Psalm 8 - When I consider...
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
When the Apollo 11 Spacecraft was sent to the moon in July 1969, Each of the heads of state sent along a message, engraved on a silicon disk about the size of a half dollar and it was left on the moon. Along with that disk was the text of psalm 8. So when you look at the moon at night you can know that the words of the psalm we are studying is on the face of the moon right now. Ralph waldo Emerson who live in the later part of the 19th century a poet and prolific writer and thinker wrote, “if the stars were only visible once a year, you could bet that every person on earth would come out that night gaze and ponder its beauty.”
With our kids being young it is not often that they stay up at night to late. But on occasion either we were traveling and got home late or maybe on a Friday night at camp they stay up past their bed time they are absolutely taken back by the night time sky. They can be half asleep until they see the stars and their excitement abounds. oh how often are we given the chance to to gaze upon the glory of God’s creation yet we fail to take it in, in fact for most of us we have lost that child like wonder as we look into the sky. In fact we have lost a lot of wonder. We get so caught up with the politics of the day, or the chaos that is taking place around the world, our fixation on social media, we find it hard to pull our eyes away from the screen and draw our attention to the Created world around us, the world that God himself made for us.
One of the statements that is in the Westminster catechism states our purpose in life is to Glorify God and enjoy him forever. Now much are you enjoying God if you are glued to the news network, or Facebook screen, or Netflix? to truly enjoy God is experience His creation in person and in His presence. Psalm 8 sheds light on what it truly means to enjoy God, meditate on Him, and to glorify Him with praise.
So lets turn to Psalm 8 and read our passage this morning...
Our true growth begins when we start asking questions. In fact as a parent this is the most dreaded time in child development… The why stage. Even though we joke about it, that stage is so important to us. We should never stop asking questions and seeking answers. It is not only vital to our physical and mental health… it is also important to our spiritual growth. When you stop asking questions you are not walking by faith, you either got lazy in your spiritual journey, or so arrogant that you have think you arrived. I have seen both. We must never lose our wonder and curiosity. Remember we will never figure out God and His creation. Psalm 8 gives us a view of a paradoxical existence. An existence that promotes and encourages questions and pondering’s
The first one we will look at is...
I . Insignificant/significance - vs 3-4 One of the great conclusions that you as a person must come to grips not only for life but for spiritual growth is that you are insignificant. in the grand scheme of things we are nothing. Maybe if we are lucky that when we leave this earth we might have impacted someone, but in all honesty we are insignificant. The majority of problems we see in the world today stems from of self importance and entitlement attitude. Now I am not promoting a self hate attitude because that in unhealthy and unbiblical. But what we see hear in psalm 8 is an honest and humble assessment of our standing in the world (or what it should be). There are a few truths that we must come to grips with
We are insignificant to the rest of the creation - If you do not believe me i am going to give you a little assignment. Go out to Yellowstone park and find you a grizzly bear and start a conversation with a mommy bear while holding her cubs and tell her how important you are. Job 38:4, Job 25:6, Isa 40:22, James 4:14,
We are not entitled to anything - Isa 2:22,
When we are humbled by God’s greatness and our place in the universe then we begin to understand where our significance truly lies - with God Ps 90:12 “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
Ps 39:5
Significance - Our significance is not in ourselves. Descartes’ said “I think therefore I am” but that is not truth. I have been created, therefore I am. I have been fearfully and wonderfully made therefore I am.
1. When I look (consider, perceive, regard, and see - These are the times when we see His works and stand in awe, knowing this was no accident or by chance) this is a true meditative experience. We are struck with thoughtfulness
2. His works - creation
3. What is man? we are nothing without God. We are His creation. The question is deep because it reminds us that we are insignificant yet we are significant to God.
a. He is mindful (remembers and is thoughtful of us) of us, Luke 12:7, Ps 144:3, Isa 41:14
b. He cares for us - (oversee, charge, commit, reckon, and shepherds us) Matt 10:31, 1 John 4:9-10, Numbers 6:24
We are insignificant and the sooner we realize that the quicker we begin to grow in our walk with God, The amazing thing is that when we also begin to realize that we are significant to God (for His relationship with us, His will, and His plan) then we will understand the depth of His Love in relation to The beautiful gospel.
When we see our insignificance
We know our place - not self hatred
we are not corrupted with power or seduced by others with power
we see we are only given a short time, we need to make the best of it
When we see that we are significant to God
i. we see God has a purpose for my life - Ecc 12:13 “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” , 1 Cor 10:31, Isa 43:21, 1 Peter 4:11, Ps 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
ii. we also realize that others are important to God and should be important to me
iii. It makes me place a value on the things that really matter (material, money, power, pristege, position) has no hold upon my life. That is why Paul can write Phil 4:11-13
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The importance of Psalm 8 is two fold
to show us our insignificance and our significance, we are nothing apart from the Lord and we are everything In the Lord. God’s creation humbles us, “what is Man?” yet that meditation leads us to remember that even though we are nothing we are something to God. “that He is mindful of us, and that He cares for us, He visits us”
wow that should bring you to a place of repentance....
Application
Remember your place
Thank God for your insignificance and your significance to Him
Then ask God what is you mission, who are your people that you need to share this message with?