Psalm 8 - 20 April 2009

The psalms are a lovely collection of poems and prayers which probably encompass most human emotions.  The psalmist is often painfully and shockingly honest with God; this is a great example and ‘permission’ for us.  This week we’re going to take a glimpse at some of them, if you have time do read the whole psalm and use it in your prayers.

‘When I consider the work of your heavens,

      the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

      which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

      the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

      and crowned him with glory of honour’. Psalm 8: 3-5 [NIV]

The psalmist was looking at the enormity of the universe and wondering at his place within it.  I love the way God made the heavens with his fingers, not his hands, perhaps suggesting it was a very delicate job for the almighty one.  Nowadays from science we have a much greater idea of the grandeur of the heavens, the galaxies upon galaxies; the vastness of the universe.  How small, how insignificant are we?

Yet the psalmist answers his own question –

‘You made him just a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with gory and honour.’

As Christians we tend to read this as if it was written about Jesus, the Son of Man, and of course he is the perfect example of untainted glory and honour but these verses actually refer to all human beings – to you.  Made in the image of God, you are crowned with glory and honour.

Let that sink in.  Yes, we’ve marred the image, tarnished the glory and honour but in Christ we are restored.  What does it mean to you today, that you are crowned with glory and honour? - To your self- esteem? - To your courage? - To your sense of self?

Ask God to help you live in the light of this fact.