Psalm 8: How Majestic is Your Name!

Read Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Out of the mouths of children, even infants, you silence enemies.

What is man that You are mindful of him? Why do you care for mere human beings? You are the Lord that created the heavens and the earth with a whisper.

You made us a little lower than the angels and gave us glory and honor. You set us up to tend to your creation, flocks, herds, animals, birds, and fish.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Reflection

One of my favorite worship songs from way back around 2000 (23 years ago!) focused on this psalm and the repeated chorus, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” The NIVAC tells us a better interpretation might be, “O Yahweh, our Lord…” The significance of this seemingly simple substitution is the assignment of God’s name to Israel. He is our God, the Lord of all, and he has given us his name. In the prologue to John’s Gospel, he explained this further when he said,

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:12-13

We are heirs to the throne. We have been adopted into the name of Yahweh. Those who bear this name call upon the One who created the heavens and the earth. As such, God has given us the distinct honor and privilege to care for creation and to care for one another. My experience on earth suggests we’ve not done very well on either account. But the psalm isn’t trying to deal with anything negative. Instead, here is a simple psalm of praise to our Lord for his favor. Let’s focus on that!

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!