Psalm 8
There is something about the name of a person. Especially a good name, not in a way that the meaning of the name or the sound of the name is good, but in its reputation. It speaks of the esteem and worth of the personhood and the character of the person.
By nature, every human yearns to make a name for himself or herself. We see it first in the book of Genesis when people who had settled in the land of Shinar wanted to “build a city with a tower with its top in the heavens and make a name for themselves” (Genesis 11:4). Now we know how that ended. However, in the very next chapter, we read how God promises Abraham that He will make Abraham’s name great (Genesis 12:2). The true name-maker we see is God Himself, the One whose name is majestic. His is a name that is not earned, conferred, or nurtured but owned because of who God is.
It is this that the Psalmist is drawn to — the majestic name of the LORD. As we gather to remember the Lord, it is good for us to be caught up likewise by the excellent name of the Lord.
Here are seven reasons or seven contrasts that make our praise response essential.
1. THE CONTRAST OF THE CHORUS (v.2)
Our Lord refers to this verse during His Triumphal entry when the Chief Priests and Scribes ask Jesus to rebuke the crowds to keep quiet. And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21:16)
The contrast here is that the gurgle of praise from the lips of His weakest redeemed saint is stronger than that of the wisest, strongest, or wealthiest who do not know Him.
It is greater and louder than that of the heavens (Psalms 19:1).
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2. THE CONTRAST OF THE CHILDREN (v.2)
Depending on the translation, the emphasis of this verse also implies that the feeblest of God’s children are stronger because of the LORD — Strong to still the enemy and the avenger. To still, meaning to silence, remove, or destroy.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
3. THE CONTRAST OF CARE (VV. 3-4)
The Creation, the Psalmist states, is but mere “works of God’s fingers”. The work of the fingers is a Hebrew expression for light work. However, here’s the contrast, when it comes to the care of man, He is ‘mindful of them’. Mindful, meaning a deliberate and careful occupation. Unlike the father who promised his child to bring candy when he returns from work, but forgets. Forgets because the care of the day, the busyness of the work, had occupied his mind. In contrast, how wonderful it is that the God of all creation is mindful of you.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
4. THE CONTRAST OF THE CROWN (V.5)
The Psalmist continues to confess not just the immense mindful care, but also the intentional crowning of man. Man is not said to be higher than the beast of the earth, as if mankind were simply a product of evolution, as culture would have you believe. With God, it is not bottom-up but top-down, for God places man “a little lower than the angels”.
Adam was created to have dominion over every living thing — to be God’s vice-regent on earth (Genesis 1:28). God made man in His own image, thus there is a closer relationship between man and God than man and the living things.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
5. THE CONTRAST OF THE CLAY
However, the one who was to serve as the vice-regent of God on earth is made of clay, mere dust. Man is neither the mightiest nor the wisest of God’s creation when compared like-for-like to other living beings. It is as if metaphorically God makes man “ex-nihilo” — out of nothing and gives a position of honor and glory.
Sadly, man is not able to live out his purpose because of his sin and forfeits the privilege of authority and assignment. The authority to rule as God’s vice-regent and the assignment to expand God’s kingdom.
Thankfully, that is not the end of the story.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
6. THE CONTRAST OF THE CROSS
What the First Adam could not do, the Last Adam does. The One with the excellent name makes Himself of no reputation (Phil 2:7). Meaning, one with no name to speak of. Even the title “Jesus of Nazareth” was intended to remind that even the place He was associated with was of no repute.
This glorious One, whose glory is set above the heavens, emptied Himself on behalf of the weakest and the foolish. To die the most cursed form of death, the death on the cross.
However, this ignominious, painful death would be a means of life both abounding and eternal for the ones who are His. There is now a man in heaven – the man Christ Jesus, who has been given a name that is above every name (Philippians 2:10).
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
7. THE CONTRAST OF CHOICE
When we consider these contrasts that we looked at, and recognize that we have been unworthy recipients of much grace. That we got the better end of the stick. We are intentionally faced with a contrast of “The grateful and the ungrateful.” The contrast between the two is large. Faced with a choice amid such a contrast, we have to choose to be grateful — evidently grateful.
As ones who have been saved, redeemed, and now gathered as a company of His people, it is pertinent that we choose to remember Him by bringing our loudest praise.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord
Let the people rejoice
Come to the Father
Through Jesus the Son
The saddest contrast is with those who have experienced the Great Contrast — the living who were once dead; saints in the Lord who were once sinners; redeemed who were once rejected, yet remain silent. The ones whose hearts remained unstirred by praise and worship.
Let’s remember Him and show forth His death.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.