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Do
you sometimes feel small and insignificant? The burdens of life and
attitudes of others can weigh on us and cause to feel weak or
unimportant. This may have been the way David was feeling when he sat
down beneath the night sky. But as he considered God’s creation and
thought about the divine care and mercy, his heart changed from feelings
of insignificance to a song of praise. As you read this Psalm 8, you too
may see what David saw. God cares about us very much.
David
wrote this psalm to be played on the gittith,
which was an ancient stringed instrument. From verse 2 we might guess
that he wrote it one night while being pursued or taunted by enemies.
This may have been a time when he felt very unimportant and
insignificant. Sometimes we may feel that way with our job, or our
family, or our life. As David looked up to the heavens, his mind began
focusing on God, and he was encouraged. This psalm shows us that God is
the one in control of everything. If you are feeling small or
insignificant, this psalm was written for you.
1 O Lord, our
Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory
above the heavens.
As
we look at this psalm, we notice that David examines God’s creation
-- verse 1 the earth, verse 2 children, verse 3 the heavenly bodies,
verses 4-5 man, verse 6 God’s works, verse 7 flocks and herds and
beasts, verse 8 birds and fish. As he examines the wonders of God’s
creation his heart is filled with praise and he writes from the heart,
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Even
though David examines God’s creation, he realizes that the glory of
God is so far above the created realm. It would be incomprehensible in
David’s day to imagine what might be higher than the sun, the moon,
and the stars. But whatever it might be, David understood that God was
above it all. Even today, three thousand years later with our greater
understanding of the distances of the galaxies and the expanse of the
universe, we have to join with the psalmist in declaring, “You have
set your glory above the heavens.” What is beyond the expanse of
the universe might be incomprehensible to us, but God is greater than all
of it!
2 From the lips
of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
It
is hard to know if David is referring to praise from the lips of actual
children and infants or if he is thinking of believers with childlike faith.
Every time we hear a newborn baby cry it represents the miracle of life
that God has created. Every time a child laughs it shows how much God
loves his children. Children display innocence and a trust that all
adults strive to obtain. In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said that we must become
like little children in order to enter God’s kingdom. It is true
that sometimes Christians are ridiculed because of their faith in the
most difficult of circumstances. What others may consider tragedy,
crisis, or catastrophe, the believer views as simply an opportunity for faith. This kind of worldview must seem very strange
and simplistic to those who do not know God. But God wants us to have the
same kind of innocence and trust that a child has because we are
God’s children and he loves us.
3 When I
consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place.
In
verse 3 I imagine David sitting down while watching his sheep at night.
As he thinks about God, he looks up to observe the nighttime sky and sees
the moon and stars. He thinks of the vastness of the heavenly skies and
thinks about the greatness of God. Notice he says, “I consider your
heavens.” Have you ever considered God’s heavens? Have you
looked in wonder at the nighttime sky and thought about the vastness and
power of the one who created the universe? David could not possibly
understand how large those stars that he saw really were. Nor could he
know the vastness of the distance between them. We modern believers that
know these things can feel an even greater awe and reverence at the
mighty power of God.
David
calls the moon and stars the “works of your fingers,” and he
is struck by the creative force, “you have set in place.”
Each star and planet was set in its place by God’s hand; each one
was created by God’s touch. As he considers this vastness of the creation
and the majesty of God, it is no wonder that he realizes his own
unimportance in the next verse.
Jamison-Fausset-Brown Commentary points out, “David's
original occupation as a shepherd, watching his flocks by night as well
as day, would naturally suggest glorious thoughts of God's greatness
exhibited in the visible heavens. Affliction it was that elicited his
poetical powers. So blessed are the results of sanctified sorrow.”
4 What is man
that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
David
realizes that humanity should be considered too unimportant for
God’s care. And yet for some reason, God does care about us. He
wonders why God should even be mindful of men and women. We might wonder
the same thing. Perhaps you have struggled with feelings of being
unimportant. You feel that no one cares about you or knows about your
trouble. God does care about you. Even though everyone else may make you
feel small and unwanted, God loves you. He is the one who created you and
he is the one who is with you.
When
we look around creation, we see how God has designed this planet to take
care of us. He has given us animals, vegetables, and fruit to eat. He
gives us light and warmth during the day. He causes the seasons to change
to bring snow and rain in the winter so that the rivers will have water
and the groundwater will be replenished. He has created plants to take
out the carbon dioxide from the air and replace it with oxygen so that we
would have a balanced atmosphere since humans take in the oxygen and
exhale the carbon dioxide. God has even caused the craters of the moon to
be shadowed in such a way as to reveal an outline of a face which reminds
us that God is always watching over us. All around us God has shown that
he loves us and cares for us.
Perhaps
you sometimes feel like the psalmist did in this verse, “What is
man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for
him?” Do you sometimes wonder if God even notices you? Are there
times when you feel abandoned by God? Do you feel too unworthy for God to
even care about you? David understood how weak and sinful he was, and yet
he knew that God would be there for him even with his human frailties. No
matter how unworthy or insignificant you may feel, realize that God is
mindful of your every need and he really does care about you.
5 You made him
a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and
honor.
