Consider a time you’ve beheld creation and been in awe. Maybe you were standing at the foot of a towering mountain, looking outward upon the sea’s seemingly endless horizon, or gazing upon the tapestry of a starry night sky. The beauties of creation, rightly beheld, set us in awe of the Creator.

When David wrote Psalm 8, he was in awe of God. On Sunday, Pastor Michael preached on this psalm, showing us that God’s glory is revealed in His plan for humanity, which ultimately points us to the coming of Jesus Christ.

Today, multiple claims exist regarding man’s identity. Some claim man is an evolved animal, the product of unguided evolution. Others say humans can define their own essence by the choices they make. Scripture, though, teaches us the truth about humanity. Human beings are made in the image of God, possess inherent dignity, and have been entrusted with responsibility over the rest of the created order.

In his psalm, David marveled over the fact that God, in His greatness, cares for man. The same God who created the cosmos and hung the stars in place looks graciously on mere man, and entrusts him with responsibility. Verses 3-4 (ESV) read:

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?”

 We see in verses that follow that God has entrusted mankind with responsibility. Man has dominion over creation, including over all the animals of the earth. While this reveals mankind’s special status, it does not mean mankind is sinless. Humans disobeyed God and incurred His wrath. Amazingly, God the Son became a man to save people from the penalty and power of sin by dying a sacrificial death and rising from the dead.

Psalm 8 speaks to the incarnation of Jesus. The author of Hebrews understood this, and quoted verses 4-6 to show that Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than angels, is in control of all things and is crowned with glory and honor. This crowning of glory and honor is directly tied to Christ’s death, which was so that by God’s grace He might taste death for everyone (see Heb. 2:5-9).

We, like David, have reason to be in awe of God’s greatness and kindness. May we be people who respond to God in worship. May we, like David, say with sincere hearts:

“O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Ps. 8:9)

Resources:

• Lofty Claims — Joe Holland

• The Sovereign Glory of God — Ligonier Ministries

Reflection Questions:

• What distractions or temptations do you allow to keep you from beholding God’s glory?

• How does the gospel supremely display God’s greatness and kindness?

• How can you grow in beholding God’s glory this Advent season?