As one reads this psalm, he notices that the first and last verses are exactly the same. For this reason, many Bible scholars refer to psalms like this one as “envelope Psalms.” The psalmist makes a declaration, then proceeds to justify it. Having done so, he then concludes by making the same declaration again. David begins this psalm by declaring the majesty of God. He then proceeds to justify his statement by explaining his reasons for declaring, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
1. The Majesty of His Works - vs. 1b-2
A. His creation of the world - v. 1b
David speaks in verse 3 of his consideration of the heavens.
Consequently, he declares, “You have set Your glory above the heavens!” No doubt, as a shepherd boy, he had watched the stars night after night. He knew well the moon and the stars; and knew enough to be awed at the might, the majesty, and the mystery of God as creator.
David’s awe should be totally eclipsed by ours. When Galileo turned his telescope on the sky and announced to the world that the earth was not the center of the universe, an outraged pope ordered him to deny his discovery. But it was no use: the secret was out!
There was far more out there than man had ever dreamed. There were stars and planets. in bewildering number, of staggering dimensions, traveling at
inconceivable speeds, reaching further and further into unimaginable depths, and all of it is a tribute to the majesty of God. For, as David observed in verse 3, it is the work of His finger!
B. His conquest of the wicked - v. 2
The word, “praise” could be translated, “strength.” Either way, David’s point is that God doesn’t need armies to conquer His foes, He can do so through the humblest of means imaginable - a little infant.
It is likely that David is referring to Moses. To humble Pharaoh, God did not summon the Assyrians or mobilize the Macedonians. Instead, He sent a baby to a Hebrew home. The infant was hidden among the bulrushes and found by Pharaoh’s daughter. As the princess looked down at the little boy, he cried. That tear sped like an arrow to the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter, and, disdaining her father’s decree, she raised that Hebrew child as her own. She called him Moses, and in the fullness of time, Moses humbled Egypt to the dust.
God’s majesty is seen in His conquest of the wicked; and as we think of the fact that God can conquer His foes through use of the weakest vessel imaginable - an infant - we cannot help but reflect on the baby born in Bethlehem, in the fullness of time. God has used that infant to conquer the kingdom of Satan. Yes, God’s majesty is seen in His conquest of the wicked!
2. The Majesty of His Ways - vs. 3-8
A. The personal interest He has in us - vs. 3-4
How wonderful to know that God is more interested in people than planets; more interested in souls than in stars; more interested in us than the universe!
David uses two words here for “man.” The first word is “enosh.” This title for man literally means “mortal” and speaks of the length of man’s life.
As James said, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” - James 4:14 (NIV).
The second word is “adamah,” translated here, “son of man.”
Literally, “adamah” means “dust” and speaks of the strength of man’s life.
“The length of our days is seventy years - or eighty,
if we have the strength.” - Psalm 90:10a (NIV)
The point here is that as insignificant as man is, God still cares about us; and not only does he care about mankind in general, but He cares about each of us as individuals!
In the King James Version, verse 4 reads as follows: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” While the NIV translates it, “cares,” the KJV translates it “visits.” The point of the King James Version is that God wants to “visit” us, to have a personal relationship with us. To visit someone is perhaps the best way in which I can demonstrate personal interest and concern for them. Such is the level of God’s interest in us!
It’s amazing to think that the creator of the heavens and the earth wants to have a personal relationship with me! As Stuart Hamlin wrote:
“How big is God? How big and wide his vast domain?
To try and tell, these lips can only start.
He’s big enough to rule this mighty universe;
Yet small enough, to live within my heart!”
B. The potential glory He has for us - v. 5-8
David says that God made man “a little lower than the angels,” not “a little higher than the animals.” Charles Darwin described man as “the most efficient animal ever to emerge on the earth.” What a
degrading view of man! Man is not just an efficient animal; he was made by an act of God, and made in the image and likeness of God!
God’s purpose for man was that as he walked in fellowship with and obedience with god, he would lead all of creation to honor and glorify its creator. However, man chose instead to disobey and go his own way, plunging this world into sin and darkness.
That’s why Jesus came. In fact, the writer of Hebrews, speaking of our Savior’s work of redemption, relates this passage to Him.
“For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him? Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them authority over all things.” Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory.” - Hebrews 2:6-10a (NLT)
Jesus, the second person of Godhead, came down from the pinnacle of glory to be born in a Bethlehem barn. He was “made flesh,” “made a little lower than the angels,” so that he might redeem mankind.
The queen of England was a teen when World War II broke out. When she was old enough she asked her father, King George VI, to let her join the army and serve her country as others were doing. Her father allowed her to join the Auxiliary Territorial Service as a private. She had a superior officer who took pleasure in bossing her about. It was, “Private Wind sor do this, Private Windsor do that!” “Yes, sergeant! Yes, sir,” was all Elizabeth could say. She was made a little lower than the noncommissioned officers for the sake of her service to her people. But then, on February 6, 1952, she received word that her father was dead. From that moment on she was Queen of England.
She was no longer “Private Windsor,” to be badgered by a small-minded noncommissioned officer. She was “Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.” She had entered into the position for which she had been born, a position resigned temporarily for the call of duty. Never again was she addressed as “Private Windsor,” but as “Your majesty.”
Our glorious Lord has assumed again His throne on high He has carried humanity with Him for there, in glory, He sits enthroned in a battle-scarred body of flesh! And we, the redeemed men and women, are to share that glory for all eternity.
Even so, Christ left His throne in glory to come to this earth to pay the price for the sins of the world. Having done so, He has returned to his majesty on high. We who have acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior, share in that glory. And one day, when Christ returns, He will lead redeemed mankind in fulfilling the purpose for which God created us, as during his reign on earth, all things will be made new.
“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.” - Romans 8:18-21 (NLT)
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Yes, Jesus came to redeem us and to restore us so that God’s original purpose for us and the rest of creation might be fulfilled. This, He has begun by accomplishing victory over sin, Satan, death and Hell through the cross; this, He is doing by making everyone who acknowledges Him as Lord and Savior a new creation; and this, He will complete when He returns to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
No wonder David ends this Psalm the way that he begins it: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”
