EGW WritingsPsalms 8
Ellen G. White
Read Psalms 8 in the BiblePsalms 8:1-4
In Heavenly Places
Learning of God Through His Works, January 3
HP 9.3
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! ... When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” “All thy works praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee” (Psalm 8:1, 3, 4; 145:10).Our Father Cares
Learning of God Through His Works, June 1
OFC 164.3
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! ... When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” “All thy works praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee” (Psalm 8:1, 3, 4; 145:10).Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 2 (1869 - 1875)
Lt 43, 1875
2LtMs, Lt 43, 1875, par. 4
“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth. ... When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” “All thy works praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.” Psalm 8:1, 3, 4; 145:10.Psalms 8:1-9
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)
Ms 137, 1907
22LtMs, Ms 137, 1907, par. 4
As David considered the works of God in the earth, and the love manifested for man, he was led to exclaim: “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. ... O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!” [Psalm 8:1-5, 9.]The Great Controversy
Chapter 20—A Great Religious Awakening
GC 359.1
“Jesus of Nazareth, the true Messiah,” he said, “whose hands and feet were pierced, who was brought like a lamb to the slaughter, who was the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief, who after the scepter was taken from Judah, and the legislative power from between his feet, came the first time; shall come the second time in the clouds of heaven, and with the trump of the Archangel” (Joseph Wolff, Researches and Missionary Labors, page 62) “and shall stand upon the Mount of Olives; and that dominion, once consigned to Adam over the creation, and forfeited by him (Genesis 1:26; 3:17), shall be given to Jesus. He shall be king over all the earth. The groanings and lamentations of the creation shall cease, but songs of praises and thanksgivings shall be heard. ... When Jesus comes in the glory of His Father, with the holy angels,... the dead believers shall rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:23. This is what we Christians call the first resurrection. Then the animal kingdom shall change its nature (Isaiah 11:6-9), and be subdued unto Jesus. Psalm 8. Universal peace shall prevail.”—Journal of the Rev. Joseph Wolff, pages 378, 379. “The Lord again shall look down upon the earth, and say, ‘Behold, it is very good.’”—Ibid., page 294.The Great Controversy (1888 ed.)
Chapter 20—A Great Religious Awakening
GC88 359.1
“Jesus of Nazareth, the true Messiah,” he said, “whose hands and feet were pierced, who was brought like a lamb to the slaughter, who was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, who after the scepter was taken from Judah, and the legislative power from between his feet, came the first time, shall come the second time in the clouds of heaven, and with the trump of the archangel,” and “shall stand upon the Mount of Olives. And that dominion once consigned to Adam over the creation and forfeited by him (Genesis 1:26; 3:17) shall be given to Jesus. He shall be king over all the earth. The groanings and lamentations of the creation shall cease, but songs of praise and thanksgiving shall be heard.” “When Jesus comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels,” “the dead believers shall rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:23. This is what we Christians call the first resurrection. Then the animal kingdom shall change its nature (Isaiah 11:6-9), and shall be subdued unto Jesus. Psalm 8. Universal peace shall prevail.” “The Lord again shall look down upon the earth, and say, ‘Behold, it is very good.’”Psalms 8:3-4
Sons and Daughters of God
Turn Minds From the Artificial to the Natural, April 13
SD 110.1
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3, 4.With God at Dawn
What Is Man, December 1
WGD 337.1
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained: what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3, 4.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)
Ms 116, 1904
19LtMs, Ms 116, 1904, par. 19
“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” [Psalm 8:3, 4.] It is high time that those who profess to be followers of Christ reverently study and obey strictly the lessons He has given them. Let them place themselves under discipline to the Omnipotent One; to Him who upholds all things by the word of His power, who directs and keeps in place the heavenly bodies. He only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable.Psalms 8:4
Our Father Cares
Reminders of Our Heavenly Home, April 21
OFC 123.3
In this study the mind expands, is elevated and uplifted, and becomes hungry to know more of God and His majesty. We have awakened in our hearts feelings not only of reverence and awe but of love, of faith, of trust and entire dependence upon One who is the giver of all good. And as I look at His marvelous works and see the evidences of His power I instinctively inquire, “What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Psalm 8:4.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)
Lt 232, 1903
18LtMs, Lt 232, 1903, par. 13
You have but a human mind, and you have not yet shown yourself capable of revealing in life and character the life and character of Jesus Christ. When man understands that his life is to be a definition of the life of Christ—a definition in accordance with Christ’s holy character—he will receive the words of God and will clothe himself daily with humility, saying, Unclean, unclean. When the worldly wise man comes to know what is truth, as revealed in Christ, he will look upon himself in a very different light from the light in which he has formerly regarded himself. The question for us to study is, What is truth—the truth for this time, which is to be cherished, lived, honored, obeyed? The devotees of science have been defeated and disheartened in their effort to find out God. What they need to inquire is, What is truth? But how many of those who profess to minister at the altar of God have asked this question with humility of heart and true soul hunger? How many of those who search the heavens have inquired, as they have beheld the wondrous works of God’s creation, What is truth? “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” [Psalm 8:4.]Our High Calling
