In our study of Psalm 8, we look at the wonder that God appointed man to take care of all of His creation. This song praises God for the fact that He cares for us even though we are small and insignificant compared to Him.
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For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.
This song was written by King David for worship with the gittith which were probably stringed instruments like the zither.
For the leader. On the gittit. A psalm of David: Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious is your name throughout the earth! The fame of your majesty spreads even above the heavens!
We are reminded that the name of God is above all names as He is the Creator. He has not created everything and then just left us alone but has given us His presence (glory) as well.
From the mouths of babies and infants at the breast you established strength because of your foes, in order that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
We are reminded that it is with childlike faith that we accept God and His gift of salvation. Children do not work for what they need to survive but instead just trust in their parents. The "enemies" refers to Satan and those who reject Jesus as the Son of God. The "avenger" refers to the fact that Satan hates us and hates God because he could not replace God. The devil wants revenge by stealing what is most dear to God and that is us (His children). Satan will be silenced when Jesus returns and he is cast into Hell (see Revelation 20).
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place — what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them; humans, that you watch over them with such care?
We are reminded that it was really no big deal for God to create everything including the heavens as it only took His fingers. Really, as we see in Genesis 1, it didn't even take His fingers but simply His words. As people, for real work it takes not only our fingers but usually our hands and arms as well so David asks the simple question of why God cares for us. It is somewhat easier to see how God could care for Adam (man) before the fall but it is more amazing than the stars in the sky as to why God would care for the son of man (children of the fallen Adam).
You made him but little lower than the angels, you crowned him with glory and honor,
We are reminded of the order of things and that is God above all others followed by the angels in heaven. We were created a little lower than the angels (more humble) but God has a way of elevating the humble things.
you had him rule what your hands made, you put everything under his feet — sheep and oxen, all of them, also the animals in the wilds, the birds in the air, the fish in the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
How did God elevate mankind from the humble? As we see here, God put us in control of every creature that is on this earth. There are some, today, that will elevate animals to a place above their fellow man, but, that is not how God set things up. There are also those that mistreat animals and that is not right either as God wants us to be good rulers. Being a good ruler involves being like Jesus as He is the overall ruler of the earth and everything in it.
Adonai! Our Lord! How glorious is your name throughout the earth!
The song ends as it began with praising God for all He has done. We can use this verse and it will help us to remember what God has done as we go through tough times just as David did.
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