Psalms 8:1-9: a reflection

1LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens! 2From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger. 3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, 4what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him? 5For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. 6You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet: 7All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field, 8the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

David gazes up at the night sky, at the moon and the stars God has set in place, and is struck by a question. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man, that you are mindful of him? Set against the vastness of the heavens, human beings seem so small, so insignificant; and yet, David marvels, God is mindful of us, cares for us, and has even crowned us with glory and honor, giving us a place of dignity in his creation.

Notice the wonder that moves David: not only the majesty of God seen in the heavens, but the astonishing fact that this majestic God is mindful of small humanity. Against the backdrop of the vast cosmos, we might expect to be beneath the notice of the God who made it all; yet he is mindful of us, cares for us, and has given us honor and a place of dignity. God's greatness does not make him indifferent to us; the Maker of the stars attends to us with care.

That wonder is worth recovering. It is easy, especially when we consider the vastness of the universe, to feel small and insignificant, as though we could not possibly matter to God. But David's wonder is the truth: the God who made the stars is mindful of you, cares for you, and has crowned you with dignity and honor. You are not beneath his notice; you are the object of his care. When you feel small and insignificant, lost in the vastness of things, remember David's wonder: what is man, that you are mindful of him? And yet God is mindful of us. Marvel at the majesty of God, and marvel more that this majestic God is mindful of you; rest in the dignity and care he has given you, small as you are, for the Maker of the stars attends to you with love.

Lord, David gazed at the heavens, the moon and stars you set in place, and marveled: what is man, that you are mindful of him? Set against the vastness of the heavens, human beings seem so small; and yet you are mindful of us, care for us, and have crowned us with glory and honor. Let that wonder move me too. It is easy, especially when I consider the vastness of the universe, to feel small and insignificant, as though I could not possibly matter to you. But David's wonder is the truth: you who made the stars are mindful of me, care for me, and have crowned me with dignity and honor. I am not beneath your notice; I am the object of your care. When I feel small and insignificant, lost in the vastness of things, help me remember David's wonder: that the God who made the heavens is mindful of me. Help me marvel at your majesty, and marvel more that you, so majestic, are mindful of me; let me rest in the dignity and care you have given me, small as I am. How majestic is your name in all the earth, and how wonderful your care for me.