Psalms 8:1-9
SS Lesson for 10/03/2010
Devotional Scripture: 1 Chron 29:10-16
The outline and detail of the lesson came from a previous SS Lesson dated 03/05/2006. This week's lesson reviews God's Majesty. The study's aim is to make clear that God is awesome and sustains everything in the universe. The study's application is to experience getting a sense of the overwhelming majesty of God when we look at the universe He made.
Ultimate Questions
Poetry has power. The artistic expression of human observations, emotions, and desires retains influence over the passage of the years in poetry. We all have observed others moved to tears by hearing just a line of a beloved poem or song. Think of “In Flanders fields …”; “On a hill far away …”; “The Lord is my shepherd …” These words have power to move us. This week we begin a two-month series of lessons taken from the greatest of all poetry books, the Psalms. Here we find both questions and answers to the vital issues of life. The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BC) began his classic treatise Metaphysics with this statement: “All humans naturally desire to know.” But what do we—or what should we—desire to know? What are the ultimate questions? From a human perspective, we may boil down the critical questions to three. First, “Where did we come from?” Second, “Why are we here?” And third, “Where are we going?” These are the questions of origin, purpose, and destiny. (Some thinkers expand these three to four: origin, condition, salvation, and destiny.) Psalm 8 deals directly with the first two of the three questions, providing answers that still resonate nearly 3,000 years after David wrote it. Naturalistic science sometimes tries to avoid these questions altogether. Some nonreligious people might say that to ask Why are we here? is ridiculous. But to dismiss the tough questions does not answer them. The great thinkers throughout history have grappled with these questions. A vital question in Psalm 8 is Why does God care about human beings? This question is not posed for the discussion of the learned person, however. Rather, it is asked of God himself. The answer given forms the bedrock basis for our understanding of our relationship with God. When we have understood and appreciated this answer, all the other questions begin to find answers too.
Lesson Background
The Psalms contain some of the most-loved Scriptures in the entire Bible. Little children are taught to memorize Psalms 23 and 100 at an early age. Passages from Psalms are quoted approximately 80 times in the New Testament, more than any other Old Testament book. Today’s worship and praise songs are filled with words taken from Psalms. It is best, however, not to think of Psalms as a “book” like most other Bible books. It is actually a collection of material from many different authors and periods in the history of Israel. This collection is divided into five subbooks, each ending with a similar statement of praise to God (see Psalms 41:13; 72:18, 19; 89:52; 106:48; and 150:6). Many people think that King David, “Israel’s singer of songs” (2 Samuel 23:1), wrote the psalms. Indeed, we find his name attached to 72 psalms, but that is fewer than half of them. David is just 1 of 7 authors we can identify. In addition to him, we find psalms written by Asaph, the Sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, and Ethan. Moreover, 51 psalms (about one-third) do not identify the author, thus remaining anonymous. Today’s text, Psalm 8, is ascribed to David. We are told in the psalm’s superscription that it is to be performed according to the Gittith, but we are not sure what a Gittith was. Some believe it is related to the word for winepress. If this is the case, the directions are to sing it using the melody from the “Song of the Winepress,” although we do not have this tune. Another explanation is that the Gittith was some type of musical instrument, perhaps a stringed instrument. Again, this is possible, but we do not know what such an instrument looked like or what type of sound it produced. Regardless, we recognize the influence of this psalm in such well-known hymns as “How Great Thou Art,” “For the Beauty of the Earth,” and “This Is My Father’s World.” Psalm 8 is sometimes designated as a creation psalm. Others in this category include Psalms 19, 29, 65, and 104. They all contain parallels to Genesis 1 and meditate on the marvel and power of God’s creation. Many other passages present God as the Creator (see Job 38, 39; Isaiah 42:5; Amos 4:13; compare Colossians 1:15–17). Psalm 8 is the best-known creation psalm, and it still serves to help us understand the mysteries of God’s purposes in creating the universe.