Reminders of Our Heavenly Home, September 1
OHC 250.3
In this study the mind expands, is elevated and uplifted, and becomes hungry to know more of God and His majesty. We have awakened in our hearts feelings not only of reverence and awe but of love, of faith, of trust and entire dependence upon One who is the giver of all good. And as I look at His marvelous works and see the evidences of His power I instinctively inquire, “What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Psalm 8:4.Ellen G. White in Europe 1885-1887
The World Before the Flood
EGWE 184.1
“In this study the mind expands, is elevated and uplifted, and becomes hungry to know more of God and His Majesty. We have awakened in our hearts feelings not only of reverence and awe, but of love, of faith, of trust and entire dependence upon One who is the giver of all good. And as I look at His marvelous works and see the evidences of His power I instinctively inquire, ‘What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?’ Psalm 8:4. All the greatness and glory of these wonderful things in God’s house can only be appreciated as they are connected in the mind or associated with God, and the future home of bliss He is preparing for those who love Him. The precious things of the lasting hills we enjoy, but these will be as nothing compared with the glories that shall be awarded to the worshipers of the true God.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)
Ms 62, 1886
4LtMs, Ms 62, 1886, par. 97
In this study the mind expands, is elevated and uplifted, and becomes hungry to know more of God and His majesty. We have awakened in our hearts feelings not only of reverence and awe, but of love, of faith, of trust and entire dependence upon One who is the giver of all good. And as I look at His marvelous works and see the evidences of His power, I instinctively inquire, “What is man that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” Psalm 8:4. All the greatness and glory of these wonderful things in God’s house can only be appreciated as they are connected in the mind or associated with God; and the future home of bliss He is preparing for those who love Him. The precious things of the lasting hills we enjoy, but these will be as nothing compared with the glories that shall be awarded to the worshipers of the true God.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)
Lt 208a, 1902
17LtMs, Lt 208a, 1902, par. 36
“What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” [Psalm 8:4.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)
Lt 180, 1902
17LtMs, Lt 180, 1902, par. 34
In comparison with our heavenly Father, human beings would never have been anything but mere infants, if the Lord Jesus had not given Himself to stand at the head of humanity, to enable men and women to become sons and daughters of God. Clothing His divinity with humanity, He came to this earth and with His long human arm encircled the human race, while with His divine arm He grasped the throne of the Infinite. He has placed man on vantage ground with God, the Infinite Father. His faculties are higher than those of any human being that lives. If Christ had not become a Mediator between God and man, the highest in intelligence, the most learned, could never be anything else but mere infants. The psalmist inquires, “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” [Psalm 8:4.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)
Ms 88, 1902
17LtMs, Ms 88, 1902, par. 17
The most gifted of human beings, men and women of the broadest minds and deepest comprehension, those most highly cultured and most highly educated, those who stand in the world as rulers, are infants in comparison with God in their understanding of the things of eternity. And because they have so limited a knowledge of Him, because they know so little of His ways, His mind, His character, they are in danger of making themselves gods. Can we wonder that the inspired writer asks, “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that Thou visitest him?” [Psalm 8:4.] The Lord has brought this subject to my mind in a most forcible manner. Language is not adequate to express it. It is a subject as high as heaven and as broad as the world.Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)
Ms 155, 1902
17LtMs, Ms 155, 1902, par. 41
In God’s sight we are all little children. Those who have grown up to manhood and womanhood, those who have acquired the greatest amount of learning, those who stand at the head of the nobility of this earth, those to whose lot has fallen much of the riches and honor of this world, are in God’s sight no more than little children. They are counted by Him as the small dust of the balance. “What is man,” the psalmist inquires, “that Thou are mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” [Psalm 8:4.] “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing.” [Isaiah 40:15.]Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)
Ms 58, 1903
18LtMs, Ms 58, 1903, par. 14
God is Lord over all. Compared with the infinite One, man is nothing. “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?” the psalmist asks. [Psalm 8:4.] And yet, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] Everything depends on the quality of our faith. Those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God become one with Christ. They accept the word of truth that Christ came from heaven to bring to the world.Psalms 8:4-5
Psalms 8:5
The Great Controversy
Chapter 31—Agency of Evil Spirits
GC 511.2
Before the creation of man, angels were in existence; for when the foundations of the earth were laid, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7. After the fall of man, angels were sent to guard the tree of life, and this before a human being had died. Angels are in nature superior to men, for the psalmist says that man was made “a little lower than the angels.” Psalm 8:5.The Great Controversy (1888 ed.)