Even
though God created us a little lower than the angels, we have been
crowned with the glory and honor of being called God’s children.
We, who are weak and helpless, are strengthened and honored. God loves us
so much that he sent his son to die for us. God loves us so much that he
sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. God loves us so much that he
has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
David
realized how insignificant and unimportant are all the
dwellers of this earth. And yet God lifts us up and crowns us with
redemption. We who are weak are strengthened. We who are helpless are mighty
in the Spirit. We who are filled with doubts and worry are filled with
faith and hope. In verse 4 David asks how could God be mindful of man,
and in verse 5 he ponders God’s mercy and forgiveness. You may feel
as David did in verse 4 -- insignificant and alone. But God has crowned
you with glory and honor. Do you realize that you are part of God’s
kingdom? You are very important to God.
We
sometimes need to remind ourselves that it is God who crowns us with
glory and honor. We realize all too well how unworthy we are to be
honored, especially by the Divine, and yet verse 5 tells us that God
crowns us with honor and glory. If we try to bring honor or glory to
ourselves, we will miserably fail. When we admit that we are sinful and
weak in our best efforts and are willing to humbly bow before God, it is
then that God is able to lift us up into his presence. It is then that we
are ready to receive God’s instruction and learn lessons about love
and fairness toward others. As long as we strive in our own ability or
strength, we will sense something missing in our lives. But when we admit
our own shortcomings and bow before God for help, it is then that we are
lifted up to reach our full human potential.
You
may view yourself as ugly, stupid, weak, and prone to error. But God
views you as beautiful, wise, strong, and prone to excellence. Only when we
turn our lives over to God, can he begin to change our negative images of
ourselves. When we realize the immense mercy, love, and forgiveness that
have been given to us, then we want to reach out to others with the same
love and forgiveness. When we allow God to work in our lives, it is then
we realize our importance and worth in God’s kingdom -- not because
of our skills, talents, or brilliance, but rather because God has crowned
us with glory and honor.
6 You made him
ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.
From
the Garden of Eden, humanity has been given rule over the plants and
animal life. Man, small though he may be, has mastered much larger and
stronger beasts. There is no real good reason that a horse or an elephant
should allow a person to ride him, nor is there any good reason for oxen
or donkeys to cooperate in pulling a wagon. Humanity has been given
dominion over the planet. With this privilege comes the responsibility to
treat God’s creation with care and humility. We have been given an
awesome privilege and responsibility. Let us not abuse the gift that God
has given us.
7 All flocks
and herds, and the beasts of the field.
In
verse 7 we see that humanity has been given the animals of the field that
may be herded and used for food and clothing -- the flocks, the herds,
and the beasts of the field. God cares about our needs. Isn’t it
interesting that the very animals that have proven most beneficial to
mankind are also the animals that instinctively live in herds or flocks!
One shepherd and a good sheep dog can control hundreds of sheep. A few
cowboys can control hundreds of cattle.
If
we can realize that God has made all these wonderful provisions for us,
perhaps we would stop feeling so unworthy and unimportant. Our family may
not think much of us, our friends may shun us, and our co-workers may
ridicule us, but God loves us. If we are important to God, why should we
feel insignificant?
8 The birds of
the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
In
verse 8 we see the next group of animals under man’s dominion --
the birds and the fish. Birds and fish are not as easy to control or
corral as the flocks and herds of verse 7, but nevertheless, God has
provided them for us to use. I would like to make a few observations
about this verse.
Certainly
we use birds for food and clothing. We think of chicken and turkey as two
obvious examples, and we use avian feathers for many uses. But I find it
interesting that the least useful birds are the ones with the prettiest
songs. The song of the chicken and the turkey are not too pleasant. But
the songs of the robin or sparrow are beautiful and have been a source of
encouragement for many of us when we felt depressed or troubled. God has
created these feathered choirs to uplift us with their heavenly strains.
It
is also interesting that verse 8 refers to the “paths of the
seas.” It would be remarkable if David really understood what he
was writing. We now know that there actually are “paths of the
seas” -- channels that are more conducive for aquamarine life to
travel, which means that finding schools of fish is made that much
easier!
9 O Lord, our
Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
David
ends the psalm as it began with the same sentence repeated. I would like
to examine these important words and see how we can apply them to our
life when we are feeling small or insignificant.
When
you feel unimportant, cry out to God and he will hear you and lift you
up.
- God was not just David’s
Lord or Israel’s Lord or the Lord of the super spiritual. God
is our Lord. He is always with us. We belong to him and he belongs
to us. He has made us his children.
- God is all-powerful. He is higher
than all of our problems and stronger than any enemy. He is the
eternal ruler and he has pledged to take care of us.
- God’s name is above all
names. It is a holy name, a just name, a loving name. Because of his
name, his reputation, we know that he will care for us and deliver
us from oppression and persecution.
- God is everywhere throughout the
earth. There is no situation that is kept from God’s sight.
Wherever we are, God is there. We are never lost nor abandoned. God
is ever with us.
The
psalm closes as it opens. David has framed these wonderful words of
God’s creation with the declaration, “O Lord, our Lord, how
majestic is your name in all the earth!” As we consider all that
God has provided for us, maybe we too should join David in singing this
refrain of praise.
Curtis
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