Who Am I - Psalm 8

Generally, people want to know a few things in life:

Why am I here? What is my purpose?

How can I be connected? Am I loved and/or seen?

How can I achieve peace?

What is the meaning of life?

Gittith “wine press” - joyous occasion

Psalm 8 NLT

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you. (Matthew 21:16) When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them (him)? Yet you made them (him) only a little lower than God (angels/gods/Elohim) and crowned them with glory and honor. (Hebrews 2:6-8) You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— (1 Corinthians 15:27) the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents. O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Kavod vs. Hod  (weight, glory, honor) and  (splendor, majesty, gratitude) are . While  KAVOD signifies the heavy, substantial, and tangible presence of God,  HOD refers to the majestic, radiant, and aesthetic splendor that evokes gratitude and humble acknowledgment of God's greatness.

Matthew 21:16 NLT

They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” “Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’”

Hebrews 2:6–8 NLT

For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him? Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority.

1 Corinthians 15:27 NLT

For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.)

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 13: Psalms 1–72 The Glory of Man

Today, we can marvel at the heavens with more data than was available to David’s unaided eye. For example, we know that in one second a beam of light travels 186,000 miles, which is about seven times around the earth. It takes eight minutes for that beam to go from the sun to the earth. In a year the same beam travels almost six trillion miles. Scientists call this a “light-year.” Eight billion light-years from earth is halfway to the edge of the known universe. Within the universe there are a hundred billion galaxies, each with a hundred billion stars, on the average. In all the galaxies, there are perhaps as many planets as stars, ten billion trillion. These statistics take us beyond human comprehension. No wonder David asks, “What is man … ?”

1 million seconds is about 11.5 days

1 billion seconds is about 31.7 years

1 trillion seconds is 31,700 years

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 13: Psalms 1–72 The Glory of Man

It is important to see, however, that for David, beyond the vastness of the universe is the vastness of God. The moon and stars are merely “the work of Your fingers.” God has molded the universe as a potter might form a jar on his turning wheel. No wonder the name of Yahweh is “excellent … in all the earth.” No wonder His glory is “above the heavens.” The whole universe sits on His potter’s wheel; the whole universe stands on His workbench.

Question of our identity

Faithlife Study Bible Psalm 8

The psalmist contrasts the weakness of infants with the enemies of God. He declares that even the words of the most helpless about God are used by God to defend His people.

The Tony Evans Study Bible Psalm 8

The modern person tends to be full of himself or herself because God is so small in his or her eyes. But when we see God as he truly is (massive!), we understand how truly miniscule we are.

The Tony Evans Study Bible Psalm 8

This means that though we are reduced in size in comparison to God, we are increased in significance in relationship to him.

Seneca - 4 BC - 65 AD

Could we take our station on the lofty pinnacles of Heaven, and look down on this scarcely distinguishable speck of earth, we would be ready to exclaim with Seneca, Is it to this little spot that the great designs and vast desires of men are confined?

The Evidence Bible: Irrefutable Evidence for the Thinking Mind, Notes Psalm 8

Man is not just an animal on the evolutionary food chain.

Fire Bible Psalm 8

The fact that we hold such a favored position with God is no reason for selfish pride, but it is a reason for taking personal responsibility for the trust God has given to us. Above all, it is a reason to give thanks and honor to the Creator (v. 9).