Psalm 8
Preaching
A Journey Through the Psalms: Reflections for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times
Preaching the Psalms Cycles A, B, C
Object:
This psalm always causes a little consternation. It is one of those passages that seldom finds its way into a sermon. Oh, it gets quoted now and again, but exploring this exposé of the human condition is always a tough thing to do from the pulpit. No good word for the week here. No sage advice or witty metaphor to ease life's struggles. The words here describe an existential truth that rides with each person throughout his or her lifetime, and it is not an easy truth to embrace.
Human beings are somehow "a little lower than God," and simultaneously in charge of business on the planet earth. Above the "creatures," and below God. It's a no-win situation. No matter how hard we may try, we are not possessed of the simple creatureliness that comes, well, with all God's creatures except us! And on the other side of the equation we are not, no matter how hard we may try, even close to being God. Yet here we sit, sentient beings caught in the cosmic in-between.
It is disconcerting.
However, this psalm seeks a way out of this existential mire. This psalm turns our cosmic isolation into a blessing. Is that reasonable? Is that even possible? "What are human beings that you are even mindful of them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands...." Yes. This much is obvious. What are human beings that God should pay attention? A cursory glance will show a rebellious, quarrelsome, and violent species, bent on their own destruction. Yet, they are crowned with God's glory; given a responsible job and a position of honor.
Sometimes a pastor will invite a person in the congregation to do some work that he or she knows she is not presently capable of achieving. The agenda has to do with the person rising to the level of expectation. It has to do with pulling excellence from the shadows of someone's soul.
Could it be that this is the case with humanity? Could it be that we are indeed capable of the job before us as stewards of God's creation? Could it be that God has called us to a job that demands more of us than perhaps we think we can do? Could it be that our existential location is a blessing from God; a challenge from the holy calling us forward?
In a word, "Yes." This could be the case. Indeed, it may well be our reality. So praise God for the challenge and the calling. Praise God for expecting great things of us.
Human beings are somehow "a little lower than God," and simultaneously in charge of business on the planet earth. Above the "creatures," and below God. It's a no-win situation. No matter how hard we may try, we are not possessed of the simple creatureliness that comes, well, with all God's creatures except us! And on the other side of the equation we are not, no matter how hard we may try, even close to being God. Yet here we sit, sentient beings caught in the cosmic in-between.
It is disconcerting.
However, this psalm seeks a way out of this existential mire. This psalm turns our cosmic isolation into a blessing. Is that reasonable? Is that even possible? "What are human beings that you are even mindful of them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands...." Yes. This much is obvious. What are human beings that God should pay attention? A cursory glance will show a rebellious, quarrelsome, and violent species, bent on their own destruction. Yet, they are crowned with God's glory; given a responsible job and a position of honor.
Sometimes a pastor will invite a person in the congregation to do some work that he or she knows she is not presently capable of achieving. The agenda has to do with the person rising to the level of expectation. It has to do with pulling excellence from the shadows of someone's soul.
Could it be that this is the case with humanity? Could it be that we are indeed capable of the job before us as stewards of God's creation? Could it be that God has called us to a job that demands more of us than perhaps we think we can do? Could it be that our existential location is a blessing from God; a challenge from the holy calling us forward?
In a word, "Yes." This could be the case. Indeed, it may well be our reality. So praise God for the challenge and the calling. Praise God for expecting great things of us.
