Psalm 8
"When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" - Psalm 8:3-4
In this psalm, David ponders why the God who made the sun, moon, and stars cares about man, who is seemingly small and insignificant? Why does God pay attention to us, given the universe is so huge and we are so small?
Dr. Ross Pettigrew of Dunedin gives a wonderful talk about how the bigness of the universe and the smallness of earth. I call it the "pale blue dot" talk. You may want to check it out below.
David's psalm goes on to say that God has made man a little lower than himself (or than the angels, according to the Septuagint), crowned him with glory and honour, and given him dominion over all the works of his hands on earth. In this context, "man" means not only human males but also human females. So men and women together are important to God and are to exercise responsible dominion over the works of God's hands.
Modern man asks the question, what does it mean to be human? Do humans have any significance? This psalm gives the answer from God's point of view. We are crucially important to God and God's creation.
Father, your universe is huge, and yet you have set your supreme care on humankind. We don't really know why we are so important to you, but we are. Thank you for the love and concern you show to us. You have made us who we are, and we are important to you. Thank you for that. In Jesus' name, amen.
- Jeff Coleman