How wonderful is this amplification of Paul's thrill in knowing the Lord!
We can ask the Lord Jesus, to so reveal himself to us, that we may also rejoice in the "Excellency of the knowledge" of Him as Paul did!
** Verse 2. **
** "Ordained Strength" **
The Lord demonstrates his power through those who the world may consider "babes" in respect of words and wisdom as in the following example ...
... "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" [Acts 4:13].
** Verse 3-4. **
Overwhelming Amazement.
Compare Hebrews 2:6-10 for a stunning focus upon the fulfillment of Psalm 8.
David is overcome with overwhelming amazement at God's estimation of the importance and value of the human race to him.
David compares the magnitude of the heart and grace of God to the enormous difference between the great perfection of the universe and all it's wonders, to man who has become an uncouth rogue and grub to say the least, and still God intends to visit him, with solutions to his great mountain of dilemmas!
David shakes his head and says .. "What is man that you are so mindful of him and the son of man that you visit him".
Song - "Friend of a Wounded Heart".
The Apostle John Sets the grand opening stage of this Visit in his gospel record.
"He (Jesus Christ) was in the world and the world was made by Him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not".
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" [John 1:10-13].
How wonderful is that!
John lets us into the secret just who it was that did visit the Earth, this bedraggled and mournful mankind, in
Verse 1 ....
...... "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" [John 1:1].
The "Word" who brought Everything into being!
"And without Him was not anything made that was made" [John 1:3].
Yes! Jesus - The Word who said ... "I am the way, the truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the father, but by me" (John 14:6) has come to you and me and this dismal world, bore all our dismal end of death upon the cross, rose again to give LIFE Abundant for all Eternity.
WHAT A VISIT FROM HEAVEN
THAT WE MIGHT BE FORGIVEN!
** Verse 5. **
Man's beginnings were indeed noble, "crowned with glory and honour" [Genesis 1:26].
He was given dominion and all of creation was at his feet. There was total benefit, no sweat or one contrary blade of grass.
"The Tree of Life" for an Eternity of living in a human realm of great abundance and enjoyment beyond measure!
Everything perfect and the gigantic bonus was, the capstone of fellowship and complete harmony with a loving God of great glory, vast and endless!
Alas! he fell into shame, taking with him all of humanity into the horror show of a Godless world under the auspices of the grand duke of darkness who has no friends and who will turn vicious at the end, being cast out of Heaven for the last time "and come down to the earth having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time" [Revelation 12:12].
"All things (originally as in verse 6 were) under his (man's) feet" but "now (we read in Hebrews 2:8) "we see not yet all things put under him". We see nothing under him, but man is under everything and every potential misery on earth could come upon him, and at the end a plot of ground for his body and an eternal hell for his soul.
But Paul says, that though "we see" this dead end he makes the grand announcement - "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" [Hebrews 2:9].
What an announcement!
WE SEE THERE IS A GLORIOUS ANSWER!
Christ has reversed man's hopeless plight, and now every believer is the object of the love of Christ "in bringing many sons unto Glory"
[Hebrews 2:10].
** Verses 6-8. **
David recalls the bounty of the Lord at the beginning of creation, giving to Adam and Eve to have "dominion" over all pertaining to earth.
Now, in Christ under the new covenant and as children of God and co-heirs with Christ every Christian is elevated to a far greater status of 'dominion', that of reigning with Christ.
"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth" [Revelation 5:10].
Jesus also said to his disciples ....
... "It's the fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom" [Luke 12:32].
Also Paul declares a glorious truth ...
... "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" [Romans 8:32].
** Verse 9. **
David concludes with a reminder ... "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy Name .."
This closing theme is the overall great theme of all creation, angels and men.
Such excellency is the power, as we behold in "a glass (the Word) the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" [2 Corinthians 3:18].
The Lord perform the thrill of his Word in all of his saints.
God BLESS.
Psalm 8 - God's Mindfulness of Mankind!
8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and