An Exposition of Psalm 8
The eighth Psalm stands out somewhat from the other Psalms, in that it is the first Psalm we find in the way that is organized to stand out as simply a Psalm of praise and meditation. The Psalms that surround it, may involve their themes as well, but Psalm 8 keeps these in complete focus. This chapter of Psalms is broken out into two major themes: Reflective praise (v1-2, 9), and a meditation of weakness and power. (v. 3-8).
The psalm is bookended with the phrase of praise to God, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth”. (v. 1, 9) This inclusion, a literary meaning to “wrap” a unit with parallel helps us define these “bookends,” thus indicating the beginning and the end of a unit.[1] The Psalmist begins here by reflecting upon the true sovereignty of God. He goes further to specify that this isn’t just, God the sovereign creator of the earth, but that this same God is the Lord of the covenant with His people. This is important given the section of books in which Psalm 8 is inserted. Geoffrey Grogan stated that “Psalms 3–7 all show the Psalmist seeking refuge from his foes in God.”[2] So we should find the Psalmist here focusing upon the God that has covenanted with him, and who has the power and knowledge to take care of His people.
Following through the contextual theme of Psalms 3-14, we find in the next verse what may almost be seen as a spit in the face of those who would come against the people of God. David’s reflectiveness on the sovereign power and praise of God is then turned to the means which God uses. One would think that it would be more logical to look at the greatness of God in the leaders that He had put in place. (Daniel 2:21) Instead, the Psalmist turns in the other direction to, “the mouth of babies and infants you have established strength because of your foes to still the enemy and the avenger.” (v.2) This metaphor points us to the weakest among us, to those that cannot help themselves, but it is these weak in which God has chosen to show His power. Author David Guzik points out that, “The reason why God displays His strength in unlikely vessels is that it works to silence the enemy; Satan and his fellow adversaries have nothing to say when God works so mightily in an otherwise weak person.”[3]
To further extenuate the differences that the author is drawing, David Dorsey explains that it is, “the structure of Ps 8 that points this way as the interplay between heaven and earth”[4], using these points to explain the work of God in the earth. That though the earth is insignificant in light of creation, and man, who was made from dirt is the lowest of this, yet on the man God has chosen to put His image and display the greatness of His glory. It is the contrasting verses on the expansiveness of creation that help convey this to the reader.
Verse 3 begins with the Psalmist looking up into the heavens at the “moon and the stars, which you have set in place”, and basking at the expanse of creation. Daniel Estes states that “In the light of the awesome transcendence and justice of God, humans are insignificant and incapable”[5], of doing anything. David here not only contrasts the greatness of God in using the weakness of babies (v. 2) but begins to compare the creation of man from the dirt of the earth to the moon and stars around him. It makes little logical sense that what could be seen as a product of a product, i.e. man from the earth, is something that God would be mindful of. (v.4) This comparison prompts this response in the mind of the author, “who is man?”, and why would you be mindful of him, much less take care of him (v. 4) and covenant with him as ones that carry your image on the earth. You can almost sense the echoes of praise from verse one as the Psalmist praises God, not just for His power in creation, but for His care of creation.
The author plays this out even further by not only comparing man as being less than the angel and another heavenly host (v. 5) but also that he has been crowned with the honor of having dominion over the rest of God’s creation. Again here, the author pulls out that those who came out of the earth have been given power over it. While the author does not give an exhaustive list of the authority that has been given man, he does group them as the animals that dwell in the sky, the land, and the sea. We through the plan of God have been born to have dominion over such things, that we ought to be in bondage to. In all of this, however, God is not forgotten here even as man is displayed as the crowning glory of creation (v.5), the psalm exalts God as Creator over humankind[6], as well as everything that has been created.
Ending as he began this hymn, David again is called back to the greatness of their covenantal God. Given again, the context of this psalm, the theme stands out as a hinge in difficult times by shifting the tone of the previous chapters to God’s response to them. In light of the judgment in Psalms 7, we see the just Creator in Psalm 8 and a hymn of praise for His plan.
Every reader from the time of the writing of the Psalm until now can find comfort in the hymn of praise to God. It is God who has created the universe as expansive as it is, and yet is still mindful of man (v.3) even making him the crown of His creation. (v. 5) But why does this give us hope? It is verse two that stands out clearest in the text because it speaks of God who uses the weak things to show His glory, whether in the creation or judgment. This matters to us as humankind especially because we are increasingly weak. This brings hope to those even among humanity who are weakest because it is in them that God has promised to make His stronghold. To establish His strength in those that are the weakest. It reminds us of the words that spoke of Jesus, saying that He did not come to break off the bruised reed, nor quench that smoking flax. (Isaiah 42:2-3; Matthew 12:15-16) Author Peter Kral puts it this way, “Bruised reeds are people who are broken and needy, people worn out and tired and exhausted with life’s circumstances, people neglected by the world, but accepted by Jesus”.[7] And these are the people that God uses to show His glory in a greater way than even the heavens.
[1] Fuhr, Al; Köstenberger, Andreas J.. Inductive Bible Study (Kindle Locations 2760-2761). B&H Publishing Group.
[2] Geoffrey Grogan, Psalms, The Two Horizons Old Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2008), 255.
[3] Guzik 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik
[4] David A. Dorsey, The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis-Malachi (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 177.
[5] Estes, Daniel J.. Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms (p. 89). Baker Publishing Group.
[6] Fuhr, Al; Köstenberger, Andreas J.. Inductive Bible Study (p. 85). B&H Publishing Group.
[7] Kral, Peter, Desiring God: Gentle Jesus and the Compassion Conspiracy (April 16, 2015)