Notes Taken from “Safe in the Arms of God” by John MacArthur

The following things are true of every human life and of every baby, unborn, miscarried,
and stillborn. Psalm 139

God regards every human life as precious

Psalm 139:17-18 ¶ How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the
sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I
awake, I am still with thee.

God knows everything about you before your conception

Psalm 139:1-4 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my
downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest
my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word
in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

God is actively involved in your life

Psalm 139:5-6 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such
knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

The birth of any child is regarded as authorized by God.

Psalm 22:9-10 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope
when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my
God from my mother's belly.

God will never cease to have knowledge of you

Psalm 139:7-10 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy
presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold,
thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the
sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

God is never limited in His understanding

Psalm 139:11-12 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light
about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the
darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

God is your personal creator

Psalm 139:13-15 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's
womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy
works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I
was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

God personally planned your destiny

Psalm 139:16 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.
 The Bible Speaks of where Babies go when they die

There is a better place than this and unborn babies who die go there. Job speaks
about it.
Job 3:11-19 ¶ Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I
came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should
suck? For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been
at rest, With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for
themselves; Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver: Or as an
hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light. There the wicked
cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together;
they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is
free from his master.

Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day
upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I
see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another;
though my reins be consumed within me.

David knew his baby would go to heaven where he would be too one day so stopped
mourning when he died.
2Samuel 12:22-23 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I
said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But
now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him,
but he shall not return to me.

David knew his wicked son was not going to heaven and began mourning when he
died. 2Samuel 18:32-33 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe?
And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do
thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went up to the
chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my
son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
 Your Child’s Life in Heaven

Perfect Pleasure Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is
fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Perfect Knowledge 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then
face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Perfect Comfort Luke 16:19-25 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in
purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar
named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the
crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his
sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into
Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes,
being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried
and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip
of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But
Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and
likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Perfect Love John 13:1 ¶ Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that
his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved
his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (The Greek word for this
means to the end, to utter perfection) It’s the same love we will have in heaven.

Perfect Joy Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful
servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many
things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Perfect Unbroken Fellowship with Our Heavenly Father John 17:21-24 That they all
may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that
the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have
given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they
may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and
hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast
given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given
me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
 Should We Mourn or Rejoice?

Rather than focus on your loss, focus on the eternal gain of your child—safe in the arms
of God, alive forever and fully mature and like Christ.

Rejoice that your child has not known the wickedness of this world.
Your child has not struggled against temptation or been subject to the inner pull of sin’s
desires.

Your child did not lose their life, but rather, has gained eternal life.
 Eight Purposes for Trials and Tragedies
1. To test the strength of our faith
2. To remind us not to let our trust in the Lord turn into presumption or spiritual self-
satisfaction 2 Corinthians 12:7
3. To wean us from our dependence on worldly things
4. To call us to heavenly hope Romans 8:18-25; 2 Corinthians 4:13-17
5. To reveal what we really love Genesis 22:2
6. To teach us to value God’s blessings Psalm 63:3-5 (David knew hardship when he
wrote this)
7. To enable us to better endure future trials and difficulties.
8. To help us develop “enduring strength” so we might be of even greater use in
God’s kingdom Hebrews 11: 33-34; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Ask “What now?”

Begin to ask, “What now?” rather than “Why?”
What does God want me to do now? What should I do now?
Asking what God wants you do now focuses your mind on the future and what God
wants for you.
Focusing on “why?” focuses your mind on the past and will eventually lead to
bitterness.