Psalm 139:4

Psalm 139:4

Words and thoughts

According to research, the process between when we think through what we are about to say and when we actually say it, is only a fraction of a second, some studies show that it takes 0.6 seconds from when the brain kicks in and the tongue speaks! During this “long period” the brain has processed our thoughts, formulated the words and then sent signals to our mouths. (This all took evolution millions of years to perfect of course!) Tactics like stammering, going “Um”, “Well”, Uh”, are clever delaying tools that play for time while the brain searches for the correct words to express the thoughts. The brain is also calculating possible outcomes of what is about to be expressed and whether there are risks or deeper meanings. It also evaluates the consequences of the spoken words based on previous outcomes! Because of this safeguard, we might check what we are about say and remain silent, keeping the words within. Some people do not have this filter, sadly!

This is all amazing stuff, and it goes to show what complex and sophisticated creatures we are, with abilities far beyond all other living beings. What this does is to give us an insight into the mind of God, for we are made in His image. If the above description of human brain activity fills us with wonder, then let’s compare it with God who not only thinks and speaks but He also monitors the thoughts and conversations of all human beings. Such is His genius it’s possible for Him to know and understand what we are about to say before we know it ourselves! If we liken this to computer activity, our brains have the capacity of a 1980’s cell phone compared to God’s brain which is far superior to the current most sophisticated super-computer. (At the time of writing, this is El Capitan, located at Livermore National Laboratory in the USA which is capable of more than a quintillion of calculations per second. Or 1742 petaFlops!)

Who would have guessed that Psalm 139 would throw up such modern metaphors?

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