"Ascending to the throne of France at age four to rule for the next seventy-two years, Louis XIV enjoyed the longest reign in modern European history. Intoxicated with his own power, this self-consumed emperor called himself the 'Great Monarch' and declared, 'I am the State!' But in 1715, King Louis XIV, like all other rulers, abdicated his throne to death. "His funeral, just as had been prescribed, was nothing short of spectacular. ... To dramatize the deceased ruler's greatness, a solitary candle burned above his jewel-laden casket. Thousands waited in hushed silence, gazing at the solitary flame. At the appointed time the funeral service began. Bishop Massillon, who presided over the state funeral, stood to address the mourners, which included the assembled clergy of France. "When the bishop arose, he did something that stunned the nation. Bending down from the pulpit, he extinguished the lone candle that represented the greatness of Louis XIV. The people gasped. Then from the darkness echoed four gripping words, 'Only God is great!'" (Anders, gen. ed., Holman Old Testament Commentary, Broadman and Holman). Many people in the worlds of entertainment, politics, education, business, and sports have highly inflated evaluations of themselves. Those who do have also determined to ignore spiritual truth. This week's text will explain reality. The Psalmist David teaches us many things about the glory of God. His thoughts about the Creator and how they relate to the things he saw in nature are astounding. It moves the heart to praise when we read them. In our lesson this week, through the eyes of David we get an idea of how God sustains the whole universe. Most of us take the universe for granted. We wake up every morning and see that everything around us is still there and intact and running the way it should be. Our lesson this week forces us to take a second look at the world around us and at the great Creator behind it all. He not only created all that we see and the things we cannot see, but He also keeps things moving, sustaining them by His wonderful power. This we often fail to recognize. David draws our attention to this awesome majesty of God as seen in His active power in sustaining the universe. Through the wonder of nature, we can see the hand of God.
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who set Your glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
David is in awe of the God whom he knows, the God who can be known, the God who wants to be known. His name is majestic in all the earth not only because of its power but also because of its “knowability.” God is worth knowing because it is his presence that gives value to everything and everyone. God’s excellent name makes the earth a better place because of the association. How could it be otherwise? Even so, this close association should not cause us to ignore or minimize the power and majesty of God. We’ve all heard the old saying “familiarity breeds contempt,” and there is a certain danger here. Our association with God does not mean that we are to see him as a pal or a buddy. It is his glory that is above the heavens, and not our own. God has set his glory above the heavens because it is natural for him to do so. My son likes to jump and touch the ceiling simply because he can—it shows he is growing and is able to do something he couldn’t before. By contrast, God places his glory in the highest place not merely because he is able to do so, but because there is nowhere else that is more appropriate. The fact that a seven-foot-tall basketball player can reach the top shelf surprises no one. That is an expression of the person’s height, natural by-product of his physical nature. The fact that God’s glory is above the heavens is an expected result of his transcendence. As awe-inspiring as that is, what is even more remarkable is the fact that Jesus “who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8).
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name — he is holy.
23 I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
26 But hear the word of the LORD, all Jews living in Egypt: 'I swear by my great name,' says the LORD, 'that no one from Judah living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name or swear, "As surely as the Sovereign LORD lives."
11 My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.
58 If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name — the LORD your God —
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.
15 The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory .
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
13 Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.
16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength .
4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
4 What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?
5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
David celebrates the faith of the child who looks upward and asks, “Daddy, who made the stars?” Lost in the modern conflict between faith and science is the fact that all exploration of the universe is driven by a common wonder. Each of us shares a desire to know more about our origin. Where did we come from? The same question drives both the astronomer and the theologian. Physics and faith are both vehicles for the curious and the intellectually adventurous. We should not be surprised that many of the greatest scientific minds belonged—and even today yet belong—to people of profound faith. Theologians describe two ways that God communicates with us. Special revelation occurs when God speaks through prophecy, miracles, etc. (compare Hebrews 1:1, 2). General revelation is much less precise, though vitally important in reflecting the character and nature of God. Creation itself is general revelation: principles evident in nature reflect the handiwork of the creator. Romans 1:19, 20 expresses it this way: “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end. 28 The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you."
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens , you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
17 "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention,
2 "Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven. 3 Can his forces be numbered? Upon whom does his light not rise? 4 How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?
