Psalm 8:1–9 (ESV):
1 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honour.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Did you know that because of who God is, you can know who you are?
Through this psalm we see something of the majesty of God and the reality of humanity revealed by David. He firstly begins by extolling God reminding himself that God is; majestic, all-powerful, in charge, magnificent and glorious. So much so that every living thing testifies of God’s goodness, no matter if they can even speak or not! God’s creativity is strong and beautiful, nothing can compare with it. Is this who you know God to be?
It is good to remind yourself of the nature of God, because no matter what is going on around you or who you think you are, God still remains. He will always have these awesome characteristics, He will never change, He will be the same for all eternity, and He has seen and created all things. Therefore you can trust what He says about humanity. and what He says about you.
David from beholding God, wonders about man. Considering God’s character, he ponders why does God even care for people? Why does humanity get so much of God’s attention and care? Why does a majestic, powerful, glorious, peaceful creator even bother with mankind?
These are good questions to ask - What is mankind’s significance? Why does God take time to consider and care for you? When you consider who God is, do you ever wonder why he bothers with humanity or even just yourself? David ponders these things and is blown away by the realisation that not only does God think about mankind and look after us, but he has given us authority and power too! Not only is God your creator and sustainer, but He also enables you to have the life you should have. He has given you responsibility, purpose and worth. Do you realise that? Are you living in the truth of that? You have been crowned ‘with glory and honour’ and you have a purpose and responsibility here on Earth (v5-6).
God values you. Yes, you! The almighty, powerful, glorious God likes, loves and looks after you and He has a job for you to do. He has given you glory, honour, power and authority - are you using it?
God has given you a position here on this planet on purpose. Do you think such a consistent, capable and creative God would make a mistake? As undeserving and as incapable as you may feel, you have been ‘crowned’ by the King of Heaven to take responsibility on this Earth. God has given you:
Position ’a little lower than the heavenly beings’,
Purpose, ‘dominion over the works of your hands’,
Authority, ‘all things under his feet’.
The question is - what are you doing with what the Lord has given you?
If you are reading this and feel unworthy, then you are absolutely right! You do not deserve the consideration and position that God has given you. Yet He has given it to you all the same. He expects you to use the gifts, talents, skills and position that He has given you to take care of His creation. So, how are you doing that? How are you living up to the reality of who you are in light of who God is? This glorious, majestic, powerful, mighty, creator God has a plan and purpose for your life, are you seeking Him to find it? God has given you a task to do that you are capable of, after all you are only, ‘a little lower than the heavenly beings’! You have a position, purpose and authority and you have a duty to find out what that is and how you can use it to honour God and all He has made. Can you imagine the beauty of the world and mankind if everyone knew and lived their God-given roles and responsibilities? Not everyone may do so or come to know what they are made for, but you can. You can bring positive influence and care into this Earth by stepping up and stepping into what God has got for you. So, like David, take time to appreciate who it is whom has formed you and then go and show His majesty and power through being who He has created you to be!
‘O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!’ God, help us each to remember you and find out what it is you will have us do today. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment