“What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8.4).

The brilliant scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, said that he could take his telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space. Then he added, “But when I lay it aside, go into my room, shut the door, and get down on my knees in earnest prayer, I see more of heaven and feel closer to the Lord than if I were assisted by all the telescopes on earth.”

When David looked into the skies he said, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork” (Psa. 19.1 – kjv), and this was long before telescopes! Each evening when I take our little Maltese out, I look into the heavens and the star lit sky leaves me almost breathless. I am at awe at the expanse of heaven and the millions of visible stars above me. The meticulous order of the heavenly bodies point to a designer greater than the thing designed. It shows His handiwork.

David was struck by the sheer greatness of it all, and reflected upon the significance of humans who are by comparison like a speck of dust. “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;  4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” (Psa. 8.3-4).

Instead of minimizing man, David pointed out that we have the dignity of being made a little lower than angels. We are given the lordship over His creation. “Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet” (Psa. 8.5-6).

But the story isn’t finished. Has man really shown his destiny to rule as God planned? Hasn’t sin shown his failure to live up to the privilege and honor? After quoting this psalm, the author of Hebrews says “But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him” (Heb. 2.8b). Because of sin, man is not master over death, but we see Jesus who overcame the power of death, and brought to naught the one who had power over death, namely the devil, giving Jesus the sovereign rule that was lost in the fall.  

Praise be to God for the victory over sin and death through Jesus our Lord! [-Adapted, Rob Redden; BTW]