6 But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
David continues his meditations on the amazing priorities within the creation by commenting on the relationship between humans and the heavenly beings (angels). A first-glance view of the relative differences between humans and angels reflects very poorly on us. We humans seem to be bound by time and space. Our bodies present more limitations than they do opportunities. None of these physical limitations affects angels. Thus David’s conclusion that we are a little lower than the heavenly beings. But let’s look deeper. True, we may not have some of the abilities or natural empowerments of angels, stars, or animals. But value does not come from comparisons such as these. Our value comes because we have been crowned with glory and honor. This is tied in with being created in God’s image—something that is not said of angels. Our status of being a little lower than the heavenly beings is temporary. Ultimately, we will sit in judgment on angels (1 Corinthians 6:3).
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels ? How much more the things of this life!
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.
2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
The world of secular psychology seems to have a fancy word for just about everything dealing with human nature. Consider the word individuation. This word sums up the process by which children establish their own identities, particularly in distinction from their parents. This often is not a “pretty” process, as parents of teenagers can attest. Actually, the process begins very early in life. The two-year-old who has learned to use the words no and mine has started on the long road toward individuation, for better or for worse. The ensuing years involve a series of choices by which a child asserts his or her independence in various ways. These choices involve accepting and rejecting various foods, clothing, friendships, and values. It’s all a part of the process of answering the question Who am I? The most important aspect of that question is found in the way the psalmist phrased it. By using the word you, the psalmist recognized that Who am I? must be answered in terms of our relationship with the God who created the universe. That’s the proper starting point! Those who attempt to answer the question Who am I? without reference to the Creator will not come to a correct answer.
6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen-- even the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--
12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-- and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Why is human dignity important? Why do even secularists speak of the “sacredness” of human life? Is human life any more sacred than the life of, say, a cow or a salmon? These are important questions. The consensus for many millennia that human beings are a distinct and higher order of earth’s life is now challenged. Some would reduce humanity to merely another branch of the animal kingdom. Others would elevate all animals to a position of sacred dignity that sees humanity without special privilege. Psalm 8 places human beings properly in relation to God, angels, and animals. The book of Hebrews gives us a further implication of the high position of humans in God’s created order. To be “a little lower than the angels” was a position of dignity suitable for the incarnation (Hebrews 2:6–9). God became human in the person of Jesus. It was necessary for Jesus to be human for two primary reasons. First, as a man he was able to communicate God to us in a direct and credible way (John 1:18). God did not come as a talking monkey. He came as a man. Second, it was important that Jesus be human in order for him to die for our sins (Hebrews 2:9). Angels spoke to men and women in various places in the Bible (Luke 1:26–28; Hebrews 2:2; etc.). But no angel could die for human sins. Animal sacrifices for sin were good but inadequate. Only the sacrifice of the Son of God as the Son of Man was sufficient and “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). If we ponder this, we may begin to understand why we were created with certain capacities. These capacities were needed by God to impart his revelation effectively. A cat sleeping in the sun may have a vague appreciation for God’s provision for its comfort. But that is a quantum leap removed from the human enjoyment of the fellowship and love of God in which we participate. God did not create a perfect cat to save all catdom. He did not send a flawless pine tree to redeem all treedom. He sent a perfect man, the human Jesus, to liberate us from the bondage of sin and be restored to him.
