Psalm 8 - Worthy of our Praise!!!
The creator of our universe is worthy of our praise and worship. Not just because he made loads of cool stuff, but because he is greater than his creation. Not just because he is amazing, but because He created humanity to have a purpose within his kingdom.
Worship is part of our relationship with God. Worship is our statement to the world and to God that we not only follow Him, but are placing our lives in his hands, for Him to use for His glory.
Yahweh said that King David was “‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’” (Acts 13:22) - one reason for that is because David was a worshiper of Yahweh. He had a heart of worship because he had a relationship with God, and he knew the divine authority, power, glory and holiness of the godhead - who was worthy of being praised, and worshipped with every breathe that he took.
Psalm 8 is a psalm of worship. It is not one of the psalms that outline an event in his life, or a plea for rescue out of a difficult situation. It is a beautifully simple psalm that presents the love David has for his God.
Psalm 8 says…
Preamble: “For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.”
This psalm is not just one of David’s personal poems to the Lord. Rather this was written specifically for public worship.
It was written so that those that believed in Yahweh and worshipped Him could sing together in an expression of that love for Yahweh.
Corporate worship is part of our relationship with God. It helps strengthen and encourage us because we see others expressing their faith and love of God.
Verse 1-2: “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.”
David powerfully opens this psalm by making a declaration about the name of God. It is a clear declaration of the power of the name of God, and the authority it holds.
Something, or someone being ‘Majestic’ means that they are beautiful, powerful or even to the level where they cause others to greatly respect and admire them. David was using this statement to show his deep affection, love and faith in Yahweh.
He then extends his view of God by stating that God’s ‘glory is higher than the heavens’ - which means that the very nature and character of God is bigger than the entire universe. It shows us something that is worth admiring.
David takes it to a different level of admiration and praise…God has even taught children and the very young who speak of God’s greatness. They speak in ways that even the Lord’s enemies are silenced.
Perhaps we need to speak more about the strength of God as evident in our own lives - so that we can silence the enemies of God in both the spiritual and physical realms.
Verse 3-5: “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honour.”
In these next few verses, David turns his attention towards the wonderful creation of Yahweh. David lived and worked out in God’s creation, and he had a real affinity for the natural world.
I can imagine that when he was on watch out in the fields, looking after his father’s flocks - he would look up at the night sky and marvel at the power and majesty of Yahweh. David saw the beauty of the heavens and directly linked it to the power and authority of Yahweh.
In the midst of that admiration, David adds his awe to the picture when he basically asks God “Hey God…you made all of that beauty out there in the vast expanse of the universe and here we are, insignificant little things here on Earth - why do you even think about us? Why do you even provide for us? - Why did you make us so important in your kingdom? That we are almost as your angels?”
These verses should fill us with encouragement - because God is not only thinking about us, but is actively caring for us and meeting our needs. And that we have a place of importance within the Kingdom of God - a place where we are used by God for his glory.
Verse 6-8: “You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.”
David continues his statements about how blessed humanity is because God is active in our midst. He talks about how God has given humanity the authority over all of creation on Earth. This is an echo of Genesis 1:26 where God says “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
God has a plan for humanity, to use it for his glory and for his will. And he has a plan for your life. A life of authority in the physical and spiritual realms, a life of purpose and impact on the world. Not a life of idleness, hopelessness and purposelessness.
Verse 9: “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!”
David uses a common poetic device by ending just as it started.
But it is more than a mere poetic device, it is a point that David is trying to make. It is a clear statement of David’s faith - his deep passionate love for his God.
I pray that you draw closer to God, that you find your voice of worship. I pray that even in the midst of your adversity, that you worship the God that created the universe. God has a purpose for your life, because he created us to be active in our world.