Watch Out
My first experience with "internet truth" was when the viral satire of Bon Jovi's death hit. Not funny. Since then I've learned to research things that seem too good or too far fetched to be true. I remember a game we used to play where someone whispers a sentence into another person's ear, the whispering continues until the circle comes back to the person who started it. The last person to get the whisper, says aloud what they heard and the person who started the whole thing shares what the initial sentence actually was. Everyone would laugh and marvel at how much the sentence had changed. Sometimes the story would completely go in another direction. Other times it may hold the same idea but be embellished.
Over time there has been many translations of books, music, what-not...and Bibles. I love them all. My grandmother gave me an NIV, as did my mother. I love my Grani's old Living Bible and I've read some from The Message. It's understandable why the book has been translated in so many ways, however, I feel comfortable digging into the KJV. It grounds me, keeps me focused and sometimes makes me dig deeper into the Word to decipher the meaning and message of a story or passage. Some of the versions seem too flippant or slang to me, but I do refer to them occasionally just to see how they describe a scripture. Most of the time I refer back to the KJV because it just seems more concrete and powerful. But not today...
For over half of my life I lived next to a woman who feared idle hands. Every day she was busy making things and she could knit beautifully. Have you had the opportunity to watch someone knit? It's an incredible art. Every stitch is carefully orchestrated and each strand of the yarn is touched my the artist. They plan out the piece with careful intention, then by wrapping each strand in and around their hands and fingers they create a piece of art. Useful art. Meaningful art, unique and intricate. Knitting is not a half-hazard process. Amazingly, a skein of yarn can be manipulated into an incredible masterpiece.
I imagine Grandma, as my family called her, and recall the awe I had while watching her knit, when I read Psalm 139. In this chapter David is singing to God. The admiration for Him is evident as David tells of the endearing love that God has for him. He exudes wonder about how well He knows him; better even than David knows himself! I imagine David as he tries to convey through praise, the deep and complete love that he feels. The sacrificial, powerful, all-knowing compassion and care that God has for him. The thoughtful planning and purpose for his whole life is real to me as I read the passage that David wrote. And I can relate it to my own life!
In the New International Version of this scripture, verse 13 is quoted most recognizably; "...you knit me together in my mother's womb." I recently read a devotional that used that quote. It's a great example of how different versions of the Bible can come together to make an impact. KJV says, "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb." I understand that to be a controlled creating of David before he was even born. And as I read the entire song, I understand the impact that God has had on David and that he's trying to convey through praise.
However, having heard, "knit me together" so often, I can relate that verbiage to something I've witnessed. I know what knitting involves. I've seen it and in the aspect that I have, there was care and love and intention. There was purpose and thought. When I reflect on that vision of my own, I'm filled with love. Love-for and love-from the person who did that for me. Now, when I read Psalm 139 in any version I can relate to the endearing love and desire to convey the awe that David wrote about so long ago, and know it applies to me as well. God knows me. He knows my heart and I can never hide from Him. He will always be there for me: guiding, leading, forgiving, blessing, teaching, molding. (6-King James V) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." (New International V) "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain." (Living Bible) This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe!". (Briars And Cactus Flowers Translation) "Your love for me is hard to fathom! How can I convey it to the world so they can know the same!?!?!?!?"
In any translation, any language, the message is the same. God loves you. He knows everything about you and longs for you to come to Him. Accept Him into your heart. Acknowledge that you are a sinner-we all are. And admit that you believe Jesus died on that cross for you and that His shed blood covers you with purification from your sins. And vow to walk in a new life where you can find peace and happiness as you glorify Him in all you do.
