At one time or another, most of us have felt insignificant. We may feel small, unimportant, and that nothing we do, or anything about us matters. Our work seems irrelevant. Our opinion and voice is unheard. We are so far down on the ladder that we aren’t even seen. Does this feel like you? To know that someone, especially someone of any importance, does consider us, does care about us, would be a big encouragement. If the boss or a public figure notices us in a positive way, our morale gets a boost. How about if someone even higher and more important than any of them notices you, and thinks you’re important? It might surprise you that at some times David felt this way. However, as our psalm for today records, David knew that Someone did think he, and all of us, are of value.
Years before the thought of one day being king ever came to his mind, David was a lowly shepherd, taking care of his family’s flocks of sheep. Many nights he spent out on the fields, keeping the sheep safe from wild animals. David was the youngest and least considered member in his family. When the prophet Samuel requested his father to gather all of his sons, his father didn’t even think he was worth including (I Samuel 16:5-13). However, David knew that the Lord God took notice of him, and loved him.
That thought, though, amazed and astounded him. As he sat out during the night watches, whether as a shepherd boy, or as a young man in the wilderness on the run for his life, he gazed at the stars. David wondered aloud why God, who created such wonders in the heavens above him, would stoop to consider and care about him (vs 3-4). When we consider the glory of the universe, why would such a magnificent Creator place such glory, honor, and privilege on mankind? We have messed up a perfect world, We mock and reject God. Why would He love sinful mankind?
Yet, as we read all throughout Scripture, God’s love for mankind is so great. We, alone of all creation, are made in His image, and David testifies here that He has crowned us with glory and honor (vs. 5). After making us in His image, God placed the rest of creation in our hands to have dominion over (vs. 6-8). Has the boss ever put the running of his corporation in your hands? The God of the universe has placed His creation in our hands, not to misuse or abuse it, but instead to properly care for all creatures. If God did not love us without measure He would not have done that.
The Lord God also chose the smallest and weakest to bring Him praise, that being little babies and children (vs. 2). These are the smallest and most insignificant of people, and in so many households the ones who are most overlooked, and sometimes even abused. Yet God uses these little ones to silence those who stand against Him (Matthew 21:15-16).
Man is not an accident. You are not here by chance. God loves man so much that He sent Jesus, stepping down from heaven’s glory, to live and die for us. Jesus loves each of us so much that He came forth from the highest glory that He had in heaven, to redeem a being so insignificant as man. When we consider the price that was paid for our redemption, the Blood of the Son of God, we realize how much God loves us, and what we are really worth to Him. The shed Blood of Jesus, was an enormous price to pay, and thus gives us great value in His sight.
That Blood was shed for you, and you, and you, each of you individually. We no longer need to feel small and insignificant, if the God and Creator of the universe loves and cares enough about us to die for us. We can join David as he closes the psalm in praising God, proclaiming how excellent His Name is in all of the earth.
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