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 [ b ]
and crowned him with glory and honor.
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!
As a family we have been working our way through the Psalms each night around the dinner table. I’ll admit that one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced during this time of social isolation has been keeping a 4 and 6 year old engaged with David’s lamentations and cries for help.
One night however, after I had finished reading through Psalm 8, my 6 year old daughter exclaimed “Ah, that was good!”.
It was good. A reminder of God’s majesty, His creative works on display all around us and His position as ruler over all was just what we needed. The poetic description of our Father’s power and control served to shock my system out of the fear and uncertainty of ever changing daily updates and casualty statistics.
As I pondered this psalm, one verse kept getting called to my attention:
"what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?"
While praying into this passage, I was met with a gentle rebuke and an offer of hope. It is humbling to be reminded that we are not entitled to anything. God does not owe us
anything. Not comfort. Not financial security. Not control of our future. Apart from God, we are all mere mortals, sinners unable to do anything of true eternal value. Despite this lowly position, The Creator of the universe has chosen to care for us and to commune with us in our suffering. He has chosen to lift us from our brokenness and empower us to overcome the stain of sin. The King has called us sons and daughters. He has given us authority over His creation. Let us take time today to marvel at God’s character revealed to us both in His word and through His creation.
Let us be reminded that we are not in control and we are not the masters of our own destinies. And let us then turn our eyes to the One who is. Despite the chaos and despite the uncertainty God is still on His throne. He is still in control and He still deeply loves His children.