Psalm 8 A Hymn (HBH) GOD is praised as Creator and for having given humanity such a high place in creation. Verse 2 literally reads, "From the mouths of children and babies you have established strength." Matthew 21:16, following the Septuagint, has "praise" instead of "Strength." In either case the paradox is that GOD puts His enemies to shame by infants (see I Cor. 1:18-25).
Psalm 8:1 This psalm of David is dedicated to nature, and shows the smallness of man and the greatness of GOD. Although the human being is miniscule in relation to the immensity of the universe, in every way he is the pinnacle of Creation and the object of GOD's concern and care. Oh Jehovah, our LORD: This is the personal name of GOD, combined with the title of LORD or Sovereign.
Psalm 8:2 Children (KJV-babes): Jesus took the 2nd verse of this psalm to justify the children approaching Him as the Messiah (Matt. 21:16). The Septuagint, or Greek Bible, from which Jesus' words are taken, considers the term "praise" to be the better translation of the Hebrew word translated here as strength.
Psalm 8:3 Heavens: No scientific discovery of the astronomers (v.3) or biologists (verses 7,8) can negate the unique significance of the human being as GOD's creation.
Psalm 8:4 Man...son of man (in Hebrew 'enosh, ben 'adam, "man in weakness" or "man in origin", i.e., earthly) "Son of Man" is a title attributed to the Messiah in the New Testament, and the author of Hebrews applies this specifically to Jesus (Heb. 2:6), as Paul did in I Corinthians 15:27.
 LITERARY RICHES |
|---|
|
Psa. 8:5 honor, hadar; Strong #1926: Splendor, honor, glory, adornment, magnificence, beauty. This substantive comes from the verb hadar, "honor, glorify, splendid". Hadar speaks to us of the splendor that belongs to GOD, His creation, His kingdom, and to man made in the image of GOD The biblical viewpoint of man is more exalted and edifying than any other. In this reference, GOD crowns man with splendor, in spite of his relative smallness in the universe. Another well known use of hadar is found in the phrase "the beauty of holiness" (Psa. 96:9; 110:3). The splendor of holiness is a greater beauty than the glory of nature.
|
 KINGDOM DYNAMICS |
|---|
Psa. 8:4-8 Human dominion over the Creation, HUMAN WORTH. Not only is man intrinsically distinct from the rest of creation, but he was given authority over the earth and all that there is in it. The human being was made to govern (v.6). Our ability to exercise authority over the earth depends on our readiness to submit ourselves, serve and obey the living GOD, under whose authority we are. Our authority over the earth makes us responsible for it. The mineral resources, water, air and different species of animal life, should be the interest of every government and person. Can we allow to disappear from the earth the different species of animal life that the Creator has put at our disposal and with whose care we have been encharged? Dare we contaminate and corrupt GOD's creation? "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom much has been entrusted, more will be asked" (Luke 12:48) (Gen. 1:26-28/3:17) C.B.
|
Psalm 8:6 To lord (KJV-have dominion): This remembers the first description of Adam in Genesis 1:26,28.
Psalm 9:1-10:18 Psalms 9 and 10 form an acrostic poem in which the words that begin each verse correspond to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The Latin Bible (Vulgate) and the Greek (Septuagint) consider them to be one psalm, although Psalm 9 speaks of Israel's corrupt neighbors and Psalm 10 of the corruption within the Israelite people.
Psalm 9:3 They shall perish: Divine punishment has fallen upon Israel's enemies. See the note for Obadiah 15.
Psalm 9:5 Losing the name of the family, or tribe was considered a horrible event by ancient cultures. Its preservation was jealously guarded.
Psalm 9:8 He shall judge: This is underlined by Paul in the Areopagus in Acts 17:31.
Psalm 9:10 Name: Serves as a poetic symbol to characterize a person. Here it designates the trustworthiness of the divine character.
Psalm 9:10 See section 5 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of book 1 of Psalms.
Psalm 9:13,14 Gates: Places of public gathering in ancient times, for the living as well as the dead (in a figurative sense). In this passage, the two gates appear one in front of the other. Death (from the Hebrew sheol): The idea that the place of the dead was like a walled city with gates was passed down to the New Testament (Matt. 16:18), where hades, the Greek equivalent of sheol is employed.
Psalm 9:16 Higgaion: A difficult word to translate, but that appears to evoke a solemn and harmonious sound (92:3).
Psalm 9:17,18 Sheol (KJV-hell): The same term that is translated as "death" in verse 13. The idea is that the evildoers will have to be destroyed and burned because GOD will not allow the poor to be oppressed forever.
Psalm 10 An Individual Complaint (HBH) In every age believers are dismayed at the impurity of the violent, the criminal, the vile, and the ungodly. But GOD remains the hope of the hopeless (10:14-18). He knows our troubles.
Psalm 10:1-18 Combined with Psalm 9, it would be an acrostic poem (although with some gaps), in which the verses begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 10:1 Are you far away: The psalmist, like others in tribulation, first speaks of his own sorrow. He feels that GOD is distant because of his suffering. See Job. 13:24.
Psalm 10:2 This verse begins a long list of despicable acts of the evil in a merciless and decadent society.
Psalm 10:4 See section 2 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of book 1 of Psalms.
Psalm 10:4 In none of their thoughts: The secularization of any nation, with a prohibition of mentioning the name of GOD in its schools, negotiations or political life, constitutes a step toward its complete decadence and ruin.
Psalm 10:7 This verse is cited by Paul as proof that the Jews as well as the Gentiles have committed deception and fraud and therefore need a Savior (Rom. 3:14).
Psalm 10:11-15 See section 1 of "TRUTH IN ACTION" at the end of book 1 of Psalms.
Psalm 10:14 With your hand: Sometimes evil can't be subjected to justice in society. The trust in divine justice becomes the only hope.
Psalm 10:18 The man of the earth: Is compared with the one who "comes from above" in John 3:31.
Music and Instruments of the Bible
Psalm 8:5 The human being was made a little less than the angels. There is a clear difference between the human being and the animal. angels (from the Hebrew elohim) is used in the Old Testament to refer to GOD, gods or supernatural beings. The Septuagint translates the term as angels, as does the author of Hebrews (Heb. 2:7).
Home
Site Index
Bible Index
Kingdom Dynamics
Truth in Action
Links 