Second, it is important to note that the question (“What are humans?”) is not an abstract query about the nature and identity of humankind. 8. The bridge arching across the rough ground is where the glory of God is revealed in time and space. An evil disease cleaveth fast unto him — Hebrew, דבר בליעל, debar Belijagnal, a word, or thing of Belial. Robert C. Holland Professor of Old Testament, A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary, I suspect that most in your congregation would not appreciate a sermon that began like this: “There are things that are essential to our faith, but I can’t speak about them because you would not be able to understand. You have set your glory in the heavens. Psalm 8:1a and 9a declare that the whole created order gives evidence of God’s sovereignty. That work is worthy of praise! The first two verses encourage us to remember what God has done for Israel and for us — looking favorably on the land, restoring fortunes, and centering, most particularly, on the forgiveness of sins. Psalms 8. Psalm 8 is the first psalm of praise in the Book of Psalms. Matthew 21:16. Perhaps it was while David was attending sheep on a clear night with the stars brightly shining that he picked up his Gittith, a stringed instrument in the shape of a wine press, and began to strum and chant these amazing words of the Psalm he had written. The portrait of humans in this section is much like the one in Genesis 1:1-2:4a and 2:4b-25. Second, this psalm is the only hymn in the Psalter spoken entirely to God. And how very curious and instructive it is that the first psalm of praise in the Bible is about creation. We have power, to be sure, but God-like power will abuse nothing. Adam is closely related to the word for earth or soil (adamah; Genesis 2:7). The God who made all things is the only one worthy of the name that is majestic in all the earth (vv.1, 9). The psalms that immediately precede it are prayers spoken by people who are suffering or who are persecuted (Psalms 3-7). Be the first one to write a review. Psalms 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved. The opening of the psalm seems to express what was promised at the end of Psalm 7, “I will sing praise to the name of the Lord” (Psalm 7:17). The psalm sings the old creation story into the present, rejoicing again in being made “little less than divine” (NJPS), which means having “dominion” over the works of God’s hands, over all creation. Even so, they were overwhelmed by the grandeur! Another sermon derives simply from the poetic structure of the psalm. Psalm 8 "A Little Lower than the Angels" The Glory of Creation A pair of courting polar bears revealed a surprisingly tender side. Psalm 8 Bible Commentary. comment. 5,313 Views . It begins and ends by pronouncing Yahweh’s majestic nature. On the instrument of Gath. Jesus references Psalm 8:2 when he comes into Jerusalem and the children are singing to him. Psalm 8 isa Psalm about creation, but it’s more than that, Psalm 8 is also about mankind and about Jesus, “the Son of Man.” Psalm 8, as a Psalm, is rather brief in its description of creation, while “How Great Thou Art” goes on for a whole second verse about the woods, and birds singing in the trees and mountains and the gentle breeze.” Psalm 85 is a perfect psalm for this second Sunday of Advent. "An interpretation of Psalm 85:8-13 needs first to find a context in the whole of Psalm 85." . Similarly, when the psalmists rejoiced in their surprising ability, under God, to bring sustenance from an unwieldy planet, they lived in a time when such “dominion” was relatively new–the ability to domesticate animals and till the soil–and the alternative was a daily hunter-gatherer existence that gave little or no time for developing culture, civilization, or even communal worship. The problem, as we have heard often, is that one generation’s “dominion” becomes a later generation’s exploitation, and woe to the earth and woe to us if we think the psalms gives us license to do whatever is now in our power to ravish the earth and use up its resources. From a biblical perspective — everything. John Trapp Complete Commentary. The birth, life, preaching, miracles, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus are known through the world. Second, this psalm is the only hymn in the Psalter spoken entirely to God. The question, “What are humans?” has two important features that are keys to the meaning of the psalm. Reviews There are no reviews yet. and the rest of creation. The Pharisees tell Jesus that it’s not right for the children to be calling him the Son of David – the coming king. Psalm 8 reveals that those suffering at the hands of evil forces are those made in the image of God and valued highly by their creator. Psalm 138 – God’s Promise to Honor His Word and to Complete His Work. The human is from the earth, not from the heavens. Within those verses comes the praise of God’s particular works (overturning foes in B; blessing humans in B’), and, at the center, the wondering awe of the poet (C). and the rest of creation. But as it does, the psalmist presents the high place of humans in creation as a marvel in the face of the magnificence of the rest of God’s work. Many of my favorite songs are simple melodies that call out the name of Jesus. so sinful a creature, that he should be thus favoured! If this creational dimension of the psalm becomes a part of our preaching, we need to make people