Daily Fiber for the soul by Edward E. Thomason

PSALM 8
SLICE ONE: LEARNING
(feed your head)

The "crust" of the matter:
The author is like an astronomer, sitting out under the vastness of the stars, and singing praises unto the greatness of God.

Ingredients this serving:
The Psalmist exclaims the glory of God as he considers the vastness of God’s creation and his willingness to condescend to man.
Ps 8:1,9 God is great and glorious!
Ps 8:2-8 Man is small but honored!

O Lord, how Great thou art!

Lesson: The Psalmist’s eyes look upward toward the vast universe and he observes with amazement how powerful and glorious God really is.

Ps 8:1,9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. . . O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! 

Comments to munch on:
The glory of God is "above" the heavens! The universe itself cannot contain such

wondrous glory! David begins and ends this Psalm praising the excellence of God’s name in all the earth. No other name can compare.

But David also uses the most endearing terms when he speaks of the Lord. He is not just the Lord, but he is "our" Lord. Who can possibly fathom such a thought? How can the Creator be so close and so personal as this? Yet, this is the wonder that is being expressed by the Psalmist! He is our Lord, He is our Shepherd, He is our Father... he is close and intimate with his creation.

1. Considering how great the name of God is, how dare man "take the Lord’s name in vain?" Or worse... how dare we not take God seriously in our lives? Discuss how we should reverence and respect God.
2. When we look at the stars on a clear night and see such wonder, we might be tempted to limit our understanding of God to the elements of this universe only, yet his glory transcends the physical and glorious wonders of his creation. Only God Himself knows all his wonders and glories. Is our knowledge of God limited? What does such limitation say to us about God’s greatness?

Ps 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Comments to munch on:
David recognized that not only is the strength and glory of God expressed by the greatness of the Universe, but it is sometimes also expressed by the innocent and lowly mouths of babes and sucklings.

This verse was quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:16, when the children in the temple cried out: "Hosanna to the son of David." The chief priests and scribes, having seen the wonderful things that Jesus did, failed to honor Him but the mouths of children sang his praises.

1. Discuss how children often seem to show more honor to the Lord than those who are grown. Can children teach us today?
2. Discuss ways that this verse is often fulfilled today.

Lesson: David glorifies the name of our Lord and then turns his thoughts upon man and how lowly he is in comparison to God’s greatness. Our world is just a speck in the great universe and man is only a small speck of dust upon the earth. Why would God even care about man, let alone exalt him? This seems to be the question David ponders. Why in the great scheme of things would he even care? Why does he still care? Obviously, His love is as great as his glory!

Ps 8:3-4 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Comments to munch on:
"Thy heavens." It has been said that the spiritual minded person sees God in all things while the carnal minded man sees him in nothing.

1. When you consider how great the Universe is and then think of man as just a small part of that great expanse are you humbled by such thoughts?
2. Have you ever gazed at the sky and wondered why God would care about about you personally?

Ps 8:5-8 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his

feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

Comments to munch on:

1. Discuss the responsibility man has toward his environment. Does dominion imply responsibility?
2. Are we to be caretakers of God’s creation?

SLICE TWO: LIVING
(nourish your soul)

1. What aspects of nature make you think about the greatness and glory of God? Why? As you think of His greatness are you humbled?
2. Jesus himself was willing to take on the form of man, being himself made a little lower than the angels, in order to express his love for us. (Hebrews 2:6-9.) Discuss how humbling this was for our Lord. Why?

A FEW MORE CRUMBS
(fragments overlooked)

Lesson: No matter where man might look with his mighty telescopes or where he might venture to go... God is already there! There are no virgin timbers or sea depths or mountain tops where God cannot be found!

Edward Thomason - copyright © 2000