This is the third chapter from the new book I am writing. It is aimed at high-schoolers, and it explores the whole idea of being free. The working title? "Free To Be Me" or maybe "The Day of Freedom".
If you haven't yet read Chapter 1, then read that first by clicking here.
If you haven't yet read Chapter 2, then read that first by clicking here.
If you haven't yet read Chapter 1, then read that first by clicking here.
If you haven't yet read Chapter 2, then read that first by clicking here.
Who am I?
That is the question that bugs the whole of humanity.
“Who am I really?”
“Tell me what my purpose is!”
“I want to get in touch with the real me!”
“When we think of the entire cosmos, where do I fit in?”
The bible asks that question – and the bible answers that question.
Have you ever noticed that when you read the bible, you find that one part of the bible explains another part of the bible? We’re going to check out Psalm 8. The writer of this psalm has obviously been reading Genesis 1, and it leads him to ask an obvious question:
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Psalm 8: 3-4
When you look at the whole universe – and you see how big it is, how spectacular it is, how powerful, how complex, how enormous … Who are we? What is it about us that would cause God to care for us?
Now – what answer are you expecting? If you didn’t know what line came next in Psalm 8, what would be the normal answer to this question?
“Compared to the whole universe – I’m nothing.”
“An insignificant speck!”
“There’s God – then there’s the angels and the heavenly beings – then there’s the galaxies, and the solar systems, and the whole of life as we know it - then there’s me.”
“Insignificant.”
“Compared to the whole of the cosmos – I’m nothing.”
Do you ever feel like that? That compared with the wonders of creation – compared with the annals of cosmic history – compared with the accomplishments of myriads of civilisations – that basically – I don’t stack up too well?
If we read on in Psalm 8, God gives an amazing answer as to where you fit into to the whole of his cosmos.
That is the question that bugs the whole of humanity.
“Who am I really?”
“Tell me what my purpose is!”
“I want to get in touch with the real me!”
“When we think of the entire cosmos, where do I fit in?”
The bible asks that question – and the bible answers that question.
Have you ever noticed that when you read the bible, you find that one part of the bible explains another part of the bible? We’re going to check out Psalm 8. The writer of this psalm has obviously been reading Genesis 1, and it leads him to ask an obvious question:
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Psalm 8: 3-4
When you look at the whole universe – and you see how big it is, how spectacular it is, how powerful, how complex, how enormous … Who are we? What is it about us that would cause God to care for us?
Now – what answer are you expecting? If you didn’t know what line came next in Psalm 8, what would be the normal answer to this question?
“Compared to the whole universe – I’m nothing.”
“An insignificant speck!”
“There’s God – then there’s the angels and the heavenly beings – then there’s the galaxies, and the solar systems, and the whole of life as we know it - then there’s me.”
“Insignificant.”
“Compared to the whole of the cosmos – I’m nothing.”
Do you ever feel like that? That compared with the wonders of creation – compared with the annals of cosmic history – compared with the accomplishments of myriads of civilisations – that basically – I don’t stack up too well?
If we read on in Psalm 8, God gives an amazing answer as to where you fit into to the whole of his cosmos.
1. God crowns me with honour
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Psalm 8: 3-4
Here’s the answer in the next verse!
“You made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour.”
Psalm 8:5
Have you got it? In the scope of the entire cosmos …
First there’s God …
Then there are the angels …
Then there’s YOU …
And then there’s everything else.
God has made you just a little lower than the angels, and has crowned you with glory and honour! We often talk about how important it is that we give glory and honour to God. And yes – that is important. But this verse is talking about how God gives glory and honour to you. When God designed you, he created you to be a person who is worthy of great glory and great honour.
One more time … just so you get it straight …
First there’s God …
Then there are the angels …
Then there’s YOU …
And then there’s everything else.
Just let that soak in for a moment. Rather than putting you near the bottom of his food chain, God has given you one of the highest places in his universe. Just below the angels.
Is that how you think of yourself? Is that the standard you have set for yourself? Is that the way you live? As a person whom God has given one of the highest places to – and a person whom he has crowned with glory and honour?
But wait – there’s more … Check out the very next verses …
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Psalm 8: 3-4
Here’s the answer in the next verse!
“You made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour.”
Psalm 8:5
Have you got it? In the scope of the entire cosmos …
First there’s God …
Then there are the angels …
Then there’s YOU …
And then there’s everything else.
God has made you just a little lower than the angels, and has crowned you with glory and honour! We often talk about how important it is that we give glory and honour to God. And yes – that is important. But this verse is talking about how God gives glory and honour to you. When God designed you, he created you to be a person who is worthy of great glory and great honour.
One more time … just so you get it straight …
First there’s God …
Then there are the angels …
Then there’s YOU …
And then there’s everything else.
Just let that soak in for a moment. Rather than putting you near the bottom of his food chain, God has given you one of the highest places in his universe. Just below the angels.
Is that how you think of yourself? Is that the standard you have set for yourself? Is that the way you live? As a person whom God has given one of the highest places to – and a person whom he has crowned with glory and honour?
But wait – there’s more … Check out the very next verses …
2. God puts me in charge
“You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet; all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”
Psalm 8:6-8
“God has put everything under your feet”. Can you grab what that means?
Have you ever seen a wrestling match? One that is almost a fight to the finish? A match that keeps going until one contestant is pinned helpless on the ground? How does the victor show that they has won? How do they demonstrate that they are superior?
They stand tall over their fallen competitor and place one of their own feet on top of them. It’s a moment of victory. It’s a moment of declaring who is in charge. That’s what it means to place something under your feet.
So – what has God placed under your feet? Look back at verse 6:
“You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.”
Psalm 8:6
God has placed everything else in all creation under your feet. You are in charge of everything else God has created.
Who – me?
Yes, you!
Has God really placed everything under my feet? Read on …
“You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet; all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.”
Psalm 8:6-8
“God has put everything under your feet”. Can you grab what that means?
Have you ever seen a wrestling match? One that is almost a fight to the finish? A match that keeps going until one contestant is pinned helpless on the ground? How does the victor show that they has won? How do they demonstrate that they are superior?
They stand tall over their fallen competitor and place one of their own feet on top of them. It’s a moment of victory. It’s a moment of declaring who is in charge. That’s what it means to place something under your feet.
So – what has God placed under your feet? Look back at verse 6:
“You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.”
Psalm 8:6
God has placed everything else in all creation under your feet. You are in charge of everything else God has created.
Who – me?
Yes, you!
Has God really placed everything under my feet? Read on …
If you'd like to find out more, you'll have to wait for the next instalment!
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