Scripture: Matthew 21:6-13

C.I.: God's Majesty Revealed in His Creation of Man

When 1st Century song leaders said, “Open your songbook” – they reached for Psalms (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
Some songs are sad, some are joyous, and some are filled with awe & praise. – Today’s is one of those!!!

I. PSALM 8 : God’s Power & God’s Love Meet in Man

A. The Majesty of God Requires No Grand Endorsement (verses 1-2)

1. We live in a society – where people want to know what others say – before they commit to something.
a. Many of the commercials trumpet – what personalities say about a product – so we will buy.
b. Political candidates are endorsed by celebrities – so that the people who like them – will vote.
c. Sadly, there are a lot of people – who make their decisions on the basis – what others might say!

2. (v. 1), “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, - who has displayed Your splendor above the heavens!”
a. “Name” = Refers to one’s nature & attributes.
1) The Jews were warned about using God’s name – in a frivolous fashion (Ex. 20:7), “You shall not…, - for the Lord will not leave him unpunished – who takes His name in vain.”
2) First “Lord” = Jehovah (“I AM”) – (Ex. 3:14), “I AM who I AM, thus you shall say….” Second “Lord” = Adonai; ruler, sovereign, master.
3) Thus, God’s majesty is seen in all His attributes; (Isa. 6:3; 9:6; etc.) – Jesus said, (Mt. 6:9).
b. God’s “majesty” is not only seen in the “Whats” (His attributes) – but also in the “Wheres”!
1) “…in all the earth” - “…above the heavens” - (Rom. 1:20), “For since the creation….”
c. Thus, as we approach in song/psalm - the glorious throne of God – let us never forget the awesome majesty of Him – who gives us this wonderful privilege!!!

3. (v. 2), “From the mouths of infants and nursing babes – You have established strength, - because of Your adversaries, - that You might silence the enemy and the revengeful.”
a. Though God needs no endorsement – He empowers even the smallest faith – that speaks for Him!
1) The power isn’t in the size of faith – but size of Him…! - (Matt. 17:20), “If you have faith…”
2) Would you put something of great value in a clay pot? – GOD DID (His power & majesty).
(i) (II Cor. 4:7), “We have this treasure in earthen vessels – that the surpassing greatness…
(ii) (II Cor.12:9), “God said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly then I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power…
(iii) (Phil. 4:13), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”
b. (Fulfilled in Scripture Reading), After Jesus entered into Jerusalem… – (Matt. 21:15-16), “But when the chief priests & scribes saw the wonderful things He had done, - and the children were crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ – they became indignant and said to Him, ‘Do you not hear what they are saying?’ – And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; and have you never read, “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babes You have prepared praise for Yourself”?’”
c. God’s children fulfill this verse everyday – as we humble ourselves before the power of God!!!

B. The Vastness of the Heavens Against the Smallness of Man (verses 3-4)

1. (v. 3), “When I consider Your heavens, and the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars which You have ordained…”
a. David calls them “God’s heavens.” – It is amazing that 3,000 years ago – David looked up and knew that the heavens belong to God as His creation – yet today people can look up into that same cosmos – believing it all came about due to blind, random chance. – No wonder David says, 14:1.
b. “…work of Your fingers” = the detail, skill and intricacy that went into the creation!

2. (v. 4), “What is man, that You take thought of him? – And the son of man, that You do care for him?”
a. Synonymous Parallelism: The second line builds upon the first …!
b. Man compared: His lifespan on earth is miniscule compared to the age of the stars – His size is infinitesimally small when compared to the size of the moon – The works of man’s hands are clumsy and simplistic when compared to the cosmic design of God – The sin of man is abhorrent when compared to the Majestic Name of God…!!!! – SO WHAT IS MAN???
c. Yet God does care for us greatly!
1) The depth of His care was not fully seen in David’s day – though even then it was incredible.
2) But the lengths to which God has gone – to demonstrate His love for us – incomprehensible!
3) After quoting from this Psalm – the Hebrew writers says, “We do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus,- because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” (Heb. 2:9)
d. What an amazing thought – the same God who created the heavens – willingly chose to die in our place – so that we could forever live with Him!
e. It is this act of love that we remember each week – when we partake of the Lord’s supper!

C. The Majesty God has Bestowed upon Man (verses 5-9)

1. We have Majesty due to our Creation (v. 5)
a. (v. 5), “Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and did crown him with glory & majesty.”
1) “Made him” = at the creation (quote Gen. 1:26a), “Then God said, ‘Let us make man….’”
2) Thus the “glory & majesty” with which we are crowned – come from being created in His image (cf. v. 1)¸ “How majestic is Your name” – so the majesty is not of us – but are of Him!
b. How is your self-image? – Have you bought into the world’s lie? – Are you a “Just a …”? – Next time someone asks – tell them, “I am someone who has been created in God’s image and crowned with glory and majesty!” – They may look at you funny – but they will never see you the same!!!
c. Instead of living down to their expectations – we should all be seeking to live up to His!!!

2. We have Majesty due to our Responsibility (vs. 6-8)
a. (vs. 6-8), “You made man to rule over the works of Your hands; - You put all things under his feet, - all the sheep & oxen, and also the beasts of the fields, - the birds of the heavens, - and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”
b. This clearly goes back to our creation too – (Gen. 1:26b), “…and let them rule over the fish of the sea – and over the birds of the sky – and over the cattle – and over all the earth.”
c. “Paths of the sea” = Matthew Maury (1806-1873), went out to discover these – since God said they existed (Gulf Stream, Japanese Current, etc.) – Statue @ Annapolis, with the scriptures in one hand and charts in the other, entitled, “Matthew Maury – Pathfinder of the Seas.”

3. Lest we think too highly of ourselves – David concludes where he began, “O Lord, our Lord…!”
a. God doesn’t just “…so love the world” – God so loves YOU (and Jesus death proves it)!
b. He now asks you to respond to His matchless love – by coming to Him…!