Psalm 8 - How great is our awesome God - Praying through the Psalms



Psalm 8: How great is our awesome God!

Ever heard the expression “a childlike faith”? There’s a reason that we, as Christians, talk about having faith like a child: children can trust and praise God without hesitation, reservation, or doubt. As adults, we ought to desire and ask God for this kind of faith because, often, the older we get, the more cynical and distrustful we can be. There’s something truly beautiful about seeing a child singing loudly, praising God with great enthusiasm. They have no barriers; they don’t worry about how they sound; they sing praise to God with their whole heart.

David starts Psalm 8 with the same unfettered love; he praises God and acknowledges God’s glory and majesty. This is how our days and prayers ought to start. David points out the stark contrast between the open praise that comes from children and the failure of those who oppose God. Though children are considered the weakest in our society, the praise that passes their lips is a strong and powerful weapon against sin and Satan. The Bible often speaks about how we use our tongues; words are powerful. Spreading the praise of God is a wise use of our tongues; after all, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).

David continues lauding the praises of our awesome God, acknowledging His greatness, especially in comparison to how small man is. When we compare ourselves with God’s majesty, we cannot help but see how little and weak we truly are. Creation reflects God’s awesome power in many ways, and as His children, we ought to recognize and reflect on this contrast. However, we must not despair. With such an awe-inspiring creation all around us, we may be tempted to question or doubt our worth. David’s words in Psalm 8 remind us that God has given us a place of “glory and honor”. God created us in His image and set us “a little lower than the heavenly beings” (Psalm 8:5). We can be set free from all doubts about our worth because God has told us how much value we have to Him. So, while we must be humble before our great God, we can also be reassured of our value and worth in Christ Jesus.

God has given man a place of great authority, but with that authority comes great responsibility. He gave us dominion over all the works of His hands, and how we treat His creation says a lot about how much we value God’s gifts. Just like in the parable Jesus gave in Matthew 25:14-30, God will hold us accountable for how we use and treat “all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas” (Psalm 8:7-8). Indeed, we must care for all of creation and be wise stewards with all that God has given us.

When we see all the amazing things God has created, and the awesome gifts He has given each of us, how can we not help but declare, with David, in childlike faith, “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9).


Praying through the Psalms:

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have created all things, and we praise You for Your awesome power, goodness, and mercy. Though we are weak, You have blessed us, called us Your children, and given us a place of honor and glory. Thank You for Your beautiful and intricate creation all around us. May You, by the Holy Spirit, fill us with childlike faith and reverence, that we may sing Your praise without hesitation, doubt, or reservation. Help us to be wise stewards of all the gifts You have given us, and may You fill us with awe, wonder, and care for all that You have created. When we abuse or misuse the gifts You have so graciously given, please forgive us. Though we are not worthy in ourselves, we find our worth in You. Thank You for the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ; make our hearts full with repentance and gratitude, and cause us to sing Your praises far and wide. Forgive our sins through the precious blood of Your Son Jesus Christ, for it is in His name we pray, Amen.

 

Psalm 8: How Majestic Is Your Name

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

 

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