The Hidden Treasure in Psalm 8. By Sara Cain.
One of the things I love about the psalms is their beautiful poetic expression of Kingdom Truths. In Psalm 8, King David writes about three, one of which may surprise you.
I. God and His Creation are Clothed in Splendor and Majesty
1 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
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?
9 Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! (NIV)
This psalm and many others speak of the beauty and wonder of God’s creation so eloquently. Acknowledging that He is Creator of such beauty leads us to praise Him with reverence and awe.
I’m a nature loving outdoor girl. I feel closest to God when I’m out enjoying His marvelous creation. I’m happiest at ocean beaches and national parks where incredible beauty and wondrous things are being preserved. No matter how many times I look, I am still struck with awe by their beauty and creativity, the incredibly unique features and fascinating wildlife. My souls sings, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!
II. God Honors and Gives Humans Dignity
God is so far above us in power, wisdom, holiness and splendor, and yet he thinks about us, cares for us, loves us, and honors us with His trust, revealing humanity’s astonishing place in creation.
- But I have to ask this question:
Why would you bother with puny, mortal man,
Or care about human beings?
- Yet what honor you have given to men,
created only a little lower than Elohim,
crowned with glory and magnificence. (TPT)
Elohim can be translated God or angels or “the divine”.
Whichever the accurate translation of Elohim is in this passage, we know with certainty that God created us to have relationship with Him. His rescue plan of salvation through Jesus proves that we are of great worth to Him, treasured most among all His creation.
Verse 6 also confirms our great value. God honors us by giving us a tremendous responsibility and privilege.
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. ~ NIV
God’s intention was for humankind to rule over all His creation. How incredible that the holy, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, creator of everything in the universe and beyond trusts us enough to give us authority over everything He created “on the earth, in the sea, and in the sky”.
As my mother would say, “It boggles my mind”.
In this gift of responsibility, God is showering us with honor and dignity. So never again listen to any lies saying you are unworthy or you’re insignificant. YOU are an Estate Manager of God’s Creation, appointed and trusted by God Himself.
Verse 6 in the TPT says it this way:
- You have delegated to them
Rulership over all you have made,
With everything under their authority,
Placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers.
The term “image-bearers” reminds us that we are His only creation made in His image. Whether we are above or below the angels, even the angels praising God and doing His bidding in Heaven will never experience the privilege we have of walking with Him as a friend and brother or feel the JOY of salvation. Nor will any fallen angels ever get the choice to change their eternal destiny.
III. God Establishes Children as Spiritual Giants
Now for my favorite part of this psalm, verse 2. This is the scripture that God revealed my calling to a lifetime commitment of loving, protecting and celebrating children.
Satan tries to obscure this scripture so that it is overlooked or simply seen as “just poetic words.” However, it’s a bombshell that terrifies him.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger. (NIV)
In Hebrew, “avenger” is used three ways.
It describes someone appointed to seek justice for a wronged family or family member.
Sometimes it’s used to describe a person or group bringing justice by avenging opposition to God.
The third use targets satan specifically, and this is its purpose in Psalm 8. We know this because of the surrounding context and because in the original text it is used as a name, The Avenger, referring to the ultimate one taking revenge against God, not to seek justice, but to avenge his own justified death sentence.
God’s ultimate answer to that opposition is the simple, faithful acknowledgment of Him by the youngest and most vulnerable.
Infants represent total dependence. Children are innocent, trusting, loving, joyful, and full of wonder– all Kingdom attributes. Their unfiltered, natural praise testifies to God’s majesty that no enemy can argue with.
When religious leaders were angry at children shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” Jesus defended them, affirming that God had indeed ordained praise from the mouths of children. In Matthew 21:16 Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise.”
No wonder satan works so hard to destroy infants and children. He knows the Scriptures, so he knows children are his most formidable opponents.
From their conception to the eve of adulthood, he attacks them in every egregious and horrific way possible. He will never give up trying to destroy infants and children.
The Passion Translation of verse 2 sets the poetic language aside to give us straight talk to make sure we get the message.
You have built a stronghold by the songs of children,
Strength rises up with the chorus of infants,
This kind of praise has power to shut satan’s mouth.
Childlike worship will silence
The madness of those who oppose you.
So this is what God has ordained and declared:
“The praise of infants and children can shut satan’s mouth!”
Imagine if every believer quoted Psalms 8:2 daily before praying for the protection of all children. Let’s be spiritual warriors that love, protect, support, and celebrate the gift of children and acknowledge the place of honor God has bestowed on them in His Kingdom.
God’s strength triumphs through humility rather than worldly might. He uses the most weak and helpless of His creation to display His ultimate power. By bringing forth sincere praise from the mouths of babes, God creates a spiritual fortress that silences His most hardened adversaries.
Jesus added another layer to this truth.
In Matthew 18:3 he said that we must become like little children if we want to see the Kingdom of Heaven. He was referencing the children singing praise to Him spontaneously from a pure heart, trusting Him explicitly.
The TPT footnote to verse 2 says the word “silence” is also translated “muzzle” so God also declared:
“Childlike praise can muzzle the madness of those who oppose God!”
This scripture gives us great hope when we truly grasp its powerful meaning. The world is “so far gone” on the road to hell that we can easily overlook or forget the powerful tools God has given us to thwart satan’s power. Let’s make these declarations in verse 2 our mantra:
“The praise of infants and children can shut satan’s mouth!”
“Childlike praise can muzzle the madness of those who oppose God!”
Satan has no defense against purehearted praise to our Holy God, full of splendor and majesty.
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