Psalm 8: Lord of the Hopeless
Apparently 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 Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your majesty in the heavens above. From the lips of children and infants you ordained praise because of your enemies, to destroy the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the Lord, and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the wild animals, the birds of the air, the fish in the sea, and all that swim in the waters. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Ps 8,1-10)Let us now consider this psalm line by line. The glory of the Lord: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth; you have set your splendor in the heavens!” (Ps 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: “From the mouth of children and infants you have spoken a word of authority because of your enemies, to destroy the foe and the avenger.” (Ps 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 Lord's Creation: "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" (Ps 8,4-9).
David's thoughts now turn to the overwhelming truth that the Lord, the almighty God, in his grace, has entrusted a portion of his dominion to humankind. He first addresses the great work of creation (including heaven, moon, and stars) as the work of God's finger, and then expresses his astonishment that finite humankind (the Hebrew word is enos, meaning mortal, weak human) is given so much responsibility. The rhetorical questions in verse 5 emphasize that humankind is an insignificant creature in the universe. (Ps 144,4)And yet God cares for him greatly. You have made him a little lower than God, and crowned him with honor and glory.
God's creation of man is portrayed as a mighty and worthy work, for man was made only slightly lower than God. The Hebrew Elohim is rendered as "angel" in the Elberfeld Bible, but perhaps the translation "God" should be preferred here. The point is that man was created as God's own representative on earth; placed above the rest of creation, but lower than God. David was astonished that the Almighty assigned such a place of honor to finite man. Hebr 2,6-8 This psalm is quoted to contrast humanity's failure with its sublime destiny. But all is not lost: Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, is the last Adam (1. Kor 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.
David addresses the position of humankind as God's stewards (administrators) within his creation. After the Almighty created Adam and Eve, he commanded them to rule over the earth. (1. Mo 1,28)All living beings were meant to be subject to them. But because of sin, this dominion was never fully realized. Tragically, it was the irony of fate that a creature subservient to them, the serpent, was the very thing that caused them to rebel against God's command and reject their destiny. The glory of the Lord: "Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Ps 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
David's understanding of God's love and care for humanity finds, as we know, its full realization in the person and ministry of Jesus in the New Testament. There we learn that Jesus is the Lord who already holds dominion. (Eph 1,22; Hebr 2,5-9)A dominion that will reach its full potential in the world to come. (1. Kor 15,27)How utterly comforting and hopeful it is to know that despite our wretchedness and powerlessness (tiny compared to the immeasurable vastness of the universe), we are accepted by our Lord and Master to share in his glory, his dominion over all creation.
by Ted Johnston
