Psalm 8: Lord of the Hopeless

504 psalm 8 mister of the desperateApparently haunted by enemies and filled with a sense of hopelessness, David found new courage by reminding himself of who God is: “The exalted, almighty Lord of creation, who takes care of the powerless and the oppressed to work fully through them “.

"A Psalm of David to be sung, on the Gittit. Lord, our ruler, how glorious is your name in all lands, showing your majesty in the sky! Out of the mouths of young children and infants you have concocted a power for the sake of your enemies, to destroy the enemy and the vengeful. When I see the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have prepared, what is man that you remember him, and the child of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than God; you crowned him with honor and glory. You have made him lord over the work of your hands, you have put everything under his feet: sheep and oxen all together, and also the wild beasts, the birds of the air and the fish in the sea and everything that moves in the seas. Lord our ruler, how glorious is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8,1-10). Let us now look at this psalm line by line. The Glory of the Lord: "Lord our Ruler, how glorious is your name in all the earth, showing your majesty in the heavens"! (Psalm 8,2)

At the beginning and end of this Psalm (verses 2 and 10) are the words of David expressing the glory of God's name - His splendor and glory, which far surpasses all His creation (which includes the enemies of Psalmists count!) goes beyond. The choice of words "Lord, our ruler" makes this clear. The first mention "Lord" means YHWH or Yahweh, the proper name of God. “Our ruler” means Adonai, ie the sovereign or lord. Taken together, the picture emerges of a personal, caring God who has absolute dominion over his creation. Yes, he is enthroned exalted (in majesty) in heaven. It is to this God that David addresses and appeals when, as in the Psalm that follows, he presents his statutes and expresses his hope.

The strength of the Lord: “Out of the mouths of young children and suckling children you bestowed power on account of your enemies, to destroy the enemy and the avenger” (Psalm 8,3).

David marvels that the Lord God should use the “puny” strength of children (strength better reflects the Hebrew word translated power in the New Testament) to annihilate, or put an end to, the enemy and the vengeful to prepare. It is about the Lord establishing His matchless strength on a sure footing by making use of these helpless children and infants. However, should we take these statements literally? Are God's Enemies Really Silenced by Children? Perhaps, but more likely, David with children is figuratively leading small, weak, and powerless beings. In the face of overwhelming power he has undoubtedly become aware of his own powerlessness, and so it is a comfort to him to know that the Lord, the mighty creator and ruler, uses the powerless and oppressed for his work.

The creation of the Lord: "When I see the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have prepared, what is man that you remember him, and the child of man that you take care of him?" ( psalm 8,4-9).

David's thoughts now turn to the overwhelming truth that the Lord Almighty God has in his grace given part of his realm to man. First he mentions the great creative work (including the heavens ... moon and ... stars) as the work of God's finger and then expresses his astonishment that finite man (the Hebrew word is enos and means mortal, weak person) is given so much responsibility. The rhetorical questions in verse 5 emphasize that man is an insignificant creature in the universe (Psalm 144,4). And yet God takes great care of him. You made him a little lower than God; you crowned him with honor and glory.

God's creation of man is presented as a mighty, worthy work; for man was made little lower than God. The Hebrew Elohim is rendered "angel" in the Elberfeld Bible, but perhaps the translation "God" should be preferred here. The point here is that man was created as God's very own vicar on earth; placed above the rest of creation, but lower than God. David was amazed that the Almighty should give finite man such a place of honor. In Hebrew 2,6-8 this psalm is quoted to contrast the failure of man with his lofty fate. But all is not lost: Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, is the last Adam (1. Corinthians 15,45; 47), and everything is subordinate to him. A state that will become fully a reality when he physically returns to earth to pave the way for a new heaven and a new earth and thus to complete the plan of God the Father, human beings and all the rest of creation to exalt (glorify).

You have made him master over your hands. Everything you have done under his feet: sheep and cattle all together, as well as the wild beasts, the birds under the sky and the fish in the sea and everything that runs through the oceans.

At this point David goes into the position of people as God's governors (administrators) within his creation. After Almighty created Adam and Eve, He commanded them to rule over the earth (1. Mose 1,28). All living beings should be subject to them. But because of sin, that dominion was never fully realized. Tragically, as the irony of fate would have it, it was a creature inferior to them, the serpent, that caused them to rebel against God's commandments and reject their destiny. The Glory of the Lord: "Lord our Ruler, how glorious is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8,10).

The psalm ends as it began - in praise of God's glorious name. Yes, and indeed the glory of the Lord is revealed in his care and providence, with which he considers man in his finiteness and weakness.

conclusion

As we know, David's knowledge of God's love and care for man finds its full realization in the New Testament in the person and work of Jesus. There we learn that Jesus is the Lord who is already ruling (Ephesians 1,22; Hebrews 2,5-9). A rulership that will flourish in the world to come (1. Corinthians 15,27). How extremely comforting and hopeful it is to know that in spite of our wretchedness and powerlessness (tiny compared to the immeasurable vastness of the universe) we are accepted by our Lord and Lord to partake of his glory, his rule over all creation to become.

by Ted Johnston


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