O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
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.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
This psalm, deeply connected to Genesis 1, sings of God's incredible power displayed in creation and marvels at His loving attention to humanity. Genesis 1 recounts God's creation of the heavens, the earth, and all living things, culminating in Adam and Eve, created in His image and given dominion over creation (Genesis 1:28). Psalms 144:3 echoes Psalms 8:4, and Hebrews 2:5-9 applies Psalms 8:4-6 to Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 contrasts Adam, the first man of dust, with Jesus, the last Adam from heaven.
The Magnificent Name of God (8:1-2)
David begins and ends this psalm with a powerful declaration: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalms 8:1, 9). In the Bible, a name signifies the character and reputation of a person. To praise God’s name is to praise God Himself. David sees the Lord's name as the most magnificent in all the earth, full of splendor because He has covered the heavens with His majesty (Psalms 8:1).
Interestingly, even the seemingly insignificant—"infants and nursing babies"—can experience God's name as a stronghold of protection from enemies (Psalms 8:2). This highlights the accessibility of God's power and protection to even the humblest and most dependent among us (Matthew 11:25, 18:1-4, 19:14). It speaks to the profound truth that God's strength is made perfect in weakness.
Awe Before the Cosmos (8:3-4)
Gazing at the vast expanse of the night sky, David is overwhelmed by the sheer scale of God's creation. He sees the moon and the stars, "the work of your fingers" (Psalms 8:3), not as distant, cold objects, but as a testament to God's artistry. This "divine painting" inspires awe, but also leads to a humbling realization: "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalms 8:4).
Considering the billions of stars and galaxies, David stands in awe. This glorious masterpiece is nothing more than the work of God’s fingers, a divine painting set in place to be admired (Psalms 8:3). The immensity of it causes David to realize just how small he and the rest of humanity are. Modern man tends to be full of himself because God is so small in his eyes. But, when we see God as He truly is (massive!), we understand how truly miniscule we are.
Humanity's Dignity and Dominion (8:5-8)
Despite humanity's relative insignificance compared to the cosmos, David recognizes that God has bestowed upon us remarkable dignity and responsibility. God made mankind "a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor" (Psalms 8:5). This means that though you are reduced in size in comparison to God, you are increased in significance in relationship to Him.
This refers back to Genesis 1:26-28, where God gave humans dominion over the earth. He made man ruler over the works of [his] hands and put everything under his feet (Psalms 8:6) with the idea that humans would rule on God’s behalf. After Satan rebelled, God created Adam and Eve to have dominion over the earth. Through us He intended to establish a kingdom that would defeat Satan’s kingdom.
However, this original plan was disrupted by sin. Yet, God's kingdom program outlined here was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the God-Man (see Hebrews 2:6-9). Jesus defeated Satan and provided redemption for humanity through his atoning death on the cross (see Hebrews 2:14-17). Ultimately, Christ will reign in his millennial kingdom, subjecting all creation to the kingdom of God (see 1 Corinthians 15:24-28) and vanquishing Satan once and for all (see Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10). Until then, Christ’s followers are called to exercise authority on earth in his name and model his kingdom rule in obedience to his kingdom agenda (see Matthew 28:19-20).
A Majestic Conclusion (8:9)
David concludes the psalm as he began, reaffirming the majesty of God's name throughout the earth (Psalms 8:9). This repetition emphasizes the central theme of the psalm: the awe-inspiring greatness of God and the surprising grace He extends to humanity. In light of who God is and the kingdom He is establishing, His name is to be praised as magnificent throughout the earth.
Psalms 8 reminds us that while we may be small in the grand scheme of the universe, we are deeply loved and valued by the Creator. It calls us to reflect on the wonder of God's creation, the dignity He has bestowed upon us, and the responsibility we have to steward His world faithfully.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
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.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
This psalm, deeply connected to Genesis 1, sings of God's incredible power displayed in creation and marvels at His loving attention to humanity. Genesis 1 recounts God's creation of the heavens, the earth, and all living things, culminating in Adam and Eve, created in His image and given dominion over creation (Genesis 1:28). Psalms 144:3 echoes Psalms 8:4, and Hebrews 2:5-9 applies Psalms 8:4-6 to Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 contrasts Adam, the first man of dust, with Jesus, the last Adam from heaven.
The Magnificent Name of God (8:1-2)
David begins and ends this psalm with a powerful declaration: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalms 8:1, 9). In the Bible, a name signifies the character and reputation of a person. To praise God’s name is to praise God Himself. David sees the Lord's name as the most magnificent in all the earth, full of splendor because He has covered the heavens with His majesty (Psalms 8:1).
Interestingly, even the seemingly insignificant—"infants and nursing babies"—can experience God's name as a stronghold of protection from enemies (Psalms 8:2). This highlights the accessibility of God's power and protection to even the humblest and most dependent among us (Matthew 11:25, 18:1-4, 19:14). It speaks to the profound truth that God's strength is made perfect in weakness.
Awe Before the Cosmos (8:3-4)
Gazing at the vast expanse of the night sky, David is overwhelmed by the sheer scale of God's creation. He sees the moon and the stars, "the work of your fingers" (Psalms 8:3), not as distant, cold objects, but as a testament to God's artistry. This "divine painting" inspires awe, but also leads to a humbling realization: "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Psalms 8:4).
Considering the billions of stars and galaxies, David stands in awe. This glorious masterpiece is nothing more than the work of God’s fingers, a divine painting set in place to be admired (Psalms 8:3). The immensity of it causes David to realize just how small he and the rest of humanity are. Modern man tends to be full of himself because God is so small in his eyes. But, when we see God as He truly is (massive!), we understand how truly miniscule we are.
Humanity's Dignity and Dominion (8:5-8)
Despite humanity's relative insignificance compared to the cosmos, David recognizes that God has bestowed upon us remarkable dignity and responsibility. God made mankind "a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor" (Psalms 8:5). This means that though you are reduced in size in comparison to God, you are increased in significance in relationship to Him.
This refers back to Genesis 1:26-28, where God gave humans dominion over the earth. He made man ruler over the works of [his] hands and put everything under his feet (Psalms 8:6) with the idea that humans would rule on God’s behalf. After Satan rebelled, God created Adam and Eve to have dominion over the earth. Through us He intended to establish a kingdom that would defeat Satan’s kingdom.
However, this original plan was disrupted by sin. Yet, God's kingdom program outlined here was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the God-Man (see Hebrews 2:6-9). Jesus defeated Satan and provided redemption for humanity through his atoning death on the cross (see Hebrews 2:14-17). Ultimately, Christ will reign in his millennial kingdom, subjecting all creation to the kingdom of God (see 1 Corinthians 15:24-28) and vanquishing Satan once and for all (see Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10). Until then, Christ’s followers are called to exercise authority on earth in his name and model his kingdom rule in obedience to his kingdom agenda (see Matthew 28:19-20).
A Majestic Conclusion (8:9)
David concludes the psalm as he began, reaffirming the majesty of God's name throughout the earth (Psalms 8:9). This repetition emphasizes the central theme of the psalm: the awe-inspiring greatness of God and the surprising grace He extends to humanity. In light of who God is and the kingdom He is establishing, His name is to be praised as magnificent throughout the earth.
Psalms 8 reminds us that while we may be small in the grand scheme of the universe, we are deeply loved and valued by the Creator. It calls us to reflect on the wonder of God's creation, the dignity He has bestowed upon us, and the responsibility we have to steward His world faithfully.