Praise!
Six Studies in the Psalms by Peter J. Blackburn
Study 2 - God's Glory (Psalm 8)
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Psalm 8
1 O LORD our sovereign,
how glorious is your name in all the earth!
Your majesty is praised high as the heavens.
2 Out of the mouths of babes, of infants at the breast,
you have rebuked the mighty,
silencing enmity and vengeance to teach your foes a lesson.
3 When I look up at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars you set in their place,
4 what is man that you should remember him,
mortal man that you should care for him?
5 Yet you have made him little less than a god,
crowning him with glory and honour.
6 You make him master over all your creatures;
you have put everything under his feet:
7 all sheep and oxen, all the wild beasts,
8 the birds in the air and the fish in the sea,
and all that moves along the paths of the ocean.
9 O LORD our sovereign,
how glorious is your name in all the earth!
1 O LORD our sovereign,
how glorious is your name in all the earth!
Your majesty is praised high as the heavens.
2 Out of the mouths of babes, of infants at the breast,
you have rebuked the mighty,
silencing enmity and vengeance to teach your foes a lesson.
3 When I look up at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars you set in their place,
4 what is man that you should remember him,
mortal man that you should care for him?
5 Yet you have made him little less than a god,
crowning him with glory and honour.
6 You make him master over all your creatures;
you have put everything under his feet:
7 all sheep and oxen, all the wild beasts,
8 the birds in the air and the fish in the sea,
and all that moves along the paths of the ocean.
9 O LORD our sovereign,
how glorious is your name in all the earth!
What is it saying?
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Are all the words and phrases clear to me? Do I understand what this Psalm meant when it was first written -
Jot down here any new thoughts, problems or questions, that have come to mind as you have read and thought about this Psalm. |
In the group, share what you have written before reading on.
The Psalmist doesn’t argue about God’s infinite greatness - he declares it, "How glorious is your name!" (v. 1)
This is the affirmation of the person of faith as he looks at the vastness of creation and marvels that the human race should be special objects of God’s care and purpose (vv. 3-4).
So often it has been little children who have had simple uncomplicated faith in God (v. 2). Notice how Jesus uses this verse in Matt. 21.14-17.
Yet humankind has a special place in God’s plan (vv. 5-8) – made in the image of God and given responsible mastery over God’s creation (Gen. 1.26-30).
It is wrong to speak as if human beings are everything. It is also wrong to speak and act as if they are nothing. Yet in the final analysis, our greatest glory lies not in our ability to master the earth, but in our right to look up and say, "O LORD our sovereign, how glorious is your name in all the earth!" (v. 9)
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Look again at the two sentences at the beginning of the previous paragraph ("It is wrong..."). What are some of the ways Christians and non-
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What about me?
For the words of the Psalmist of centuries ago to be a meaningful part of my praise, I need to think about my life today. Use these questions to help focus group sharing.
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The Psalmist was confronted by the glory of God as he gazed at the moon and stars. What are the experiences of my life that have brought me a deep sense of God’s greatness and glory?
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What reasons can I list why I should be surprised that God is even interested in me?
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There is a difference between use and abuse. The "mastery" of verse 6 implies responsibility. Do I always "use" the good things of this world responsibly? How can I live in a world which has "mastery" in so many ways, and yet always remember God’s glorious name?
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Praise!
Work individually for ten minutes or so and write down your own Psalm based on our sharing of life together in the light of Psalm 8.
Now share with the whole group what you have written.
Then join together in praise using the words of Psalm 8.
Praise! Studies in the Psalms © Peter J. Blackburn 1977, 2000. Permission is given for this study to be copied in its entirety for group use. Courtesy advice of the use of these studies would be appreciated. Any other proposed use must have the written permission of the author. Email Peter Blackburn. Study 3 - God's Revelation (Psalm 19)
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