Him BookSample

READ Psalm 8:1-9.

EMBRACE OUR ROLE IN GOD’S DESIGN. God is big, and we are small (v. 3-4), yet God isn’t just aware of us, He is mindful of us and cares for us! He knows who we are and what we are experiencing. He knows our past and our future. Not only is He mindful of us, He cares for us! In the original language, the word “care” means to visit in order to help. God not only has all the details of our lives; His desire is to intervene to help us. Why?

The answer to the question in verse 4 is provided in verse 5: God has made humankind a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. The term “heavenly beings” comes from the Hebrew word “Elohim.” Interestingly, “Elohim” is most often translated as “God” in the Old Testament. David is saying that God is mindful of, cares about, and helps humanity because we were created in reference to Him. We were given a distinct and important role. We were created in His image and crowned with glory and honor to serve under His kingship and to exhibit dominion over His earth (v. 5-8).

However, we have difficulty ruling ourselves (James 3:7-8), much less our country, much less the world! We need divine intervention. We need God to intercede for us. We need redemption and forgiveness, but we also need empowerment. We need someone to restore God’s good order to this earth. And that is exactly what Jesus Christ has done for us! Hebrews 2:6-9, proclaims that the task which Adam failed at, Jesus has excelled at! Through Adam’s sin we are separated from God. Through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, we are reconciled to God. Jesus came fully human to demonstrate for us what it looks like to live in the power of God, as God in the flesh. We cannot fully be all that God has called us to be without Christ. We must come to Him, trust Him, and follow Him in faith.

Prayer: Lord, your greatness and care astound me! May I value myself and others as image-bearers of You. May I help to reconcile others to what it means to be truly human, created in Your image to live in relationship with You. Amen.