Psalm 139 celebrates the intimacy of God’s connection with an individual human being. Just imagine—God knows you completely. God knows everything that can break your heart, and everything that can make your heart skip a beat. How wonderful! Of course, God also knows your selfish daydreams and dark desires. How scary! No wonder the psalm ends like this: “See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (v. 24).

God’s intimate connection with you stretches back to the time before you were born, to the time before you were even conceived. God knows you completely: from start to finish, from top to bottom, inside and out. And God loves you completely. How wonderful!

But the psalm takes on more meaning when Jesus says the words “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Just imagine—the Holy Spirit overshadows the virgin Mary, and the Son of God begins to take shape within her. Talk about intimacy! The One who gave life to Mary is now receiving life from Mary. The One who loved Mary before she was born is now loved by Mary before he is born.

Mary is blessed, blessed among all women, to receive the gift of this child. And the child is blessed, blessed among all children, to receive the gift of life through this mother.