BIG PICTURE
1. Contemplate THE WONDER of Psalm 139:1-6
A. List the ways God knows you — find as many as you can.
B. Compare verse 6 with Job 42:3. In what context did Job speak these words?
c. CHALLENGE QUESTION FOR THIS AMAZING GROUP: What link do you see between God’s intimate knowledge of your every move, thought, and word and the suffering He allows in your life?
2. Meditate on Psalm 139:7-12.
A. What mood shift do you see here — and why do you think it happened?
B. Why is God’s omniscience and omnipresence both wonderful and terrible?
C. 
Imagine (since I don’t have the tech savvy to do this) that on the top line you would write “God’s holiness” and on the bottom line “My sinfulness.” As you grow in Christ, God’s holiness will grow greater to you, and you will simultaneously see the depth of your sinfulness more clearly. This is part of what is happening in this psalm, what happened to Job, and what happens to each of us as we contemplate the greatness of God. What dark parts of your heart do you see today that you were not able to see a few years back?
4. 
This is my daughter Beth and her husband Seth. (We wouldn’t have done a picture like this in my generation, but I realize pregnancy is nothing to be ashamed of — it’s beautiful. I think that the change in maternity clothes to revealing instead of hiding is healthy, so, I’m posting this picture of my beautiful pregnant daughter.)
Meditate on Psalm 139:13-18.
A. What causes the Psalmist to be filled with wonder? Be as specific as you can be.
B. In A Woman of Worship, if you have the song, “I was made to praise You,” comment on it.
C. What thoughts does verse 16 bring to you — especially those of you who have lost loved ones?
D. Compare this passage with Ecclesiastes 11:5. What do you see?
E. If you have had the privilege of becoming a mother by biological birth or adoption, what wonder do you remember?
5. Meditate on Psalm 139:19-22. Why do you think the abrupt mood change? Is it logical? Explain.
6. Make Psalm 139:23-34 your own prayer. You may want to write it out here.
7. What do you think would happen in your life if you made the above prayer a regular part of your life when you faced problems, decisions, or the end of the day?
Love to each of you — on to a new exciting adventure next week! Please come!