Psalm 8

Psalm 8 (NRSV)

1 O Lord , our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortalsa that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God,b
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord , our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
[1]

Lord,
Who am I? “Mortals”…the son of Adam, the child of humanity, who am I? That is the question. Who am I in the order of the universe?
The poet declares:
Made by God,
A little lower than God,
Crowned with glory and order,
Steward of all creation….
That is who I am, so says the poet.

Within the vastness of the Universe, I am small indeed but you have made me and all like me to be something spectacular; made by God a little lower than God, crowned with glory and honor and steward of creation.

For arrogance that forgets that I have been made by you, forgive me.
For the faithlessness that refuses to accept the grand place and purpose that you have given, forgive me.
For the sloth that refuses to accept the calling to be your steward, forgive me.

Empower me to accept both the place and purpose that you have given in creation and grant wisdom and strength to fulfill that part of the stewardship which has been entrusted to me.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Before God, gratefully affirm your place in God’s order.
Made by God,
A little lower than God,
Crowned with glory and order,
Steward of all creation….
Ask and receive forgiveness for your failures.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.

In the name of Christ,
Amen

a Heb ben adam, lit. son of man
b Or than the divine beings or angels: Heb elohim
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.