Psalm 8 – Day 1
“O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens." – Psalm 8:1 NLT
Immensity, power, glory, might, greatness. All those concepts are wrapped up in the single word translated "majestic" in this passage. And David uses it to describe the name of God, His reputation or fame. To David, the greatness of God was everywhere. It was visible and tangible, but you had to be able to recognize it all around you. David saw it on the earth and in the night sky. God's glory – His reputation, renown and fame – was all-pervasive to David. He couldn't look out the window and not see the majesty of God revealed. He couldn't look up into the night sky and not be reminded of the greatness of God. To David, God's reputation was not only based on His miraculous interventions in the affairs of Israel – His victories in battle, His divine provision and protection – but it was evident in the everyday affairs of life. Everything around David screamed the praise of God, because that is the way God designed it. Even Jesus understood what David was talking about when He quoted this Psalm in an exchange with the religious leaders.
"The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, 'Praise God for the Son of David.' But the leaders were indignant. They asked Jesus, 'Do you hear what these children are saying?' 'Yes,' Jesus replied. 'Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, "You have taught children and infants to give you praise."' – Matthew 21:15-16 NLT
From birth, man was made to praise God. We are appointed for that purpose. But the effects of the fall and the influence of sin have a way of hijacking our purpose and blinding us to the majesty and greatness of God. We lose the ability to see Him all around us. Our eyes become blind to His presence and power.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem just days before His crucifixion, the crowd of disciples following Him cheered wildly, proclaiming, "Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” (Luke 19:38 NLT). The Pharisees were appalled at what they heard and demanded that Jesus tell His disciples to cease and desist. Instead, Jesus replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:40 NLT). Jesus knew what David knew. Everything in creation shouts the praise and glory of God. While all men were created to praise God, many do not. But creation does. God's glory is not relegated to man's recognition of it. God's glory or reputation is evident everywhere and at all times.
And the amazing thing to David was that this glorious, majestic, mighty, all-powerful God would give any thought to men. We are insignificant when compared to creation. Yet God has not only taken not of us, He has give us a job to do. He has appointed us as stewards of His creation. He has given us responsibility over all that He has made and that gives us glory and honor. We get to care for what He has created. What an honor. What a privilege. The recognition of that vital role given to us by a mighty God should rock our world and cause us to exclaim with David, "O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!" We should recognize the greatness of God's reputation and want to do everything in our power to protect it, proclaim it, and live up to it.
Father, give me eyes to see You all around me. Don't let me look past Your divine presence in creation as I search for You elsewhere. Like David, may I be able to look out the window or up into the sky and see You. Let me be blown away by Your majesty, might, and glory. Amen