hear as clearly as possible that exploitation is not the message of Genesis 1 and not that of Psalm 8. It … that you would pay attention to them?” Hence, although the answer to the question is quite positive in Psalm 8, the same question appears in Psalm 144:3-4 and Job 7:17; 15:14 in a way that casts negative light on humanity (see also Psalm 144:2). We rejoice in the gift, even as we pray for humility to bear the responsibility of exercising anything resembling god-like power over the earth. It is also the only one of the 150 psalms that is a direct address to God throughout the entire poem. They give structure to the psalm and draw attention to the majesty and sovereignty of God. Even the weakest creatures (babes and infants) give voice to the power of God that overcomes all forces that would thwart God’s will. This psalm is titled A Psalm of David. Rather, the question puts the human in relation to God’s greatness: “What are humans . Psalm 8 Commentary: In the New Testament. There are many examples of this type of psalm in the book of Psalms (for example, Psalms 93, 136, 150). St. Paul Lutheran Church. But we dare not say, “Praise the Lord, for God has blessed all the assaults on the earth of which we are now capable and given us bigger and better stuff.” We too rightly rejoice in God’s blessing of our works, but, to be blessed, such works must understand “dominion” in the sense of Psalm 72, where the purpose of royal dominion (Psalm 72:8) is to “defend the cause of the poor” (verse 4) and to bring “abundance” (verse 16), “righteousness” (verse 7), and “peace” (verse 7) to all. James Limburg has described Psalm 8 as “a psalm for stargazers”1 and indeed, it is that. Wha LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! we're not 100% sure what those words mean, probably some kind of musical notation on how it is to be sung and it's a psalm of David. It is a hymn of praise throughout, expressing wonder that Yahweh has made people “a little lower than God” (v. 5) and “ruler over the works of your hands” (v. 6). The Lutheran Commentary is a product of that tradition, reverently exegeting the biblical text—not for the sake of generating more systematic theologies and dogmatic treatises, but for a closer devotion to the God who gave us the Scriptures. For thou, Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety — I owe not my safety to my own valour or wisdom, nor to the courage of my followers, but to thee only. The One who created the heavens is concerned and compassionate toward man and ultimately will fulfill all the dreams of humanity. First, it is the first hymn one encounters when reading the Psalms straight through. What is the connection between wisdom and joy? They are far too complicated and way over your head.”. More specifically, it is a panegyric on human excellence (Psalm 8:4-6) couched within a pious frame (8:1a, 9). The … Continue reading "Commentary on Psalm 8" When the monarchy ended the royal office once reserved for the king was transferred to humankind as a whole. The Lutheran Witness, in 1922, had an article on How the "Popular Commentary" Was Written.It gives a brief background of the work. Turn to Psalm 18. There are many potential sermons on Psalm 8, of course, as with any text. No name is so universal, no power and influence so … Daily Bible Reading - Psalm 52 & 53. The “avenger” and “enemy” here most likely refer to the chaotic forces God overcame when creating the world (see Genesis 1:1-2:4). Psalm 8 is a psalmic interpretation of creation, comparable to Genesis 1-2 and Job 38-41. We're … Verse 2 is an exaggerated statement that further makes the point. This may be due in part to the fact that kingship came to an end in Israel in 587 BCE. I have equally set, or proposed. Psalm 8 declares that there is only one Yahweh. One will be to rejoice in our exercise of the responsible dominion given us by God as creatures who are “little less than divine” (a better translation than NRSV’s “a little lower than God”). First, the word “human” translates the Hebrew expression ben adam (“son of man”). What’s in a name? Psalm 8 reveals that those suffering at the hands of evil forces are those made in the image of God and valued highly by their creator. The first half of verses 1 and 9 are identical. Psalm 8 - For the director of music. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 8:3-9 We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be directed to set his affections on things above. Now in Psalm 8, you find there Adam's world, the type of a world to come; he was the first Adam, and had a world, so the second Adam hath a world also appointed for him; there is his oxen and his sheep, and the fowls of the air, whereby are meant other things, devils perhaps, and wicked men, the prince of the air; as by the heavens there; the angels, or the apostles, that were preachers of the gospel. Bellinger, Jr., Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009. Related Videos. He simply begins and ends the psalm by declaring how majestic (kingly) God's name is in all the earth. Psalm 4:8. Psalm 8:1. Commentary, Psalm 85:8-13, W.H. Psalm 138 is a declaration that even the kings of the nations will praise Yahweh. This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honourably. September 18, 2011 MARTIN LUTHER’S PSALM Psalm 46 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The point, however, is not so much the identity of elohim, but the difference between the heavenly and earthly realms. 2Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 18 Commentary: Genre. According to gittith. A modern, Western reading of the psalm tends to focus on the question “What are humans that you are mindful of them?” as an outburst of existential anxiety from an “I” alone in the midst of overwhelming vastness. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. Throughout our series in the Psalms, we’ve often been reminded of the fact that a majority of the psalms are in the lament genre. The issue in Psalm 8, as in Genesis 1 to which it refers, is the relationship between humanity (us!) (Psalms 8:9 RSV) What a magnificent God who can work through babes and infants and who is deeply concerned about man! Psalm 8:1-9 God's Glory Perfectly Revealed in the Son of Man . Now, instead of an isolated “me,” viewing a distant universe in existential anxiety, “I” (C) stand surrounded by the gracious and protecting works of God (B/B’) and the congregation gathered to sing God’s praise (A/A’). Here they are classified as domestic and wild, birds and fish. We live in a different world from that of these texts. It emphasizes God’s sovereignty (8:1, 9) and proclaims that humans exercise their legitimate authority within the rule of God. Wave-surfing penguins struggled to escape a hungry sea lion. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Creation is not merely a one-time act “in the beginning,” but an ongoing work and gift of God that makes us realize ever anew “how majestic is your name in all the earth.”. “Name” refers to God’s essence and character. The Old Testament Readings: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (Advent 2). It's something that song. Psalm 8 (NRSV) Name of Jesus. A problem with our hearing of Psalm 8, as with so many other biblical texts, may be our affluence. “Son of man” therefore connotes humanity’s finitude and fallibility. Its two sides stand for God's eternal glory outside of creation, strong and immoveable as the eternal shores which support the bridge. Related Videos. The language of Psalm 8:5-8 suggests humans are royal creatures. Human beings, according to our psalm, occupy the honored center in the great chain of being — “a little lower than … 7:50. I have set the Lord always before me] Heb. But Psalm 8 is unique in at least two ways. The apostle translateth it, "I foresee the Lord always before my face," Acts 2:25. By repeating the words at the end the whole psalm is given a structure that calls attention to God’s sovereignty. The A/B/C/B’/A’ structure is, in part at least, grammatical or rhetorical, comprised of sections introduced by Lord/you/I/you/Lord. A psalm of David. Just as God’s majesty begins and ends the psalm, so also it creates the context for human glory. It is not that the psalmist admires elements of creation as though God is in them. Perhaps the greatest difficulty in interpreting Psalm 8 is the question of how verse 1b relates to verse 2. 3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, Indeed, the psalm proclaims that humans are God’s agents on earth. In Genesis 2:15 God makes the human the caretaker of the earth. The psalm sings the old creation story into the present, rejoicing again in being made “little less than divine” (NJPS), which means having “dominion” over the works of God’s hands, over all creation. A team of killer whales worked together to create giant waves that swept seals off ice floes. This our Lord Jesus often referred to, as what he governed himself by. In other parts of the Old Testament the Israelite king is described in similar ways. “Praise the Lord,” they sang, “for God has blessed our humble efforts and given us life!”. In this psalm, that character pertains primarily to the divine power over the created order. The psalm begins and ends with the outburst of congregational praise of God’s majestic name (A/A’). Selah. It begins … This short Psalm is unique. Daily Bible Reading - Psalm 36. The whole bridge represents the full glory of God. The issue in Psalm 8, as in Genesis 1 to which it refers, is the relationship between humanity (us!) Despite the lowliness of humans before God, verse 5 declares God made humans “a little lower than God.” The word for God, however, is a general word (elohim) that may be translated “angels” or “gods.” Only context can determine if the word refers to the one God, to the attendants around God’s throne, or to the gods of the nations. Literally, says Houbigant, A thing of Belial is poured out upon him, that is, his wickedness is brought round upon, or overflows him. Psalm 8 has a rather clear concentric structure: A O Lord, our Sovereign… (verse 1a) B You have set your glory… (verses 1b-2) C When I look… (verses 3-4) B’ Yet, you have made… (verses 5-8) A’ O Lord, our Sovereign (verse 9). The expression “you set your glory above the heavens” (8:1b) probably indicates that God is sovereign and thus sits as king over the creation. Many of those other words like psalm 8 lutheran commentary other ones “ name ” refers to.., how wonderful is thy name in all the dreams of humanity declaring how majestic is your name all... Himself by that even the kings of the earth same acknowledgment of the Messiah founded. Our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the dreams of.. Greatest difficulty in interpreting psalm 8 is a declaration that even the kings the! 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