Psalm 8
INTRODUCTION
It has been said that of the mysteries of the universe, the greatest of them all is the human being. We perceive ourselves as a wonder, as an enigma, as strange creatures that, as far as is known, are unique in the universe. The psalmist was very much interested in understanding this strange being. In his search for meaning, the biblical writer began with God. Confronted by God, he was left speechless. In Psalm 8, the biblical writer realizes the greatness of God and the smallness and yet the greatness of humans.
I. THE GREATNESS OF GOD
Psalm 8:1 begins by affirming that God’s glory is visible to us in the mystery of cosmic space—the heavens. Creation, in spite of sin, still reveals the power, majesty, and wisdom of God (cf. Rom 1:20). The James Webb telescope has provided for us pictures of a vast and mysterious universe that is a witness to the greatness of God. According to the Scriptures, there is a God who cannot be circumscribed by space (1 Kgs 8:27) and who is beyond our full comprehension (Isa 55:9). He is the Holy One and there is no one like Him in the universe. The Lord asked the Israelites, “To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? . . . I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isa 46:5, 9, NIV). God is indeed the greatest mystery in the universe!
Clearly, only God is great and incomparable. The psalmist says that God set or placed His glory, His greatness, above the heavens, and children are able to see it (Ps 8:1–2). Children are able to realize that God is indeed the greatest person in the universe—to them belongs the kingdom of God (Matt 19:14). Many people are not yet childlike, and when they look at the heavens they do not see the glory of God. He has often been ignored, denied, or downsized to the level of another human being. We need to affirm, together with the psalmist, that God is indeed the greatest Being in the universe. This would be a tremendous discovery! Children have seen it and have become God’s instruments in overcoming evil powers (Ps 8:2) by silencing their arrogance.
II. THE SMALLNESS OF HUMANS
Observing the glory of God leads the psalmist to ask a most fundamental question: “What is man that you are mindful of him, . . . ?” (Ps 8:4, NIV). It is only after we have been confronted with the wonder, majesty, and loving power of God that we are able to answer the existential questions: Who am I? What is a human being? We cannot answer those questions unless we God Is Great, I Am Small, and I Am Great know who God is. The Psalm says that He is my Creator (Ps 8:6) and the One who loves me (Ps 8:4). Perhaps surprisingly, it is when we stand in the very presence of God that we realize how small we are.
Yes, we are small creatures living on a small planet that is hardly perceptible from our nearest star. This small planet is populated by a very small, strange, and selfconscious life, but still very small. We are, in fact, physically small. If you have doubts about our smallness, look from the window of an airplane flying at an altitude of thirtyfive thousand feet. From that distance you would not be able to see a human being on the surface of the earth. We are too small, and yet we are probably the most proud species in the universe!
But we are also spiritually small. We are so small that it is difficult for us to understand the works of God. We cannot grasp the fullness of the cosmos and consequently it remains a mystery to us. Yet, we exist, grasping for understanding, searching for meaning. That is the way our smallness behaves. In 1969, American astronauts went to the moon. That was a tremendous accomplishment for the small creature. For the first time, human eyes saw our planet from the surface of another celestial body. A beautiful picture of our planet was taken from the moon that changed forever our perception of the planet. We realized that this planet was not inhabited by different nations, different cultures speaking different languages, or by people with different skin pigmentation, but by one type of intelligent life: the human race. Yes, acknowledging our smallness helps us understand ourselves and others. It is only when we recognize and accept that God is great that we realize our smallness; we become humble, and humility makes us great.
III. HUMAN GREATNESS
Psalm 8 encourages us to look not only at our smallness but also at our greatness. We are at the same time both small and great. Paradoxically, we are great when we acknowledge our smallness. This is true humility made possible through Christ who makes us great. What amazes the psalmist is that the majestic and glorious God is concerned about me, that He thinks about “me” (v. 4; “visit” or “pay attention” to us); He cares for this small creature. This glorious God is willing to come to my level to interact with me. He visited us in a most glorious way in Christ. It is because He associates Himself with us through Christ that we participate in His greatness.
Originally, the Creator gave us dominion, some of His authority, to rule as His representatives over creation (Ps 8:6–8). This vision of the human being is that of humanity living in harmony with God in Eden. That is no longer the case. Humans have misused the dominion entrusted to them, abused nature, and created social disruption and abuse. We have lost most of the glory and honor entrusted by God to us at Creation (Rom 3:23). The good news is that God, through Christ, is restoring to us glory and honor. Christ was crowned with glory and power as our representative. The description of a human being found in Psalm 8:6–8 is already a reality in Christ (Heb 2:8–9). God’s ideal for the human race has been fulfilled and expressed in the person of Christ. He became small for a short period of time in order for us to become great in Him. He has been exalted to the throne of God. The majestic God, whose glory is displayed in the heavens, revealed His greatness by becoming small. When in our smallness, in true humility, we accept the gift of His grace, we participate in His greatness.
CONCLUSION
Nature has been damaged by sin, but it still reflects some of the glory of God. It is good to spend time looking at nature for several reasons. First, we can see there sparks of the glory and power of God that would lead us to praise Him as our great God. Second, by looking at His glory and greatness we will discover our smallness in the universe. There is no place in our lives for pride of any type or for any sense of superiority based on ethnic, social, or racial distinctions. Third, by observing and meditating on the glory of God, we will find our true greatness. The fact that our glorious God cares for us makes us great. The depth of His care was manifested in Christ, who on the cross became small in order to restore to us the honor and glory we had lost. This is indeed greatness in smallness—that is to say, in humility. In His presence we discover our smallness (we are all sinners) and our greatness (Christ died for us). I invite you today to find in the greatness and love of God your smallness and greatness, both expressions of humility.
Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, ThD, is a retired director of the Biblical Research Institute at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.
