The Glory of God and The Dignity of Man. Psalm 8:1-9

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 1 The Glory of God and The Dignity of Man Psalm 8:1-9

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 2 Text: Psalm 8:1-9, The Glory of God and The Dignity of Man 1. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Introduction: I. The superscription to Psalm 8 reads: For the chief musician; set to the Gittith. A Psalm of David. A. David is identified as the author of this psalm. B. The psalm is for the chief musician, evidently the one in charge of the musical portion of public worship.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 3 C. Only three psalms (this one, 81 and 82) have this instruction, set to the Gittith. 1. Dummelow ventured the opinion that Gittith was perhaps an instrument or a tune of Gath. 2. The Pulpit Commentary suggested Gittith made have been a melody David learned while in Gath. 3. The bottom line is: No one knows with any degree of certainty what Gittith means. (Coffman) II. Smith wrote, The Old Testament believer anticipated a glorious future. He looked forward to the subjugation of all things, including enemies both within and without. III. Palm 8, Smith observed, is quoted four times in the New Testament and applied to Christ. A. Matthew 21:16, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? B. 1 Corinthians 15:27, For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. C. Hebrews 2:6-9, But one in a certain placve testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 4 lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. D. Ephesians 1:19b-22, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. IV. The Pulpit Commentary identified this as a psalm of praise and thanksgiving. A. God, who had made the heavens, and set his glory on them condescended to show his love and goodness toward man. (Pulpit Commentary) V. Tesh and Zorn wrote that Psalm 8 was probably used as a hymn of praise in congregational worship... A. in which the majesty of God is celebrated in heaven and on earth. B. because of the exalted place given insignificant mankind in the divine scheme of things. Commentary: God s Glory and Majesty Psalm 8:1, O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 5 I. O Lord, our Lord,... (NIV) Note: The first and last sentences of this psalm are identical. These words serve as both the introduction and conclusion to this psalm. This fact is what this psalm is all about. II. how majestic is your name in all the earth. (NIV) III. God s name is indeed majestic in all the earth!... surpassing all else that exists. A. How sad indeed it is that all of earth s people do not recognize this fact? B. Tesh and Zorn well wrote: 1. The unbelievable power packed into a single atom scarcely hints of the power of him who placed it there when he called the universe into being with but the spoken word/command. 2. The wisest of all the ages have sought to understand the natural world, but God was the one who designed it all! (Tesh and Zorn) 3. Isaiah 57:15, For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. IV. You have set your glory above the heavens. (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 6 A. God s glory extends to the third heaven and without limit infinitely! V. It is with hearts filled with awe and wonder of God s majesty that we should assemble for worship everytime. Psalm 8:2, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. I. From the lips of children (babes) and infants... (sucklings) (NIV) II. Jesus quoted this verse word for word as it appears in the LXX. (Coffman) A. Matthew 21:16, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? III. Coffman further observed that babes and suckling as used here may refer to all mankind in view of our frailty and weakness. IV. Paul reminds us of this fact; this is, that God uses even feeble instruments of his creation for his glory. (Coffman) A. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. VI. you have ordained praise... (NIV) A. As Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem, children praised him.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 7 1. Matthew 21:16, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? B. Religious leaders did not praise Christ! VII. because of your enemies,... (NIV) A. The praise of infants and children puts to shame the adult enemies of God who refuse to acknowledge God. (Pulpit Commentary) VIII. to silence the foe and the avenger. (NIV) A. No evil individual nor combination of evil humans can diminish the majesty of God. (Pulpit Commentary) B. To the contrary, all of God s deeds and creation, even the mouths of babes and sucklings, silence, still and shame his foes, enemies and would be avengers. The Insignificance of Man Psalm 8:3, When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; I. When I consider your heavens,... (NIV) A. Psalm 19:1, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. B. Psalm 33:6, By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 8 C. Psalm 104:2, Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: D. This verse may find its basis in David s years under the night sky as a shepherd boy. II. the work of your fingers,... (NIV) A. God is so powerful that the creation of the heavens, moon and stars did not require anything but the use of his fingers. (Coffman) B. The absolute beautiful perfection of all creation attests to the absolute artistic perfection of God s fingers! 1. Have you ever gone sight seeing? 2. Did you remember to thank God for all you beheld? C. References: 1. Exodus 8:19, Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. 2. Exodus 31:18, And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. 3. Deuteronomy 9:10, And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the Lord spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 9 4. Luke 11:20, But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. III. the moon and the stars,... (NIV) A. Looking toward the heavens at night, as David must have done so many times as a shepherd, is truly awe inspiring! 1. Who but God could have created all this wonder? 2. Don t be blind to God s heavenly grandeur. 3. Genesis 1:16, And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. IV. which you have set in place,... (NIV) A. There is order in God s heavens. B. Everything is in place doing as God ordained. C. Why can t we humans learn to conduct ourselves always and in every way as the heavenly bodies; that is, in complete agreement with the will of God? Psalm 8:4, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? I. what is (frail, mortal) man that you are mindful of him,... (NIV) A. How truly astounding it is that Almighty God thinks about me!

