Allow Psalm 8 to Refresh Your Soul Today
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Do you feel worn out? Do you need some encouragement today? Going to the Psalms is a great place to be reminded to pour out our hearts in praise, and cry out to Him in our struggles. Psalm 8 is a beautiful portion of Scripture which tells of the majesty and wonder of our great God. We will read through this stunning piece of art and worship to see how Psalm 8 can refresh your soul today.
Psalm 8:1 - “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.”
Reading the word Lord is one thing, but verse one shares Lord, our Lord. This strongly indicates how personal and amazing God is to His children. He is not only the Creator of all, He is personal and loves us deeply. The perfect Father loving His own in and of itself is majestic.
What is the most exquisite sight you have ever encountered? The Lord painted that sunset or fashioned those mountain peaks. He was the One who made everything. The Great Artist who is behind the creation is more majestic than any of it. He has formed the entire world. His glory is seen above in the stars and sky.
Psalm 8:2 - “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
When we ponder the innocence and simplicity of a child, we are reminded that God has many times spoken of the value in childlike faith. Jesus Himself welcomed the little children and said the kingdom of heaven belonged to them (Matthew 19:14). It is amazing to think that just in child-like prayer and seeking Christ, there is a stronghold over our enemy. He silences our foes and the avenger, not because we are great, but because He is God. A child or an infant is completely dependent on his parents for survival, and yet the Lord emphasizes that in a little one’s praise, the enemy is defeated. Jesus has won. We just need to lean on Him.
Psalm 8:3 - “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place.”
As we think about the work of our Creator God – the vastness of the universe that is made from His very breath, His fingers involved in creation – we remember how small we are in comparison. His sovereignty gives us peace. We know that He is in control and we can rest in Him.
Psalm 8:4 - “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
In all of His glory, who are we, that God would take notice and care for us? We are His creations, and yet He has called all who believe in Him to be children of God.
Psalm 8:5 - “You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.”
We have been crowned with the glory of God through Jesus. We can celebrate this joy.
Psalm 8:6 - “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:”
God has provided us with authority in Jesus over the plants and the animals. We have everything on earth under our feet. This is both a gift and a great responsibility. As we look around at nature and ponder that we are part of this creation, but over this creation, we have been given a unique calling to care for and cultivate the earth. We are sinful and do not do this perfectly, but what a privilege to be co-laborers with God in this, and even more so, co-laborers with Christ in the gospel message.
Psalm 8:7 - “All flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild,”
God has provided dominion over animals. We think about farmers or even just house pets. As we witness humanity ruling over the animals, we can remember that our Creator has entrusted us with their care. We will fall short, but it reminds us that He is the perfect Provider.
Psalm 8:8 - “The birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”
It is so much fun to watch the birds and the fish. Our family loves to watch the dolphins jump though the ocean while we sit on the shoreline. There is something so exciting as we sit and watch over God’s creatures.
Birds remind us not to worry, that God is taking care of us because He cares for them, and we are worth so much more. As we view creation, we learn with more depth just how loved we are by the Lord.
Psalm 8:9 - “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
This Psalm ends the same way in which it started. This is no accident, but repeated for a purpose. The psalmist is in awe of the majesty of the Lord. His name is greater than any created thing in the heavens or on the earth. He is the only one deserving of our worship and our honor. As fantastic and beautiful as people, animals, and nature are, He is more glorious and more wonderful than anything we could ever imagine.
Today, we can be refreshed knowing that this beauty, this wonder, this higher One is not only our Maker, but our Savior, our Father, our Friend, and our First Love. Even though He is the King of kings reigning above all, He still values the details of our personal daily lives, the minute features in which we may believe have no significance, the trials which seem to be unending, the dreams in the deepest parts of our hearts, and the questions we have about who He is matter to Him. The mystery of the gospel can be simple enough for a child to understand but complex enough in which no one could ever uncover the fullness of it. Praise be to God.
Photo credit: Unsplash
