Week Sixteen-Day Two: Knowing Human Beings

We began our journey together many weeks ago by looking at the character and attributes of God. Today we will begin the process of looking at ourselves. We will start with David’s great hymn, known to us as Psalm 8.

Psalm 8

¹ LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.
² Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
³ When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?

⁵ You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
⁷ all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
⁸ the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

⁹ LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

1. With what subject does this contemplation of the nature of human beings begin? Why do you think David begins where he begins in this hymn?
2. How do you think “baby talk” (v. 2) silences God’s foes?
3. How does David’s star-gazing make him feel about himself and his place in the world?
4. Make a mental list of the things David says about human beings.
5. Why do you think David lists some of the things “under our feet”? Wouldn’t it be enough to simply say we rule over everything?

BEFORE YOU START YOUR DAY

1. Let’s try to commit this Psalm to memory this week.Committing a longer section of Scripture to memory is difficult, but it is well worth the effort.Turn verses 1 and 2 over and over in your mind right now.
2. Write them down and carry them with you through your day.
3. What life experiences have made you question your importance to God?
4. What has reassured you in the midst of this questioning?
5. Consider who you might reassure today.Think about sending them an email or text or giving them a call and tell them how important they are to you and to God.
6. Dedicate your day to God right now.