Psalm 8: Praying Our Creation
DISORIENTATION IS A terrible experience. If we cannot locate our place, we are in confusion and anxiety. We are also in danger, for we are apt to act inappropriately. If we are among enemies and don't know it, we may lose our life. If we are among friends and don't know it, we may miss good relationships. If we are alongside a cliff and don't know it, we may lose our footing. In Psalm 8, we find out where we are and some important aspects of who we are.
Warming Up to God
When traveling, have you ever awakened and not known where you were? The bed is unfamiliar; the room is strange; you look out the window and don't recognize anything. What does it feel like to be disoriented?
Read Psalm 8. »
Discovering the Word
- Browse through the psalm and note every word that refers to what God has created. How do these things reveal God's glory?
- Why do you think the psalmist contrasts what children and infants say with what foes and avengers say(v.2)?
- What evidence do we have that God is mindful of us, that he cares for us?
- "Ruler" and "under his feet" (v. 6) can be twisted into excuses to exploit and pillage. What is there in this psalm to prevent such twisting?
Applying the Word
- How does Psalm 8 compare with the way you view yourself?
- What adjustments do you need to make to view yourself as God views you?
- Some people think of themselves as "a little higher than the heavenly beings"; others think, "a little lower than the beasts of the field." In what area has Psalm 8 corrected your self-image?
Responding in Prayer
Praise God and use this psalm as the basis for your praise.
For Further Study
Daring to Draw Near by John White