A little over two weeks ago many people could be found outside at night looking up into the sky, observing the brilliant “Christmas Star”, which was really the conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Many people enjoy looking at the stars and planets at night, even getting their own telescopes. If one can get away from city lights, one can observe the Milky Way, and begin to see how vast and innumerable the stars are. Our psalm for this week, written by David, speaks of his marveling at the beauty and wonder of the heavens, God’s creation, and his place in all of this. Let’s look into this psalm, which is one of my favorites.
There were many times throughout David’s life when he spent nights sleeping out of doors under the night’s sky. As a youth, while caring for his family’s flocks of sheep, he would have been able to sit and observe the stars. Then there were the many years when he was out in the wilderness, running for his life while being chased by King Saul. The sight never ceased to bring him to wonder and worship. David begins and ends this psalm with praise and worship to the Lord God (vs. 1, 9). As a believer, he knew that God’s Name is holy and awesome. His Name encompasses all of His attributes, and is one that should be spoken of only with respect and honor, not as a curse word as it is so often today.
As David looked out at the beauty of the night sky, he knew that the universe, the stars, planets, and galaxies were all created by God (vs. 3). The universe, in all of its vastness, is tiny compared to the magnitude of God, its Creator. The whole universe is the work of His fingers. Even though David did not have the benefit of telescopes, and could only see a limited amount of the heavens, he must have known how huge and magnificent it was. If the whole universe is small in comparison to God, how much less significant must man be?
Like David, when we look at all of creation we can wonder why God would be concerned with mankind, who constantly disappoints Him (vs. 4). God had made a perfect world, and man messed it up. Mankind has been mocking and rejecting God since Adam. Why should, or would God love us? David was in awe that God, the Creator of all the universe, would love mankind. Yet He loved us all so much He sent His Son to die for us (John 3:16).
We have worth because we bear the stamp of our Creator. God created man in His own image, a little lower than the angels, and gave him authority over creation (vs. 5-8). Jesus also became human, just a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus will raise all who belong to Him above the angels when He returns to reign over the new heaven and new earth. Right now, we have been given tremendous authority to be in charge of all the earth. With great authority comes great responsibility. How are we treating God’s creation?
In his psalm, David also speaks of little children bringing praise to the Lord God (vs. 2). Children are able to trust and praise God without doubts or reservations. As one gets older, that becomes more difficult. God uses the praise of the most insignificant, weak, and needy, the ones we’d least expect, to silence His enemies. God has used even babies and little toddlers to silence those who stand against Him. He did that when Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph on Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:15-16). God shows Himself majestic and glorious in His love for the powerless.
David closed this psalm the same way he began it, with praise to the Name of the Lord (vs. 9). Everything about God, His character, actions, thoughts, desires, plans, words, and works are magnificent, perfect, and worthy of praise. The next time you go out and see the night sky, know that the heavens do declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).
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