Psalm 8:3

3 For I will regard the heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and stars, which thou hast established.

Psalm 8:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 8:3

When I consider thy heavens
Where God dwells, and which he has made; the airy and starry heavens, which are to be seen with the bodily eye; and the heaven of heavens, which is to be beheld and considered by faith:

the work of thy fingers;
being curiously wrought by his power, and garnished by his Spirit: for the finger of God is the Spirit of God; see ( Matthew 12:28 ) ; compared with ( Luke 11:20 ) ;

the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained,
or "prepared" ^F8, for various uses to the earth, and the inhabitants of it. The sun is not mentioned, because it cannot be looked upon, as the moon and the stars may, nor be seen when they are. And it is generally thought that David composed this psalm in the night, When these celestial bodies were in view; and, it may be, while he was keeping his father's sheep, since, in the enumeration of the creatures subject to man, sheep are mentioned first, as being in view, ( Psalms 8:7 ) . The heavenly bodies are very glorious creatures, and are worthy of the consideration and contemplation of man, and even of a saint; whereby he may be led to observe the wisdom, power, goodness, and greatness of God.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (tnnwk) "praeparasti", Pagninus, Montanus; "parasti", Musculus, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalm 8:3 In-Context

1 O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name in all the earth! for thy magnificence is exalted above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, because of thine enemies; that thou mightest put down the enemy and avenger.

3 For I will regard the heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and stars, which thou hast established.

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 Thou madest him a little less than angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour;

6 and thou hast set him over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 sheep and all oxen, yea and the cattle of the field;

8 the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, the creatures passing through the paths of the sea.

9 O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is thy name in all the earth!