Our psalm for this week is another one that David wrote, and one that many people might be familiar with. From reading his various psalms, it is obvious that David liked the out of doors and nature, and that he spent many a night gazing up at the stars and planets. Today’s psalm is one that he must have written after one such night. This passage of Scripture has three main themes: it is a psalm of praise to God; a psalm of creation; and also one that focuses on the created dignity of man.
Psalm 8 both begins and ends with a call proclaiming praise to the Name of God (vs 1, 9). The Name of God refers to the revealed Person of God, and encompasses all of His attributes. His Name is sacred, and should be both praised and held in reverence. The third commandment forbids taking the name of God in vain (Exodus 20:7).
Natural and spontaneous praise and trust of God comes as a matter of course to young children who haven’t been negatively influenced by adults yet (vs 2). Children are able to trust and praise God without doubts or reservations. As we get older our trusting wavers. We need to recapture our childlike faith in God.
David now speaks of the heavens, the universe consisting of the stars, planets, and galaxies we see as we gaze upward at night. Many a night he must have spent contemplating the magnitude of God’s creation. Even without the powerful telescopes we have today, David could see the vastness of outer space. We know today how huge the universe is, yet it is the work of God’s fingers! We can join David in praising God for how awesome and mighty He is!
David knew that in comparison with this, and with the creation here on earth, the mountains, oceans, etc., he and all mankind was insignificant (vs 3-5). Why would such a magnificent Creator be mindful of such little and frail creatures like us? He created a perfect world, but man messed it up. Man has been mocking and rejecting God from the start. David asks why would God be concerned with people who constantly disappoint Him? If the whole universe is small in the sight of God, small enough that His fingers made it, how much less is the significance of man.
The psalm should be an encouragement, for God has considered us. We are created in God’s image and likeness, and He sent His Son to die for us. God did not create any other living thing in His image, nor did He die for anything else, including the angels. The preincarnate Son of God existed for all eternity with the Father in heaven (John 17:5, 24). For love of us, He was willing to take our nature upon Himself, stepping down to a position a little lower than the angels, live among us, and die for our sins. Thus, in God’s eyes, we do have immense worth. Jesus will raise up all who are born again above the angels when He comes to reign over a new heaven and earth.
As our passage continues we see that God gave man authority over all of creation (vs 6-8). With great authority comes great responsibility. How do we treat God’s creation? God will hold us accountable for our stewardship over everything He has created.
The next time you have the opportunity to get out under a starlit sky, and think about the vastness and wonder of creation, know that God thought of you! He loved you enough to come to earth and die for your sins so that you can live with Him in heaven!
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