Psalm 8 - Praise Through a Pandemic

Psalm 8

Praise Through a Pandemic

Pandemic - (of a disease) prevalent throughout an entire country, continent, or the whole world; epidemic over a large area

CDC offers the following general considerations to help communities of faith discern how best to practice their beliefs while keeping their staff and congregations safe.  Millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life.  For many faith traditions, gathering together for worship is at the heart of what it means to be a community of faith. But as Americans are now aware, gatherings present a risk for increasing the spread of COVID-19 during this public health emergency. (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)

The Psalmist directs this Psalm to Choir Master - the Music Director, but it has implications for all worshippers about praise to Majestic and Sovereign God!

#1 - Praise is Global (v1)

Lord God n. — a term referring to the God of Israel reflecting his authority.

majestic adjs. — inspiring awe or reverence in the beholder; can be related to size, strength, power, or authority.

mighty, strong, i.e., pertaining to actions that show great physical power, either natural or supernatural

glory - God’s authority, splendor, & strength

through - by means

Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) 1997 : n. pag. Print.

#2 - Praise as our Weapon (v2)

praise - mouth

children/infants

you have established - to appoint (duty) v. — to assign a duty, responsibility or obligation to someone.

stronghold - strength n. — the property of being physically or mentally strong; fortification, stronghold, i.e., a place or structure which is a safe place to reside against attacks

you have founded strength 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.

Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.

enemy (personal) n. — a personal enemy.

silence - to cause to cease v. — to cause to have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense.

The Psalmist is saying that PRAISE IS OUR WEAPON!

Swanson, James. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) 1997 : n. pag. Print.

#3 - Praise for His Creation. (vv3-8)

(verses 3–4) - a reflection on the human being: though insignificant when compared with God’s creation…and...

(verses 5–8) - the true worth of human beings is revealed in their having been appointed by the Creator as rulers over all other created beings...

This means — we have value w/God; we are valuable to God!

Bratcher, Robert G., and William David Reyburn. A Translator’s Handbook on the Book of Psalms. New York: United Bible Societies, 1991. Print. UBS Handbook Series.

(cp verses in Psalm 145) - We have reason & a right

3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

20 The Lord preserveth all them that love him:

(King James Version (KJV) - Public Domain)

Creation of the heavens and the earth

Creation of man

Creation of every living creature

God put the wet in water

God put heat in the sun

God put the sweet in sugar

God put the sour in the lemon

God put the “moo” in the cow

God put the meow in the cat

God put the bark in dog

God put the hiss in the snake

God put the buzz in the bees

God put the chirp in the birds

God put the growls in the bears and lions

God put the quack in the ducks

God put the snort in the hogs

God put the gobble in the turkey

God put the howl in the wolf

Conclusion (vv. 1,9) - Begin & End with Praise

The hymn opens and closes with an exclamation of adoration.

It begins and ends with a declaration of praise to the Sovereign God.

The alpha and the omega of this psalm is a declaration of worship unto the most high God.

It starts and finishes with the shout of exaltation of the eternal Father!

(ref. the beginning and ending verses of Psalms 146-150) - each of these Psalms begins with “PRAISE THE LORD” & ENDS WITH “PRAISE THE LORD!”