Tyndale Open Study NotesPsalms 8

Psalm 8 begins the second part of Book One of the Psalms (Psalms 8–14). The psalmist praises God’s creation and the dignity of the ideal human (see Psalm 1). Instead of the world of enemies, wicked people, and unfair justice shown in Psalms 3–7, this psalm presents the world as God first made it. Someone who is tired (both physically and emotionally) can imagine a place of dignity in God’s world.

• The LORD (Hebrew Yahweh) is the covenant God of Israel (Exodus 3:15). This name emphasizes God’s faithfulness and relationship with his people.

  He is also Lord (Hebrew ’adonay), which emphasizes his authority. As Lord, he is the king over the earth and all creation.

• The word translated as majestic (and sometimes mighty) can describe:

  • kings (Psalm 136:18),

  • heroes (Psalm 16:3),

  • mountains (Psalm 76:4), or

  • waves breaking on the seashore (Psalm 93:4).

  While all these things are awe-inspiring and mighty, they are less impressive than the Lord.

• A person’s name represents their reputation.

• The earth and the heavens reveal the Lord’s splendor. All creation worships and praises the Lord (Psalm 66:4; 113:3; 145:21).

• silence: The loud noise of the adversaries contrasts with the praise of God. In the end, the praise of God will overwhelm the sound of evil (Psalms 31:18; 63:11; 101:5; 143:12).

• Those who oppose God are filled with vengeful anger (Psalm 2:1–3; 44:16; compare 149:6–7).

God’s glory is vast and awe-inspiring. At first, it might seem that people are too small or unimportant to matter to him.

Yet God has given humans honor and dignity. He has crowned them with glory and set them in charge of creation.

This shows that every person has value. Humans are called to care for and rule over the world responsibly, reflecting God’s glory in their lives.

Many nations near Israel worshiped the sun, moon, and stars as gods. They thought these objects controlled life and events.

The psalmist reminds us that, while the sun, moon, and stars are great and beautiful, they are only created by God.

Because these things are his creation, they point to God’s power and majesty. They give a reason to praise the Almighty, who alone is worthy of worship.

son of man (literally son of Adam): This means "a human being." Through the influence of Daniel 7:13–14, son of man became a title with divine meaning in the New Testament. See Hebrews 2:6–8, where this passage is quoted.

You made him a little lower than the angels: Humans bear God’s image. The Lord has given humans dignity and tasked them to rule (Genesis 1:26–27).

Hebrews 2:6–8 applies these words to Jesus Christ, the ideal human who fully realized God’s purposes.

made him ruler of the works of Your hands: The psalmist is still referring to humans in general.

Paul applies these words to Jesus as the perfect man who has made the created order, and even death (1 Corinthians 15:25–27), subject to God and his glory.

The New Testament connects these themes of creation and salvation with Jesus Christ (John 1:1–2, 14; Colossians 1:16).

Wild animals, including birds and fish, remind us of God's creation of the animal world in Genesis 1. Contrary to beliefs among Israel’s neighbors in the ancient Near East, animals are not sacred.