MAJESTIC-Psalm 8

Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

“LORD, our Lord, how majestic [excellent, magnificent, glorious, wonderful] is your name…” (Ps 8:1, 9).

“…what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor” (Ps 8:4-5).

Psalm 8 is pure praise without any request. Like other hymns from the Bible it expresses the religious moment when the indivudual stands before the deity and appreciates the greatness and power of the divine, especially as reflected in creation (like Psalm 19, 33, 104 and 145) which shows God’s power over the entire world. It is an unsurpassed example of what a hymn should be–celebrating the glory and grace of God, rehersing who He is and what He has done, relating us and our world to Him–all with a masterly economy of words, and in a spirit of mingled joy and awe.

After 5 consecutive psalms (Psalms 3-7) agonizing through the dark valleys of lament and pleas for deliverance comes a joyful melody of breathtaking beauty and awesome delight in Psalm 8, which is the first experience of joyful praise and adoration in the Psalms. But this brief but brilliant chorus of praise returns again in the following psalms to the darkness of pain and the anguish of brokenness. But in Psalm 8, if just for a moment, darkness and suffering are driven away by the commanding vision of the sovereign God of the created universe and his unfathomable care for humanity.

  • Briefly, what is Psalm 1 about (Ps 1:2)? What is Psalm 2 about (Ps 2:2-3, 6, 11)? [Psalms 1-2 are the introduction to all 150 psalms.] How is Psalm 8 different from Psalms 3-7 (Ps 3:1; 4:1; 5:2; 6:3; 7:1)?
  1. Do you declare God’s name as majestic in your daily life (Ps 8:1a, 9)? How (Ps 8:1b; 19:1; Phil 2:12b; Ac 20:19)? What is the difference between the 2 words translated “LORD, Lord” [Yahweh (Exo 3:14), Adonai]?
  2. Do you see the world with childlike praise, innocence, awe and wonder (Ps 8:2; Mt 21:15-16; 19:14; Lk 19:37-40)? Through whom does God reveal his power (1 Cor 1:27-29)? How does God turn the tables on his enemies (2 Cor 12:9-10)? Do you use praise as a form of spiritual warfare to overcome challenges?
  3. Have you observed the night sky to consider and contemplate the vastness of creation (Ps 8:3)? What can this teach you (Rom 1:20)?
  4. What is your self-worth based on (Ps 8:4; Mt 6:26, 28-30)? Why would God the Creator care about humanity/you (Isa 9:6; Mt 6:9; Lk 11:2)? Are you crowned “with glory and honor” (Ps 8:5)? What makes you special (Gen 1:26a, 27)? According to the author of Hebrews what does Ps 8:4-5 point to (Heb 2:6-9)? How (Jn 1:14)?
  5. What authority and responsibilities has God given you (Ps 8:6-8; Gen 1:28)? How can you be a responsible caretaker of creation (Gen 2:15)? Do you see your unique role in God’s grand design? What is the tension between human insignificance (Ps 8:3-4) and human importance (Ps 8:5-6)?
  6. How does Ps 8:9 bring Psalm 8 full circle? Why is it important to begin and end with praise?

Outline [Various titles: Crown of Creation. The God of the Insignificant. The Majesty of God and the Dignity of Humanity. The Glory of the Creator and of Humankind. The Glory of God in Creation. How majestic is your name. The power of the powerless. Thus far and no further. Majesty in meekness.]

  1. Divine Majesty Proclaimed (Ps 8:1)
  • God’s name is majestic
  • His glory transcends the heavens
  • Praise comes from unexpected sources (children and infants)
  1. Creation as a Testimony to God’s Power (Ps 8:2-3)
  • God’s strength revealed through creation
  • Silencing enemies through the praise of the weak
  • The vastness of the cosmos demonstrates God’s creative power
  1. Humanity’s Unique Position in Creation (Ps 8:4-8))
  • The incredible worth God places on humanity
  • Humans crowned with glory and honor
  • Humanity’s delegated authority over creation
  1. Concluding Praise (Ps 8:9). Returning to the opening declaration. Emphasizing the majesty of God’s name

Practical Application

  1. Cultivate a sense of wonder about God’s creation
  2. Recognize your unique value in God’s eyes
  3. Exercise responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to you
  4. Develop a lifestyle of praise
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