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 10 1. Psalm 144:3, Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 2. Job 7:17-20, What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be. B. Billions live on this little planet. 1. God is mindful of each one of us. 2. Awesome! II. the son of man that you (visit) care for (visiteth) him? (NIV) A. This is a parallel statement to the one just noted above. B. God did indeed visit us in his Son Christ Jesus. (Coffman) 1. Luke 1:78, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,... C. Tesh and Zorn state that visitest as used in the KJV means to visit for a purpose, in this case for a benevolent purpose; that is, to care for him.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 11 D. Tesh and Zorn conclude by saying, That God would even take thought of such an insignificant creature is cause for wonder. How marvelous that he cares! The Exalted Status Given Man Psalm 8:5, For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. I. You made him a little lower than Elohim (God s Elohi) the heavenly beings... (NIV) (angels) A. Hebrews 2:6-8a, But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. B. Genesis 1:26, 27, And God said, Let us make man in our image, afater our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. C. Psalm 82:6, I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. D. Tesh and Zorn rendered a little lower than heavenly beings as a little less than divine. E. Tesh and Zorn also noted that while elohim is the general word for God, it also is used to refer to the angels.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 12 1. Psalm 97:7, Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. 2. Psalm 138:1, I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. II. and crowned him with glory and honor. (NIV) A. Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. B. The hope for a glorious crown rests on faith in, love for and obedience of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. C. The resurrected Christ is glorified man, as he is intended to be! (Tesh and Zorn) D. Man is no mere animal who is just a little more intelligent than some other animal. 1. However, man s having been made only a little lower than the angels should make us humble and grateful, most certainly not arrogant and haughty. 2. Made in the image of God! Thank you, Lord! Psalm 8:6, Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: I. You made him ruler over the works of your hands;.... (NIV) A. Genesis 1:28, And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it;

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 13 and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. B. 1 Corinthians 15:25-28, For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. C. Hebrews 2:8, Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. D. Ultimately Christ is the one, only one, to perfectly assume this rulership and to discharge it perfectly. 1. Matthew 28:18, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. E. God is the soverign ruler of all that is. 1. God has delegated authority to man to work and take care of the earth. 2. Let us discharge our duties in keeping with the will of the Creator. 3. God made the earth and wrote the instruction book! II. you put everything under his feet:... (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 14 A. We must exercise thoughtful concern to care well for God s creation. B. Conservation, use without waste, is our responsibility. Psalm 8:7, All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;... I. all flocks (sheep) and herds (oxen), and the beasts of the field,... (NIV) A. All things have been put under human control. B. Look around. Man has done many things well. In others he has made a royal mess. C. Flocks and herds such as sheep and oxen, domesticated animals, are most under man s domination. (Pulpit Commentary) D. All other land animals are listed next. 1. Genesis 1:28, And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 2. Genesis 9:2, And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3. 2 Kings 17:25, 26, And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the Lord: therefore the Lord sent lions among them, which slew some of them. Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 15 nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. 4. Job 41:1-10, Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears? Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? 5. Isaiah 11:6-9, The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. 6. Isaiah 65:25, The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 16 the serpent s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord. Psalm 8:8, The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. I. the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,...(niv) A. All flying and swimming creatures are listed next. 1. Genesis 1:21, And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. II. all that swim the paths of the seas. (NIV) A. In the Tennessee State Capital there is a monument to Fontaine Maury, the Pathfinder of the Seas, who reportedly said, The Bible says there are paths in the seas. I m going to find them. 1. Maury then began his monumental work of mapping the currents, paths of the seas! 2. Whether the Holy Spirit here was speaking of ocean currents or that fish made paths for themselves as they swim from place to place or both, this scribe is unable to say. 3. However, the verse is true either way. Psalm 8:9, O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! I. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (NIV)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 17 A. The Psalm closes with that magnificent exclamation with which it began... (Coffman) B. Psalm 19:1, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork C. Hebrews 2:8-10, Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. D. Psalm 22:22, I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. E. 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 18 Conclusion: I. Christ Jesus, son of Man, was given universal authority at the time of his ascension into heaven. A. Hebrews 2:5, For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. B. Ephesians 1:22, And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, C. 1 Corinthians 15:25-27, For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. D. Only in the new heavens and earth with Christ as ruler, will God s plans reach full fruition. II. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Indeed!

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 19 References Coffman, James Burton, Psalms, Volumes 1 and 2, Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, 1992. Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version, National Publishing Company, The Gideons International, Nashville, 1979. Holy Bible, New International Version, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan1953. Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1989. Knight, George A.F., The Daily Bible Study Series, Psalms, Volume 1, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia, 1982. Smith, James, E., The Wisdom Literature and Psalms, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, 1996. Tesh, S. Edward and Zorn, Walter D., Psalms, Volume 1, The College Press NIV Commentary, College Press Publishing Company, Joplin, Missouri, 1999. Youngblood, Ronald F., Bruce, F. F., and Harrison R. K., Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1995.

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 20 Questions Psalm 8:1-9 1. What does Gittith mean? 2. What does Gath have to do with Gittith? (See KJV superscription.) _ 3. Who wrote Psalm 8? To whom was it addressed? For what purpose was it written? 4. How did Old Testament believers view the future? Be specific. 5. What New Testament applications/ interpretations are made of Psalm 8?

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 21 6. Psalm 8 is a psalm of and. 7. The first and last sentences of this psalm are identical? What is the significance of this fact and of what is said in these sentences? 8. Is God s name really majestic in all the earth? Why or why not? Explain your answer. 9. It is with filled with and of s that we should for everytime. 10. The of and puts to the of who to acknowledge. 11. How can the foe and avenger be silenced? (See verse 2.)

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 22 12. Explain the significance of the word fingers in verse 3. 13. What is man or the son of man that God is mindful of him? 14. God made man a little lower than what? Explain the meaning of the various words in verse 5 referring to this matter. 15. How has, will God crown mankind with glory and honor?

http://www.biblestudyworkshop.com 23 16. God has made mankind the ruler over the works of his hands. What kind of job has man done, good and bad, in discharging this responsibility? 17. What is the meaning and significance of the phrase paths of the seas? 18. Christ Jesus is the ultimate son of Man. What changes in your life should be made so that your life is more like the life of Christ? Be specific. 19. O, our, how is your in the!