Psalm 8:1-9
1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
This is certainly one of my favorite passages of Scripture. It is a Psalm of David. There is some debate as to whom this passage speaks. Was David thinking of himself and others as he was inspired of the Spirit to pen these words or was he speaking expressly of the Son of God who would come in the form of a man to redeem fallen humanity. Take a moment to consider the introductory thoughts of Matthew Poole, taken from his commentary.
It is a great question among interpreters, whether this Psalm speak of man in general, and of the honour which God put upon him in his creation; or only of the man Christ Jesus. Possibly both may be reconciled and put together, and the controversy, if rightly stated, may be ended. For the scope and business of this Psalm seems plainly to be this, to display and celebrate the great love and kindness of God to mankind, not only in his creation, but also and especially in his redemption by Jesus Christ; whom, as he was man, he advanced to the honour and dominion here mentioned, that he might carry on that great and glorious work. So Christ is the principal subject of this Psalm, of whom it is interpreted, both by Christ himself, Mt 21:16, and by his holy apostle, 1Co 15:27; Heb 2:6-7.
One cannot possibly separate the love of God for fallen humanity and the Savior who came to redeem from sin. There can be no greater blessing bestowed upon man than the offering of Christ upon the cross for our sins. As we consider the words of this powerful and magnificent Psalm, one has to wonder and even question: what is man that thou art mindful of him? Who are we that God would love enough to provide a means of salvation and reconciliation from sin? Who am I that the Son of God would willingly bear my sin and shame upon the cross as He endured the wrath and judgment of God for my sin. He was innocent; I was guilty! He was holy and pure; I was sinful and depraved!
These questions and thoughts have been on my mind as of late. We are unworthy of any blessing from God and yet He is faithful to continue sending blessing after blessing our way. I stand amazed at His presence among us as we gather for worship. I enjoy His peace and guidance each day that I live. I rejoice for the eternal hope and assurance I have in Christ my Savior. As I try to comprehend all these eternal truths, it is more than I can possibly discern. I will admit, I do not understand it all, but I rejoice in the many blessings I receive. It is impossible to think on these things and not declare as David: O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Preacher Chris
1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
This is certainly one of my favorite passages of Scripture. It is a Psalm of David. There is some debate as to whom this passage speaks. Was David thinking of himself and others as he was inspired of the Spirit to pen these words or was he speaking expressly of the Son of God who would come in the form of a man to redeem fallen humanity. Take a moment to consider the introductory thoughts of Matthew Poole, taken from his commentary.
It is a great question among interpreters, whether this Psalm speak of man in general, and of the honour which God put upon him in his creation; or only of the man Christ Jesus. Possibly both may be reconciled and put together, and the controversy, if rightly stated, may be ended. For the scope and business of this Psalm seems plainly to be this, to display and celebrate the great love and kindness of God to mankind, not only in his creation, but also and especially in his redemption by Jesus Christ; whom, as he was man, he advanced to the honour and dominion here mentioned, that he might carry on that great and glorious work. So Christ is the principal subject of this Psalm, of whom it is interpreted, both by Christ himself, Mt 21:16, and by his holy apostle, 1Co 15:27; Heb 2:6-7.
One cannot possibly separate the love of God for fallen humanity and the Savior who came to redeem from sin. There can be no greater blessing bestowed upon man than the offering of Christ upon the cross for our sins. As we consider the words of this powerful and magnificent Psalm, one has to wonder and even question: what is man that thou art mindful of him? Who are we that God would love enough to provide a means of salvation and reconciliation from sin? Who am I that the Son of God would willingly bear my sin and shame upon the cross as He endured the wrath and judgment of God for my sin. He was innocent; I was guilty! He was holy and pure; I was sinful and depraved!
These questions and thoughts have been on my mind as of late. We are unworthy of any blessing from God and yet He is faithful to continue sending blessing after blessing our way. I stand amazed at His presence among us as we gather for worship. I enjoy His peace and guidance each day that I live. I rejoice for the eternal hope and assurance I have in Christ my Savior. As I try to comprehend all these eternal truths, it is more than I can possibly discern. I will admit, I do not understand it all, but I rejoice in the many blessings I receive. It is impossible to think on these things and not declare as David: O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Preacher Chris
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