Psalm 8, Designed for Dignity

Designed for Dignity

The divisions in our nation are deepening as attacks are made increasingly on the dignity of those with opposing views politically and socially. There is very little genuine debate on the critical issues of our day. Who listens to their opponents? Answers are seldom given but questions are met with assaults on the individuals. Threats are often made upon their liberty, their property, and even their lives. Ultimately scorn for other human beings who are called “deplorable” or “disgraceful” is an attack on the God who created man, male and female, in His image ().

I. Rebels –

A. Are scorners –

1. They delight in lies –

2. Their tongue breeds death and their actions destruction –

B. The wicked are to be judged –

1. Unbelief is pregnant with iniquity –

2. Although unbelief reflects the deadness of the soul – this is what we mean by total depravity – ,

Sinners distort the image of God but still are in the image of God and therefore have dignity.

II. The Glory of Creation – ,

A. The Lord is to be worshipped because of the creation –

1. The whole earth is full of His glory –

2. The creation speaks –

B. All things hold together in Christ –

1. The creation demonstrates the great name of our God –

2. Let the whole earth be filled with His glory –

III. The Crown of Creation – ,

A. Babies silence the enemy of our soul

1. Our God knits us in our mother’s womb –

2. The cries and sounds of the infant combat the hatred of Satan’s servants –

B. Hatred

1. Pharaoh –

2. Herod “the Great” –

3. The pro-abortion view –

“The status of a woman’s fetus and any moral value accorded to it is entirely the woman’s decision. A fetus becomes a human being when the woman carrying it decides it does.” Joyce Arthur

C. The dignity of man, both male and female, as the crown of creation

1. To rule creation on behalf of the Lord –

2. Even as sinners, man is magnificent to be able to harness and concentrate light into a laser used in laser surgery to repair, for example, retina tears. Lasers can cut and cauterize at the same time. Beethoven’s Ode to Joy in his 9th Symphony is a classic piece of music used in the great hymn Joyful, Joyful, we adore thee Lord of glory, Lord of love, and Hearts unfold like flowers before the opening to the sun above. Vasco de Gama courageously sailed around the world from the Atlantic to the Pacific into the Indian Ocean uniting the world arriving in Calcutta on May 20, 1498. Even as a sinner man is magnificent. Sin can erode enormous talent, but God did not take away the gifts of creativity, invention, discovery, and courage.

IV. The Dominion of Jesus –

A. He has dominion over all people and circumstances –

B. Jesus is the “image of God” –

1. Sinners are recreated by His grace –

2. The goal of salvation is to be conformed to the image of His Son –

Our Lord’s name is excellent in all the earth. Praise God as Christians; we share His name and His likeness