Psalm 8:3–4: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?
Experiencing Jesus in the Psalms
The main body of the praise hymn is awed meditation on the created human being. The night sky, with the moon and expanse of stars, speaks to the psalmist of the handiwork of God’s fingers (v. 3). However, so also speaks human life, insignificant in comparison to God’s immense universe.
Yet God remembers human beings to care for them (v. 4)! What are human beings might well be followed by an exclamation point, for the query about the worth of human beings expresses the wonder that God remembers and visits the frail, insignificant human race! Note that the words often translated man (’ĕnôš and ben-’ādām) are not restricted to the male sex but refer to both man and woman. 1
Living the Transformed Life
He alone spreads out the heavens, And treads on the waves of the sea. Job 9:8–9
- In the age of the selfies, it is time to die to self, and live for Him.
- In the age of self-significance, it is time to discover that our life is hidden in Him.
- In the age of great spiritual deception, it is time to look up, repent, and praise Him.
Even a small dose of self promotion will become a prescription for failure and discouragement.
Praise and Prayer
Thank You Father, for helping me to look up to see Your greatness and to know that You are in control of everything. Dear Jesus, teach me more about Yourself through Your marvelous creation.
1. Waltner, J. H. (2006). Psalms (p. 62). Scottdale, PA; Waterloo, ON: Herald Press.