In order to properly understand Ps 8:1, we must first understand what it is saying. It helps our understanding to translate it as "O Yahweh, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!" The first "Lord," which appears in the Bible in caps and small caps, is God's name: "Yahweh." You have no doubt heard that "Yahweh" carries the meaning of the God who was, is, and will be. He is transcendent over time. That brings great comfort. It is a shame that these rich truths are easy to lose in translation. The second time "Lord" is used represents the typical word for "lord." In fact, in Jewish places of worship today that read from the Hebrew scrolls, this is the word that is always read in place of "Yahweh." "Lord" translates the Hebrew word 'Adonai, which means "master." God is indeed our Master. He rules over all His creation, and we are a part of that creation. There are some who, in an effort to stress submission to God's lordship, unintentionally confuse things. They say that if Christ (God) is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. That is simply not true. God is the Master of all the universe and of our lives as well. He is also Lord of the lives of the unsaved. Just because they do not recognize His lordship does not make it not so. As Christians, we should want to give God complete control of our lives. We should want to acknowledge His lordship by surrendering everything to Him. We should never try to live our lives otherwise. To recognize Him as the sovereign Master is what He wants, and it is what He deserves. Besides, how can we show the unsaved that our lives are truly different if we do not surrender all to Him? David goes on in the text: "how excellent is thy name." The word "excellent" can mean "majestic." As Americans, we often have little sense of majesty. We live a democratic republic, which has no king. Even many nations that have kings do not have as much of a sense of majesty as they once did. Majesty carries the idea of greatness, of worth, of being the epitome of what we saw in the second word for "Lord." It speaks of the fact that God is worthy of the greatness He is due. Since we do not see our God, it is critical that we ascribe greatness to Him. This will change the way we think. And our thinking must be changed (cf. Rom. 12:2). It must be transformed so that it is more in line with Christ's (cf. Phil. 2:5). Finally, David said that God's name is excellent "in all the earth." This does not refer simply to the globe we inhabit. The Hebrew word can refer to the land, but it can also refer to the nations. God's name is majestic among all nations on earth, all peoples. Again, the fact that most people do not know Him as Christians do is not what matters. God is worthy of praise from all. One day all will bow before Him (Phil. 2:10-11). Today we can and should do that. Our lives should display God's majesty to all we come in contact with. Can there be any other way to regard Him as Lord?
1. Our goal should be to declare the glory that God already possesses (Ps. 8:1)
2. When we honor Him, God uses even the weakest of us (vs. 2)
3. In view of God's vast creation, we should be humbled by His concern for us (vs. 3-4)
4. All people possess unique dignity as creatures made in God's own image (Ps. 8:5; cf. Gen. 1:27)
5. As stewards of creation, we are to wisely use and preserve our resources but never worship them (Ps. 8:6-8)
6. The dignity and dominion of man should lead to the praise of God (vs. 9)
You and I are drawn by the very core of our beings, by our spirits, to become godly. It is therefore of utmost importance that we think about Him accurately. Psalm 8 gives us insight into the majesty and transcendence of God.
His name includes His honor, His reputation, all His attributes, and all His glorious activities. When you see a beautiful sunset, think how the glory of God exceeds even that beauty. Thank and praise God for giving you the ability to appreciate the beauty of His creation and to understand that He is much more glorious. The first sentence of our text is a perfect example of worship: saying back to God the beautiful truth He has shown you about Himself. This is not done matter-of-factly but with the awe and wonder and sense of being overwhelmed you feel as you contemplate these things about God.
There is a old saying: "One plus God is a majority." It is really greater than that. Even if you were a baby, an infant, God could use the feeble sounds you uttered to defeat the strongest foe. God is not limited by your weakness. He is not limited by anything. You may be quite used to hearing or reading stories of how God has used improbable or "impossible" means to do something miraculous, but it is hard to believe that God can do the miraculous with or through you. He can. He so transcends the enemies of your spiritual well-being that their strength is insignificant to Him, even if it terrifies and paralyzes you.
You may have heard of the vastness of space and the immense number of stars. You may feel small, powerless, and almost irrelevant by comparison. While you may question why God is interested in you and desires fellowship with you, understand that He does. You must believe that which God's Word declares so that you may understand it, not the other way around. God cares enough about you that He has made sure you have His Word and the knowledge of His plan for your salvation. The vastness of what He has created is there to give you a sense of His infinity and transcendence. The Scripture is available to tell you of His detailed care for you. You are important to Him.
These verses may refer to the Lord Jesus primarily, but they also have application to you. The Lord Jesus loved to refer to Himself as the "son of man." Certainly, although the psalmist may not have realized the whole story of the Lord Jesus, we recognize that these words apply to Him. God has put, and soon will further put, all the works of His hands under the Lord Jesus' dominion. When God made man, He put all creation under his dominion. That dominion was marred and skewed in the Fall. Yet we do recognize that God created the universe to support man and provide for his existence. The importance of the created order and man's place in it was emphasized when Christ came to earth and became Man. In the final state of all creation, the new heavens and the new earth, man will be restored to his rightful place in God's creation. All God's plans for mankind and all His promises will be fulfilled. He will fully show forth His excellent name in all the earth.