"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have arranged,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor." (Psalm 8:3-5)
Have you ever driven somewhere and just had to pull over and look at the brilliant stars above. This smallness is that to which David alludes. We are so infinitesimal compared to the vastness of God's creation. How can he even be bothered to know about or care for a mere human being? The majesty and wonder of God is that he does care about us!
Now the psalmist recounts the responsibility that God gave to Adam and Eve over his creation:
"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.
Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air
and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
(Genesis 1:28)
David puts it poetically:
"You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas." (Psalm 8:6-8)
Now he closes the psalm as he began it:
"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (8:9)
His majesty is in the greatness of creation, on earth and extending to the farthest heavens. And yet he wants to know us and include us in his plan. The glory of his infinite creation is seen in his particular care for lowly man. Oh, yes, Lord, how majestic you are!
