Psalms 8
The sermon explores the vastness of the universe and man's place in it, highlighting God's love and care for humanity.
Chuck Smith explores the majesty of God's creation as described in Psalms 8, emphasizing the vastness of the universe and the seemingly insignificant place of humanity within it. He reflects on the immense size and speed of celestial bodies, illustrating how small and powerless humans are in comparison to the cosmos. Yet, despite this, God is mindful of humanity, having sent His Son for our salvation and prepared an eternal dwelling for us. Smith highlights the paradox of our smallness and God's great love, reminding us of our value in His eyes.
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I. WHEN I CONSIDER THY HEAVENS.
A. Size of heavenly objects.
1. Earth 8,000 miles - 6,000 million, million, million tons
6-24 cifers
2. Jupiter 1,300 times as large.
3. Sun 1,300,000 times the earth.
866,000 miles in diameter (hollow out sun).
4. Betelgeuse 215,000,000 miles in diameter.
B. Speeds of heavenly objects.
1. Earth traveling three trips simultaneously.
a. 9,000,000 miles per year at 1,000 mph on axis.
b. Between 500 & 600 million miles per year around sun,
19 miles per second.
1. Time to tell we have traveled 475 miles.
2. Complete journey 365 days, 9 hrs. 45 min., 48 sec.
c. With sun in her orbit at 13 miles per sec.
400,000,000 miles per year.
2. Some stars travel around 100 miles per second, others as fast as
15,000 miles per second.
C. Distance of heavenly objects.
1. New yard stick by which to measure.
a. Light 186,000 miles per second.
1. Around world 7-1/2 times in one second.
2. To moon and 1 -1/4 seconds.
3. Sun in 7-1/2 minutes.
4. Neptune in 4 hours - 2,780,000 miles.
5. Limit of our solar system.
6. Earth a mustard seed, moon 1/4 this size placed one
inch away, large apple for sun placed 40 feet, other
planets varying in size from almost invisible to size
of a pea from 15 feet to 1/3 miles from sun. Thus, our
whole solar system set out in field less than mile
square to reach nearest star you would have to go beyond
distance of all America.
II. WHAT IS MAN, THE HUMAN SIDE "LIFE GETS SO TEDIOUS"
A. Size in comparison to universe.
B. Age in comparison to universe.
1. Oak tree 1,000 years.
2. Sequoias 3,000 years.
C. How powerless is man, the earth stirs in her sleep, and his cities fall,
the wind blows and his navies are wrecked, the invisible germs crowd the
air and his science is baffled. If the clouds withhold their rain a famine
ensues, if they drop too much his cities are carried away in the flood.
Ill. WHAT IS MAN (THE DIVINE SIDE).
A. God is mindful of him.
1. Not even a sparrow falls.
B. God visited him.
1. He sent His Son.
C. God values Him.
1. Allowed His son to die.
2. "What should it profit a man..."
D. God has given him salvation.
E. God has prepared an eternal dwelling place fit for him.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent are thy ways.
Sermon Outline
- When I Consider Thy Heavens
- What Is Man (The Human Side)
- What Is Man (The Divine Side)
- God is Mindful of Him
- God Visited Him
- God Values Him
- God Has Given Him Salvation
- God Has Prepared an Eternal Dwelling Place
Key Quotes
“What should it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Chuck Smith
“Not even a sparrow falls.” — Chuck Smith
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent are thy ways.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Recognize your own powerlessness and limitations in comparison to the universe.
- Understand that God values and loves you, and has given you salvation and an eternal dwelling place.
- Trust in God's care and attention to detail, even in the smallest matters.