Chapter 31—Agency of Evil Spirits
GC88 511.2
Before the creation of man, angels were in existence; for when the foundations of the earth were laid, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” [Job 38:7.]. After the fall of man, angels were sent to guard the tree of life, and this before a human being had died. Angels are in nature superior to men. For the psalmist says that man was made “a little lower than the angels.” [Psalm 8:5.]The Truth About Angels
Chapter 1—Angels and You—a Brief Overview
TA 9.2
Before the creation of man, angels were in existence; for when the foundations of the earth were laid, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7.... Angels are in nature superior to men, for the psalmist says that man was made “a little lower than the angels.” Psalm 8:5.The Truth About Angels
Creation of the Angels
TA 25.4
Before the creation of man, angels were in existence; for when the foundations of the earth were laid, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7. After the fall of man, angels were sent to guard the tree of life, and this before a human being had died. Angels are in nature superior to men, for the psalmist says that man was made “a little lower than the angels.” Psalm 8:5.—The Great Controversy, 511.From Here to Forever
Chapter 31—Evil Spirits
HF 315.2
Before the creation of man, angels were in existence, for when the foundations of the earth were laid, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7. After the fall of man, angels were sent to guard the tree of life before a human being had died. Angels are superior to men, for man was made “a little lower than the angels.” Psalm 8:5.The Great Hope (Condensed)
Angels Help
GrH_c 6.6
Before the creation of man, angels were in existence, for when the foundations of the earth were laid, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:7. After the fall of man, angels were sent to guard the tree of life before a human being had died. Angels are superior to men, for man was made “a little lower than the angels.” Psalm 8:5.Psalms 8:5-6
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)
Ms 177, 1897
12LtMs, Ms 177, 1897, par. 116
God has given us the knowledge of where the likeness link is to be found. It is not from beneath but from above, the Highest Model. The link connecting man in the chain of living [beings] is plainly specified. “In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him.” [Verse 1.] “Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.” Psalm 8:5, 6.Psalms 8:6
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)
Lt 416, 1907
22LtMs, Lt 416, 1907, par. 7
It is because man cannot be a perfect criterion, that he should not climb up to make himself supreme. He cannot safely ask his fellow men to make him their pattern in words and actions. “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands,” was written of our first parents. [Psalm 8:6.] Man was made to have dominion in the earth; but he lost that dominion through sin. That which was lost by the first Adam will be restored by the second, as Paul testifies: “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; and crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” [Hebrews 2:6-9.]Psalms 8:6-8
Patriarchs and Prophets
Chapter 2—The Creation
PP 45.1
He was placed, as God’s representative, over the lower orders of being. They cannot understand or acknowledge the sovereignty of God, yet they were made capable of loving and serving man. The psalmist says, “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: ... the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, ... and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” Psalm 8:6-8.From Eternity Past
Chapter 2—Creation: God’s Answer to Evolution
EP 16.5
The lower orders of being cannot understand the sovereignty of God, yet they were made capable of loving and serving man. “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet, ... the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air.” Psalm 8:6-8.EGW Writings — Ellen G. White. Ellen G. White Estate · all rights reserved
Psalms 8:1
Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)
Lt 72, 1906
21LtMs, Lt 72, 1906, par. 11
We are in this world to honor God; and from all devising that would in any way tempt us to dishonor our Redeemer, we must turn away. In Christ we have before us the Pattern of all righteousness. He has pledged Himself to be our Guide, our Preserver, our Governor. “O Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth.” [Psalm 8:1.] He is the brightness of the Father’s glory, “the express image of His person.” [Hebrews 1:3.]