Necessary cookies are essential for the website to function properly. Hear my cry for mercyas I call to you for he How plainly God displays his glory himself, Psalms 8:1. It establishes God’s sovereignty over the universe, yet marvels at His love for people, even babies. All three of these principles are rooted in what God has made man; they do not exist nor are they fulfilled from the plan or work of man. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. × Psalm 8:4, ESV: "what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" These poems, hymns and laments gave them a way to express their feelings, awe and worship to the Lord whilst preserving their identity as a people, and passing down their legacy and customs to another generation. This short Psalm is unique. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. A Bible Devotion from Psalm 8 O Lord, Our Lord, How Excellent is Your Name in all the Earth. - That thou settest thy heart upon him, keepest him continually in thy merciful view. Here is a collection of my reflections on Psalm 8, based on a class presentation at IMC, whilst in training for mission in 2017. We use cookies to improve your experience of the BMS World Mission website. That thou art mindful of him? The psalms were probably collected together after the … These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the … This psalm is a glorious praise to God for His kindness to the lowly and mortal human in giving the Torah to the inhabitants of the lower worlds, arousing the envy of the celestial angels. He addresses himself to God with all humility and reverence, as the Lord and his people's Lord: O Lord our Lord! It is an address to God by his chosen and special title, Exo 3:14. It begins with a celebration of the surpassing majesty of God.” (Boice), iv. To the Chief Musician. I chose this Psalm by way of a method to engage in discipleship, with a believer from an Animistic background. You can also change some of your preferences. O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth, Who hast set thy glory upon the heavens! If we believe that God is the Lord, we must avouch and acknowledge him to be ours. We use cookies to improve your experience of the BMS World Mission website. It could be used for prayer and worship, both personally, in a small group or congregational setting, to set our perspective on the bigger picture, and simply remind us of the greatness of our God. God is indeed great — and God has created human beings to join with God in caring for a creation that is constantly under threat by the powers of chaos and injustice. I chose this Psalm by way of a method to engage in discipleship, with a believer from an Animistic background. The sadness in Psalm 137 captures a feel of some of their struggle during that time in Babylon, after which the book of Psalms was put together. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Next » Chapter 9. (3-9) 1,2 The psalmist seeks to give unto God the glory due to his name. But they did sing. 150. This group includes cookies that collect information about our users’ browsing habits, which may include their use of social media sites such as Facebook. It is a model and gives us permission to take it further. BMS World Mission is a Christian mission organisation, working in around 30 countries on four continents. Psalm 8 gives us a crucial affirmation, though, as we begin our reflections on nine psalms. The Names Of God. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. This idea is expressed in the Yom Kippur prayer, “Though Your mighty strength is in the angels above, You desire praise from those formed of lowly matter.” The absence of written, sacred scripture means that they rely on nature, including trees, flowers and animals, to tell their stories and legends, and to aid their worship. The psalms that immediately precede it are prayers spoken by people who are suffering or who are persecuted (Psalms 3-7). These words have been tried and tested throughout the Jewish community and found to be good words. Commentary forPsalms 8. Chapter Contents. God is to be glorified, for making known himself to us. so sinful a creature, that he should be thus favoured! There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?’. That just means, the author wrote it to reflect and meditate on something. 1174364) and a company limited by guarantee (no. It’s a hymn of praise, wonder and adoration about the magnificence of God, or Yahweh. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Divine Majesty and Human Dignity. As you may know, David wrote about half of them, reflecting on his experiences at various points of his life. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. For a full list of the cookies we use, visit www.bmsworldmission/privacy. 2 O LORD, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth! This psalm truly values creation, yet plainly states that it is the author of creation that is to be worshipped, not creation itself. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Try to imagine David the shepherd boy laying on his back in the fields of Bethlehem at night, enjoying the brilliance of the moon, stars and planets and his heart erupting with praise, awe and wonder about God’s greatness. PSALM 8 *. Adam Clarke Commentary. A psalm of David. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. Paul mentions this passage when he illustrates in Romans 1 the witness of creation, leaving people without excuse. Most of us are so used to being more or less well off and more or less comfortable that we have difficulty hearing the text from the margin, from the perspective of the underdog or the … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 8" God is great. PS 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: PS 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; PS 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. IV. Read Full Chapter. A Sustainable Life. But it is better to keep the futures in Psalm 30:8, instead of translating them as preterites, and make the quotation begin here. Peace for Your Mind, Hope for Your Heart. 8:2 Out of the mouth a of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. A problem with our hearing of Psalm 8, as with so many other biblical texts, may be our affluence. You can check these in your browser security settings. These cookies do not store any personal information. “When I … O Lord - Hebrew, יהוה Yahweh. It’s a song of praise about God’s majesty in creation. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Psalm 8:4 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Psalm 8:4, NIV: "what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" The heights of praise and the depths of despair are illustrated with rhythm, and different ideas and thoughts echo and complement each other. He is Lord over me and you. View Psalms 8 in the note window. The plainly seen glory of creation. 10849689). We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. You can contact BMS World Mission by using one of the following methods: © 2018 BMS World Mission - The Baptist Missionary Society: registered in England and Wales as a charity (no. Psalms chapter 8 1611 KJV (King James Version) 1 To the chiefe Musicion vpon Gittith, a Psalme of Dauid. And for making even the heavenly bodies useful to man, thereby placing him but little lower than the angels. Chapter 8. View Psalms 8 in the note window.. Ps 8:1-9.Upon [or according to the] Gittith, probably means that the musical performance was directed to be according to a tune of that name; which, derived from Gath, a "wine-press," denotes a tune (used in connection with gathering the vintage) of a joyous character. Click on the different category headings to find out more. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands, sheep, oxen…beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, © Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. This editing work is said to have been done by a group of scribes or scholars called the Masoretes, who marked them for public reading and singing. “The most striking feature of Psalm 8…is its description of man and his place in the created order. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. We use cookies to give you the best experience of our website. The psalms can be divided into 5 sections, and we are looking at a psalm from the first section, which has themes that tie in with the preceding psalms 1-7. It also has double meaning at times. 1. 1 To the conductor, on the gittith, a song of David. Psalm 8 Commentary: Psalm 8 is a reflective or meditative psalm. It talks about how human beings have been given a unique position within God’s creation, using ideas echoed in psalms 119, 104 and 139. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. We rarely remember Job 7:17-18, “What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment?” (ESV). (10-12) Commentary on Psalm 2:1-6 (Read Psalm 2:1-6) We are here told who would appear as adversaries to Christ. The psalmist seeks to give unto God the glory due to his name... View the entire commentary. iii. This is a very important truth to remember because men tend to lift up themselves and trust in their own strength. For a full list of the cookies we use, visit. Tehillim - Psalms - Chapter 8 « Previous Chapter 7. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, … The God to whom we pray is real and cares about us personally, and as a community. You can accept the use of cookies on your device or view more options. The psalms were probably collected together after the Jews’ return from their exile in Babylon. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established strength, Because of thine adversaries, That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. In this Psalm David speaks of the glory of God, and how the glory of man and his destiny reflects upon God. Some psalms are very personal, while others are suitable for a congregation, a small group or even singing at a religious festival. … “This is an effective way of identifying man with God and of saying that he has been made in God’s image, reflecting God’s glory in a way other parts of the creation do not.” (Boice) iv. Psalms. The LORD’S Glory and Mankind’s Dignity. Direction to Study Several Psalms—How terrible it is when the acknowledgment of God is not made when it should be made!How sad to humble one's self when it is too late! ( Psa 8:1) The glory of God in the earth and the heavens. It begins and ends with the same acknowledgment of the transcendent excellency of God’s name. A Psalm of David, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens, Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, Because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy. The psalm concludes with a repetition of the sentiment in the first verse - the reflection on the excellency of the divine name and majesty, Psa 8:9. Psalms 8:1. psa 8:1. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. 9 LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth! The psalms function as prayers themselves, as Psalm 8 does, as well as an invitation to the reader to add their own prayers to these as a springboard to continue to worship God and have continual dialogue with our heavenly father. Man has sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is appointed their lord. A. The God who made all things is the only one worthy of the name that is majestic in all the earth (vv.1, 9). Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. To you, Lord, I call;you are my Rock,do not turn a deaf ear to me.For if you remain silent,I will be like those who go down to the pit. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Men are dust. Jesus knew the Psalms well and often quoted them, and so have many other Jews and Christians over the centuries. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. In this case, the author is David, and he’s reflecting on nature. Genesis 1 is also a mirror of this passage, along the themes of the creation story. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Bible > Psalms > Chapter 30 > Verse 8 Psalm 30:8 ... Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (8) I cried to thee.--The very words of "this utter agony of prayer" are given. LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, You who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! Compare Different Versions of this Verse. All the Psalms to which this term is prefixed [Ps 8:1 81:1 84:1] are of such a character. This category only includes cookies that ensure that the website’s features work and that it is secure. God’s glory is above the heavens; yet He put this same glory and honor on man as a crown. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. His name shall, therefore, be honoured through all the earth.” (Meyer), v. “Even thou, silly worm, shalt honour him, when it shall appear what God hath done for thee, what lusts he hath mortified, and what graces he hath granted thee.” (Spurgeon), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com. What is man - אנוש מה mah enosh, what is wretched, miserable man; man in his fallen state, full of infirmity, ignorance, and sin? The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. (Read Psalm 8:3-9) We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be directed to set his affections on things above. Most of us know of David’s reflections in Psalm 8. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. God made man for a high and worthy destiny. Commentaries for Psalm Chapter 8 God is to be glorified, for making known himself to us. When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, And the son of man that You should visit him, For You have made him a little lower than the angels, You have made him a little lower than the angels, You have crowned him with glory and honor. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. As a community, it is possible that this song was sung at night, perhaps during the Feast of Booths. Chapter 8 This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honourably. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. You have covered the heavens with your majesty. There is a lot of word play in the Hebrew language used in the Psalms. Compare the notes at Isa 1:2. But the psalm does not begin by talking about man. What is man, so mean a creature, that he should be thus honoured! Rashi 's Commentary: Show Hide. That is why this glorious psalm about man is even more so a psalm about God. Men tend to praise their own abilities and accomplishments. We will never sell this information to a third party, Bringing faith in Christ and the life only he can provide. Quiet Time For Your Soul. They touched the people and continue to strike a chord with us in our own lives and experiences. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Indeed, the psalm proclaims that humans are God’s agents on earth. BMS workers and partners strive every day to make Jesus known and share the full life he brings. We do this thanks to the support of UK Christians, individuals and churches, who share our vision for a world made better through Christ’s grace. This is only to help BMS point you to our content or appeals. It is proposed for proof (v. These are not prayers to be said in our heads or even under our breath. From legal work to surgery, food projects to education, BMS works with local partners, providing help where it is most needed, among the most marginalised and least evangelised people in the world. 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