The King James Bible translation to English reads as,
“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being UNPERFECT; and in thy book all my MEMBERS were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalms 139:6 KJV)
This verse uses the word MEMBERS. Yet, new English translated Bibles use a different English phrase instead and I believe that it changes the intentional meaning of the verse, especially in light of the content of the surrounding verses in Psalms 139.
Here are some of the modern Bible translations of the same verse to show you what I mean:
“Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” (Pslams 139:16 NKJV)
“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalms 139:16 NLT)
“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.” (Psalms 139:16 ESV)
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalms 139:16 NIV)
Very different translations right? And when I see this happening, I always rely most on the King James Bible Translation. So what does this verse mean? Does it mean God has created some for heaven and others to hell? That it is God who sets everything we do in our life? Or does it mean that God knew everything that we, by free will, would do during our life?
In this Psalm 139, it is all about David’s physical body that was forming, while hidden in his mother’s womb. The modern translations got it wrong. Even the NKJV translation, which many claim is closest of the new translations to the KJV Bible got this verse wrong. Changing the word MEMBERS in the KJV, or removing it and using phrases instead that seem to be showing a Calvinistic view. The King James translators favoured the word as referring to THE MEMBERS. Many modern translations favour a PRE-PLANNING OF DAYS and some take this to believe that everything we do is not by chance and that we have no decision in what we do during our life. This is a very Calvinistic way of looking at this and again one reason why I stick to the KJV for such discrepancies with newer English translations.
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 DECLARING the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV)
In verse 10 we read DECLARING the end from the beginning. This seems to be more to the truth. God created time and lives outside of time. God also created us all with a free will. He wants real relationships with His creation. If only looking at this one verse, the new Bible translations for Psalms 139:16, seem to all be teaching that God planned our entire life, as if some were created to not believe. John 3:18 clearly shows that each person must make a FREE WILL DECISION to believe in acceptance of the free gift of salvation. Believing on Christ for righteousness is what the actually will of the Father is (John 6:37-40) for every person God created. Yet, He leaves the decision up to us to live in boastful pride of our works as Paul stated in Ephesians 2:8-9. (as if it can make us righteous or keep us righteous) OR to believe on Christ for righteousness with God.
“He THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned already, because HE HATH NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 KJV)
This shows a clear decision of our free will. Ephesians 1 tells us that God FOREKNEW who would accept the free gift of salvation through Christ crucified died , buried and risen, at a MOMENT IN TIME in the life of a person (Eph 1:1-14). And that to those who do accept the free gift of salvation by belief on Christ, they became SEALED in salvation until our bodily resurrection; and so that means for eternity.
“11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel OF HIS OWN WILL: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” (Eph 1:11-12 KJV)
Is this WILL of God to create some for hell and others for Heaven? No. It is just that God FOREKNEW who will accept the gift of salvation by belief on Christ. Jesus said what this WILL OF THE FATHER actually is in John 6 and again it is based on a person BELIEVING ON CHRIST, an act of our own free will decision.
“37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME. 39 And this is THE FATHER’S WILL which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME, that every one which seeth the Son, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (JOHN 6:37-40 KJV)
GOD FOREKNEW from the foundation of the Earth who will accept Christ for righteousness. And all who DO accept the free gift (Romans 5) of salvation by belief on Christ as Messiah, His death and His rising again (1 Cor. 15:1-4) are PREDESTINATED to receive all the promises that God gave us as believers (Eph. 1). Believers become the sons and daughters in God’s family (Gal. 3:26), that are in Spirit UNION with Christ forever (2 Cor. 5:17-21, Colossians 2, John 17), forgiven all sins, and who have become ‘made by the operation of God’ (Colossians 2:12) Heaven bound.
It is by grace we are saved and not our works (Eph. 2:8-9), and once born again have been created IN CHRIST, UNTO good works because we , as believers , have been made a new Spirit which is the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST (Eph 2:10, 2 Cor. 5:17-21).
In Psalms 139, David is just amazed and sharing the truth that before God ever made us HE KNEW US and HE KNEW everything we will do in life. Good news for those who come to belief in Christ because, God also knows the bad stuff in our future, the enemy attacks in our future as well. It gives us great assurance even through the tough times in life that God is right here within us at all times and in all things.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ” (Romans 8:28 KJV)
What a promise for believers! God foreknew all that will happen in our lives. As believers, it should give us hope. David is stating here that God even knew us as He formed us in our Mother’s womb! Even every hair on our heads is known by God showing His great detail and concern for us.
“But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7 KJV)
Yet, even though we all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and all our righteousness works are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), in regards to our righteousness position before our Holy God, Christ still came and died for us so we could be 100% forgiven and MADE BY the operation of God the righteousness of Christ to be able to be with Him in eternity.
We serve a great loving God indeed.