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Psalm 8 contains the reflections of the psalmist upon the night sky. At the beginning and end, he speaks about the glory of God. These statements provide the context for his wonder on God’s care and appointment of mankind as ruler at the center of the Psalm.
The psalmist’s description of mankind’s God given dominion in Psalm 8 has obvious connections with Genesis 1. However, the Psalm is not a reflection focused on the pre-fall position of humanity in God’s creation but on God’s continued use of mankind in redemptive history. This focus can be seen in three ways.
First and last, there is a parallel between the mention of God’s enemies near the beginning of the Psalm and the list of animals near the end. The mere mention of present enemies indicates a setting other than the original creation order. Instead, it is the time of conflict working toward a final peace. While less explicit, the list of animals, notably going from domesticated animals to regions progressively farther from mankind’s influence, also gives the impression of an ongoing work leading to complete dominion.
In the middle is the psalmist’s wonder regarding God’s appointment to humanity. However, what is it about the night sky, the moon and stars, that leads to such a reaction? Contemporary reflections on the cosmos tend to focus on size, i.e., how small we are in relationship to the vastness of space. In contrast, based on other passages in the Old Testament, the psalmist was most likely focusing on time, i.e., how short is a human life in comparison to the antiquity and enduring nature of the heavenly bodies. Thus, fallen humanity, under the common curse of death, is in view.
The psalmist is reflecting on God’s continued use of humanity in the post-fall time of redemptive history. Therefore, the author to the Hebrews can apply it to Jesus, to the incarnation, as the greater fulfillment. Yet, it still applies to us, providing us dignity and purpose in our roles as God’s sub-rulers in this world.
Watch Dr. Van Ee’s Devotion on this Psalm
