WHAT IS MAN?

WHAT IS MAN?

Ps 8:3-6

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

          I am blessed to be a Texan and I mention that to remind you that Texas has more visible stars than other states filled with tall buildings that clutter the sky. The lights of the boulevards often make it impossible to see the glory of the heavens. No such competition hampered the heavenly view of the psalmist. With the sheep at his feet (see verse 7) and the blanket of stars overhead, David began to consider God. Above the immensity of the heavens, David imagined God looking down upon man.

          Nothing makes a man feel so small as the enormity of the starlit heavens! The most hardened doubter begins to consider that maybe there really is a God and if there is a God then what is my duty toward Him? These thoughts make one feel smaller still. Why does this God care for and provide for such a small speck as man?

          David used two wonderful words to describe God’s care for man. The first is the word “mindful” in verse four. This word is the Hebrew zakar and it means “to mark so as to be recognized.” Imagine God looking down and wanting to isolate you from all the rest of creation. He places a mark upon you. With this mark He can track your whereabouts and observe your circumstance. But this is more than a tracking device. It is a mark of possession and ownership.

          The second word is also in verse four and it is the word “visit.” Here David specifically alludes to God coming down to be with man. This is the wonder of Christmas! God came down but not just down. God came down to lowest man. He was born in the most humble circumstances so that he could meet man eye to eye. Such condescension is too full of wonder for expression. So John 3:16 describes the love of God with the tiny word “so.”

          If you are feeling abandoned by God don a jacket and go out under the night sky. Look up at the wonder of the work of His fingers and understand that God has placed a mark upon you. God has not lost you in the crowd. He knows who you are and what is happening in your life. He came down to visit you in your humanity so that he might lift you up to sit in heavenly places. (see Ephesians 2:6,7)

Wondrous God, I am overwhelmed and encouraged that you think on me. I know that you will never lose sight of me or forget my needs. I know that you are rich enough to pay all my debts and strong enough to defeat all my enemies. I know that I am loved – but I do not know why. Thank you, Marvelous Lord. AMEN