The Majesty of His Name

Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary Psalm 8. Crown of Creation

This psalm is an unsurpassed example of what a hymn should be, celebrating as it does the glory and grace of God, rehearsing who he is and what he has done, and relating us and our world to him; all with a masterly economy of words, and in a spirit of mingled joy and awe. It brings to light the unexpectedness of God’s ways in the roles he has assigned to the strong and the weak (2), the spectacular and the obscure (3–5), the multitudinous and the few (6–8); but it begins and ends with God himself, and its overriding theme is ‘How excellent is thy name!’

The range of thought takes us not only ‘above the heavens’ (1) and back to the beginning (3, 6–8) but, as the New Testament points out, on to the very end (see on verse 6). The question ‘What is man?’ is picked up in three other places in the Old Testament, and the answer of the psalm is expounded in the New as carrying implications which only the incarnation, death and reign of Christ are big enough to satisfy.

God in His Majesty

Excellence in the Earth v. 1a

This exclaim begins with a declaration of intimacy or relationship.

LORD (all caps) is Yahweh the name for God which comes from the Hebrew word for “I am”.

This is the name that God gave Himself when speaking to Moses at the burning bush. “Tell them I AM has sent you is literally, tell them that Yahweh has sent you.”

It could also be translated: “I am who I am” or “I will be what I will be” or perhaps even “I am the One who is.” Regardless of the specific translation, the name speaks of the self-existence and self-sufficiency of God. All others are dependent upon Him for life and breath and existence. He is dependent upon no one. It is for this reason that the Jewish leadership in Jesus’ day thought it was scandalous, blasphemous, and worthy of death for Jesus to utter the words “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58–59). But it was only blasphemous if it wasn’t true.

“our Lord” is Adonai, The word Adonai is simply the word for “Lord.” Lord is defined in English as “someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.”

It would be more accurate to say that Adonai is used as a description of God or as a title of respect, rather than a name in the proper sense.

Don’t ignore the pronoun in between the two Lords. It is an expression of closeness. Yahweh is our Lord.

The earth itself declares the majesty and excellence of God’s name.

God is everywhere present and everywhere He is present declares His majesty.

Even human beings who reject Him and dishonor Him declare His majesty through their very existence.

Imagine if you will that you are some explorer in the darkest jungles of the earth where no human foot has ever tread or perhaps you are the caption of a submarine exploring ocean depths previously unseen by human eye. I can already tell you what you will find there, the majesty of God.

Glory in the Heavens v. 1b

In the next phrase David turns his eye upward.

This truth comes out more than once in the Psalms, perhaps most famously in Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

If you have never looked up at a clear night sky and contemplated the glory of God I might question if you have a pulse.

We as God’s creation are designed to revel in the glory of God displayed in His creation.

Sovereignty in His Plans

The earth declares the majesty of His name, the heavens declare His glory and His work proves beyond any shadow of doubt that He is worthy of all the majesty and glory we can bestow upon His name.

The earth and heavens are filled with things that can only be adequately explained by God’s involvement.

But God takes it a step further by consistently using the weak things of the world to accomplish His plans.

1 Corinthians 1:27 “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;”

David’s concession is that God uses the infants and children to establish strength and silence enemies. v. 2

This goes against what we believe to be the normal pattern of how the world works, but God uses this to prove His involvement and control.

God in His Condescension

In Awe of His Glory v. 3

Imagine with me for a moment that you are David as a young man tending sheep at night. If is your turn on the night rotation. Everything is calm and quiet so you lay in the grass and look up at the stars.

Taking in the vastness of God’s creation how could you not be in absolute awe of the majesty of God.

Taking in God’s glory led David to ask an important question.

Amazed by His Affection

When I think of all that God is and all that He is done, who am I that you would even know my name?

But He does and not only that, He actually engages in the effort that it takes to care about us individually.

We all need to let that sink in on a daily basis

God in His Provision

God Made Us Autonomous

He made us a little lower than the angels.

Regardless of the exact translation chosen, the meaning for humans is clear. God has bestowed the highest possible honor on an earthly creature by creating them only a little less elevated than beings that occupy the heavenly sphere.

We alone as human beings bear the privilege of being made in His image.

He made us with the ability to have self awareness and makes choices.

Ultimately He has made us as a reflection of His glory and majesty.

God Gave Us Dominion

God made us to have dominion over His creation.

Adam and Eve were given dominion over the garden.

The earth itself was created for the glory of God but also for our benefit.

God Corrects Our Mistakes

How are we doing wit this whole dominion thing?

What do you think our average grade is regarding our care of this world and the people in it?

The good news is that God is going to correct our mistakes through His Son Jesus Christ.

Everything said here will find its ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:27 “For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.”