The Bible: Psalms Chapter 8: with Audio and Commentary.

Version: World English Bible.

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Psalms Chapter 8 For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David.

1 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens!

2 From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.

3 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 think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?

5 For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honour.

6 You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field,

8 the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Footnotes

Verse 5 (Angels)
Hebrew: Elohim. The word Elohim, used here, usually means "God", but can also mean "gods", "princes", or "angels". The Septuagint reads "angels" here. See also the quote from the Septuagint in Hebrews 2:7.

Version: World English Bible

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Psalms Chapter 8 For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David. Guide

This is a great song of worship. It opens and closes with the same words. These words enclose the psalm, and create its burden. The matters between are proofs of the opening and closing statements. They are two. The manifestation of Jehovah's excellencies in nature and man. These are first briefly stated (1,2), and then more particularly described (3-8). The principal manifestation is in man, which is revealed in both sections. The outlook on nature is toward the encompassing heaven, all the glory of which is expressed in one inclusive thought-Jehovah has set His glory there.

From this the singer turns to little children, in whom he finds a perfection of praise absent from the glorious heaven. It is such as "to still the enemy and the avenger." These two facts are then more particularly considered. The first impression suggests the littleness of man. In the presence of the glorious heaven man seems beneath consideration. Yet it is not so. Man is greater than all. He is but little lower than God. His place is that of dominion. The contemplation of the heaven leads to the consideration of man. This creates in man, first, a wonder at Jehovah's consideration of him. This consideration issues in investigation, and man is found nearer to God than the heavens. The issue is worship. It is the true order of creation. Through man's sin it has been lost. Through Jesus it is being restored.

From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.

Psalms Chapter 8 Commentary

Chapter Outline

  1. God is to be glorified, for making known himself to us. -- (1, 2)
  2. And for making even the heavenly bodies useful to man, thereby placing him but little lower than the angels. -- (3-9)

Verses 1, 2

The psalmist seeks to give unto God the glory due to his name. How bright this glory shines even in this lower world! He is ours, for he made us, protects us, and takes special care of us. The birth, life, preaching, miracles, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus are known through the world. No name is so universal, no power and influence so generally felt, as those of the Saviour of mankind. But how much brighter it shines in the upper world! We, on this earth, only hear God's excellent name, and praise that; the angels and blessed spirits above, see his glory, and praise that; yet he is exalted far above even their blessing and praise. Sometimes the grace of God appears wonderfully in young children. Sometimes the power of God brings to pass great things in his church, by very weak and unlikely instruments, that the excellency of the power might the more evidently appear to be of God, and not of man. This he does, because of his enemies, that he may put them to silence.

Verses 3-9

We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be directed to set his affections on things above. What is man, so mean a creature, that he should be thus honoured! so sinful a creature, that he should be thus favoured! Man has sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is appointed their lord. This refers to Christ. In Heb 2:6-8, the apostle, to prove the sovereign dominion of Christ, shows he is that Man, that Son of man, here spoken of, whom God has made to have dominion over the works of his hands. The greatest favour ever showed to the human race, and the greatest honour ever put upon human nature, were exemplified in the Lord Jesus. With good reason does the psalmist conclude as he began, Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, which has been honoured with the presence of the Redeemer, and is still enlightened by his gospel, and governed by his wisdom and power! What words can reach his praises, who has a right to our obedience as our Redeemer?

From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.