Day 580: What became of man? - Psalm 8

1-2 O Lord, our Lord - how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3-4 When I look at 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, and the son of man that you care for him?

5-8 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8 (English Standard Version)

Verses 3-4 of this Psalm ask an important question. If we look at the vastness of space and the many universes astronomers tell us exist – how can frail man be of any significance to almighty God? The writer doesn't answer that, but rather points to two things in verses 5-8 which show that mankind matters to God very much. What were they?

Firstly, God gave man tremendous dignity in making him 'only a little lower' than angels. Secondly, He also gave him great honour in appointing him to rule over all of His creation. This position was shared with the woman God gave him to assist in the responsibility of custodian of the world. But what a different picture this is to what actually happened!

While mankind has shown remarkable skill in inventing many things that make life easier, the image of God in which they were created has been so distorted. History is full of man's violence and destruction. Even in today's 'civilized' world we see modern man promoting theories that lead to scepticism about God and to wondering if life has any meaning at all. Many are even confused about the roles of men and women. The 'pop culture' of the 60's (with its emphasis on drugs, sex, and anti-establishment attitudes) saw many men and women turning away from belief in God, and from all morality.

The writer of the New Testament book, Hebrews, was aware of this sad situation, but he gave a whole new perspective. Firstly, in Chapter 2 vs 5, he says: “It wasn't to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.” In other words, the story isn't over yet - there's a grand finale to come! He then quoted Psalm 8's words that God 'placed all things under man' . But he adds: “At present, we don't yet see everything in subjection to man. But we see Him who, for a little while, was made lower than the angels, Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:8-9.

In other words, Jesus Christ rightly wears man's 'crown of glory'. What was lost in the first man, Adam, has been recovered and restored in Christ who, for a little while, was made lower than the angels. Now, as the apostle Paul said, all of creation looks forward to Jesus’ return! He wrote: “ Creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it in hope, that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21)

That great act of Christ humbling Himself, and being willing to die for sinners, is why both men and women who've experienced salvation can now echo what the Psalmist twice said in the Psalm: “O Lord, our Lord,  how majestic is your name in all the earth!”