Psalms 8

Psalms 8:1-9

God’ s Glory in Man’ s Headship Psalms 8:1-9 This exquisite ode can reach perfect fulfillment only in our Lord, Hebrews 2:6-9. It was evidently composed at night, and probably dates from the early shepherd days, when wild creatures crept around the fold and night-birds screamed above, reminding the singer of the animal world over which man was meant to reign. The ascription of Psa 8:1-2 is very fine. Christ is so mighty that when His strength is given to babes they vanquish and silence His foes, Matthew 21:16; 1 Corinthians 1:25. Do not regret your helplessness, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. The comparison of Psa 8:3-4 is striking. It is a great descent from Adonai above the heavens to the son of Adam . But the king loves his child more than his palace. What must not be the worth of man, of whom God makes so much! The crown of creation was placed on man’ s brow. Sin wrecked it, but the Son of man regained it, Matthew 28:18; Isaiah 11:6-9; Romans 8:19-22. The holy soul has the talisman of rule, 1 Corinthians 3:22.

How excellent is Thy Name!Was Gittith a tune or instrument brought from Gath? (1 Samuel 27:2). This exquisite ode, which can only reach its fulfilment in the person of the Son of Man–to whom it is referred in the New Testament (Hebrews 2:6-9)–was evidently composed at night. It probably dates from the early shepherd days, when wild creatures crept around the fold, and night-birds screamed, reminding the sweet singer of the animal world.

Psalms 8:1 The inscription. Jehovah our Lord Adonai (see Psalms 110:1). Our Lord Jesus is here.

Psalms 8:1-2 The ascription. His name excellent on earth; his glory the crown on the brow of the sky. And so mighty that his strength communicated to babes is more than enough to vanquish and silence His foes (1 Corinthians 1:25). See also Christ’s own quotation (Matthew 21:16). Let us rejoice that we are weak and helpless. This is the very way of acquiring God’s strength (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Psalms 8:3-4 The comparison. At first sight there is a great descent from the vastness of the works of God in the heavens to frail man (enoush), the son of Adam (ben-h’ adam), whose very name implies that he is of the dust (Adam, earthy). How should so great a God visit him? We often confound size and greatness, and forget that the King loves his little babe more than all the splendor and extent of his ancestral palace. The age of the telescope was the age of the microscope. There are as many worlds of wonder which are too minute for our vision as there are which are too great for our understanding.

Psalms 8:5-8 The compensation.Yet, man in his original creation was only a little lower than the angels. He was invested with the vicegerency of the lower orders of creation (Genesis 1:26).

Some traces of this still exist in the power of the human eye and voice over animals. But sin rolled this crown into the dust. We have to win authority with effort, and retain it with difficulty. We see not yet all things put under us. But this lost power has been re-acquired by Jesus, as man (Matthew 28:18). And in his kingdom it shall be restored to man (Isaiah 11:6-9). And from the redeemed creation shall arise the words with which this Psalm begins and ends (Romans 8:19-22).