To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8 (ESV)
Psalm 8 is one of the more familiar psalms in the Hebrew collection. In fact, numerous gospel songs have been composed from vs. 1 alone. The outline of this Psalm of David is as follows:
I. The Lord’s Greatness (8:1–3, 9): David marvels at the glory of the Lord.
A. As seen in creation (8:1, 3, 9): The majesty of the Lord fills the heavens and the earth.
B. As sung by children (8:2): Little children praise the Lord.
II. The Lord’s Goodness (8:3–8)
A. The amazement (8:3–5): Considering the Lord’s greatness, David is amazed that the Lord has shown such concern for humans and has crowned them with honor.
B. The assignment (8:6–8): The Lord placed humans in charge of everything he has made.
The subject of Psalm 8 is the LORD’s greatness and goodness. Creation reveals the majesty of the Creator. Three New Testament passages ascribe greatness and goodness of the LORD to Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:27–28 (ESV) says, “27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”
The Apostle Paul references Psalm 8:6 when he says the God has put all things in subjection under his feet. The person to whom Paul is referring to is Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:20-26).
Ephesians 1:22 (ESV) says, “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.”
Once again, it is the Apostle Paul quoting from Psalm 8:6. The apostle is stating that God the Father placed all things under the subjection of God the Son, Jesus Christ.
The final New Testament reference is from the Book of Hebrews. Hebrews 2:5–10 (ESV) says, “5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”
The writer of Hebrews clearly identifies the person about whom David was ultimately writing. That individual is the Lord Jesus Christ.
During this Advent Season of 2021, let us take time to praise the Lord Jesus Christ for being not only our Creator but also our Sustainer. Everything is in subjection to His authority.
Soli deo Gloria.
His Word Today 