Psalm 8
The Glory of the Lord in
Creation
To the Chief Musician. On the instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David.
First,
the title is from the
first verse, but should not be
considered solely by the heavens (this is emphasized in
Verse 4). Yes, the heavens
declare the glory of God (Psalm
19:1), but far more important is
that God’s glory is elevated due to
our relationship to Him;
if we live to His great purpose which was planned, even before we were (Ephesians
2:10).
O
Lord,
our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out
of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
Accurate praise is something that even the
Lord in the flesh would recognize and use
verse two to proclaim the
Psalmists words in action –
Matthew 21:16. It is undoubtedly
used of all mankind when they recognize the true majesty of God and their
designed relationship to Him; however, it is even truer concerning the use
God makes of what is seemingly
weak
to our minds, to proclaim His
glory!
Example one:
Moses; the babe found among the bulrushes, elevated in stature, becoming
like his brethren, and then by the power of God, leading Israel from
captivity.
Example two:
the Christ of God, born of the virgin in lowly Bethlehem, was without
comeliness, having no continuance of generation in the flesh. He would
suffer tremendously unto a Royal victory for the very ones that put Him to
death and lead them from the captivity of sin.
Instead of glorious human figures, God chose
the lowly in the minds of men (like unto a babe of suckling child), to
promote His cause on behalf of all men. This is the very principle that Paul
would recognize in light of the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus as the
Christ –
1 Corinthians 1:20-29.
A simple lesson in this first segment
–
“Beware of the praise of God built in
the elaboration of the senses of men (sight, sound, etc…); instead of
the simplicity of hearts that are humble after the fashion of children!”
When I
consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What
is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
5 For
You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You
have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
The term,
“Fingers” is a play on the ease
by which God spoke the order of the heavens into existence. With this power
imagined, the question of
verse 4 is then pondered. Here
the smallness of man is portrayed next to the true power of God. However,
not only is God mindful of His creation (those created in His likeness), He
has visited them and blessed them with a governing honor (Genesis
1:27-28).
The Hebrew writer would quote these words in
demonstration of God using the lowly things in the minds of men to proclaim
His true glory and desire for those whom is He is mindful of (Hebrews
2:6-9). God would visit His
creation in the flesh for
three distinct purposes:
First,
all of God’s great honors for man, to be endowed by his Creator, are not all
fulfilled in this physical existence (Hebrews
2:10-11) –
An Eternal Relationship!
Second,
Jesus Christ would come into this world in lowliness and overcome all sin
and wickedness; which would by the very act, bring the prospect of eternal
life to those whom He sanctifies.
A Way to God!
Third,
is all that is God’s intent for man was fulfilled
only
in Jesus Christ. He was the only man ever born into this world, which was in
every way and at all times exactly what God created man to be –
Hebrews 2:14-18;
4:14-16.
A Pattern to Follow!
Hebrews 5:8-9
“though He was a
Son, yet
He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
9 And
having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation
to all who obey Him”
All
sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
8 The
birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.
9 O
Lord,
our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!
The conclusion is merely an elaboration of the promise that God would put
all things under the feet of men, provided that we by our actions proclaim
His glory!
1 Peter 2:9
“But you
are
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special
people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into
His marvelous light”