Psalm Category: Hymn of Praise

Key Word: Man (enosh). There are several words in Hebrew that are translated “man.” The most familiar is adam (used in verse 4, “son of man”). Enosh is also used in Psalm 8 (verse 4, “what is man”). Why two different terms here? There are two possible explanations. First, enosh appears almost exclusively in poetic books indicating that it may have been employed for poetic purposes to parallel the term adam without repeating it. Second, enosh is derived from a verb for “feebleness” and, therefore, may have been used to contrast humanity’s frailty with God’s majesty.

Central Thought: Psalm 8 declares what Cornelius Van Til termed the “Creator-Creature Distinction.” It reminds us to place human dignity in submission to the majestic Creator.

Psalm 8

Psalm 8 is a glorious hymn of praise. It praises God for who He is and what He has done. It teaches us that the greatest expression of God’s glory is Jesus Christ.

The Glory of His Name (vv. 1-2): The psalm commences with a glorious pronouncement about the glory of God’s name. His name reveals His nature and character. We learn that God’s name speaks of His majesty, which is revealed in all the earth and above the heavens. Verse 2 presents us with a contrast between helpless children and powerful enemies. The verse informs us that the praise of the seemingly powerless will defeat the wrath of the seemingly powerful.

This dynamic is displayed again when Jesus quotes this psalm during His triumphal entry as children praise Him and religious leaders oppose Him (Matt. 21:16). This dynamic demonstrates the power of worship. The church is akin to a helpless infant, but when we worship God we join the spiritual battle where God silences His foes.

Creation and the Creature (vv. 3-5): Verse 3 calls us to stop in our tracks and consider the beauty of creation. As you read this verse, you can’t help but envision the psalmist staring into the clear night skies over Jerusalem. The psalmist instructs us that God made all things, but also transcends them.

In the face of this awesome creative beauty, the psalmist asks why God cares about humanity. This psalm brilliantly affirms the doctrine of providence. It also warns us that we cannot escape Him. If you are running from God, He will not grow weary. Surrender to Him and heed the lesson of Job (Job 7:17-21).

Not only is God mindful of us, but He also bestows great dignity on us. The end of verse 5 is translated in a variety of ways. The KJV declares that we are created a little lower than “angels,” the NIV “heavenly beings,” and the NASB “God.” One can understand the hesitancy of translators to suggest that we are created a little lower than God, but that appears to be the best rendering.

There are two implications that flow from possessing this lofty status. First, we are obligated to preserve human dignity. We must be zealous in protecting the image of God in the elderly, the disabled, the impoverished, the unborn, and in our enemies. Second, we must guard against the abuse of human power. If we divorce ourselves from God, we are destined to abuse our status. History is littered with examples of humanity’s abuse of power. We must continually balance verse 5 with verse 1.

Echoes of Eden (vv. 6-8): In verses 6-8, the psalmist uses language that echoes the early chapters of Genesis, particularly Genesis 1:28. Genesis and this psalm tell us that we are God’s vice-regents and that we have a mandate regarding His creation. We display His image when we properly exercise the authority He has granted to us. It is important to note that the text reveals that our authority is derived rather than intrinsic. In addition, the psalm calls us to “rule over” creation, not exploit or abuse it. God detests rulers who abuse their authority (Lev. 25:43).

The Glory of God in the Son of Man (v. 9): The psalm concludes by repeating verse 1. We have traveled from heaven to earth, from enemies to infants, from creation to creature, and we end with the Lord.

Ultimately, this psalm directs us to Jesus Christ. Jesus is truly the Son of Man (Heb. 2:7); He is the creator and sustainer (Col. 1:17); He is putting everything under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25); and He has the name above all names (Phil. 2:9). As you pause and consider the glory of Jesus, are you not compelled to inquire, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”

––Anthony T. Selvaggio