RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-01-29	What Is Man That You Are Mindful of Him (Ps.8:4)
		Psa 8:3  When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, Psa 8:4  What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? Psa 8:5  For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psa 8:6  You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet King David is praising the Lord for granting humans such a superior position in His creation. The word for "man" (H582, enos) refers to humanity in general. Man is transient and weak. When David looks at the vastness and splendor of the universe. Human beings appear small and insignificant. When David considered the permanence of the moon and stars, he asked, what do humans amount to that God would consider us? Then he answered his own question in verses 5-6. He commented that God ``crowned him with glory and honor." In view of God's handiwork, and the seeming limitlessness of His creation, David is awestruck that the Lord is concerned for mankind and the position God gave man to rule over that creation. From the beginning god made mankind to be representatives on the earth. God gave man to have dominion over every creature in His name (Ge.2:19-20). In the heart and mind of God, people are His foremost concern. The book of Hebrews makes use of this Psalm as well. Heb 2:6  But one testified in a certain place, saying: "WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, OR THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF HIM? Heb 2:7  YOU HAVE MADE HIM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND SET HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS. Heb 2:8  YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. When it says, "all things" (v.8) it means nothing is left out. The writer references this Old Testament passage to show that Jesus was truly human. So Psalm 8:4 was fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus humbled Himself and became a man. In His earthly ministry, He was, "a little lower than angels" (He.2:7,9). As a man He willingly experienced suffering and death, just as we do. He took on our nature and became like us, but without sin. Jesus became a human and died to set us free from death. As mere humans, why is God mindful of him, celebrates the dignity and esteem of humans in the eyes of God, despite our seeming insignificance We are the center of His attention, even the apple of His eye (Du.32:10; Zc.2:8; Ps.17:8) So let us live with the dignity God shows toward us. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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