Bible Commentaries
Psalms 8

Verses 1-9

Psalms 8:0 Divine glory and human dignity

God is so great in majesty and power that nothing in the universe can challenge his sovereign rule. The praises of children may appear to be weak and simple, but they are sufficient to silence God’s enemies. God uses what appears to be powerless to overcome all the hostile forces that his enemies can gather (1-2).

This majestic power of God is seen also in the vastness of the universe that he created. How amazing, therefore, that God should give to feeble insignificant human beings a position of dignity that makes them unique among all created things; for they alone are made in the image of God (3-5; cf. Genesis 1:26-30).

Human beings have a God-given authority that places them in charge of the physical world in which they live. Having been made in God’s image, they rule as God’s representatives (6-8). But they are not God; they are merely the image and representatives of God. Their first duty is always to bring homage, worship, praise and glory to the Lord and God whom they serve (9).

Because of sin, the human race never fulfilled God’s purposes for it. Only in Christ can people be lifted out of the shame and hopelessness of sin, and enter into the glory that God intended for them (Hebrews 2:6-9; 1 Corinthians 15:21-28; 1 Corinthians 15:21-28).