od is to be glorified, for making known himself to us. (1,2)
And for making even the heavenly bodies useful to man, thereby
placing him but little lower than the angels. (3-9)
Verse 1,2: The psalmist seeks to give unto God the glory due to his
name. How bright this glory shines even in this lower world! He
is ours, for he made us, protects us, and takes special care of
us. The birth, life, preaching, miracles, suffering, death,
resurrection, and ascension of Jesus are known through the
world. No name is so universal, no power and influence so
generally felt, as those of the Saviour of mankind. But how much
brighter it shines in the upper world! We, on this earth, only
hear God's excellent name, and praise that; the angels and
blessed spirits above, see his glory, and praise that; yet he is
exalted far above even their blessing and praise. Sometimes the
grace of God appears wonderfully in young children. Sometimes
the power of God brings to pass great things in his church, by
very weak and unlikely instruments, that the excellency of the
power might the more evidently appear to be of God, and not of
man. This he does, because of his enemies, that he may put them
to silence.
Verses 3-9: We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be
directed to set his affections on things above. What is man, so
mean a creature, that he should be thus honoured! so sinful a
creature, that he should be thus favoured! Man has sovereign
dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is
appointed their lord. This refers to Christ. In (Heb 2:6-8), the
apostle, to prove the sovereign dominion of Christ, shows he is
that Man, that Son of man, here spoken of, whom God has made to
have dominion over the works of his hands. The greatest favour
ever showed to the human race, and the greatest honour ever put
upon human nature, were exemplified in the Lord Jesus. With good
reason does the psalmist conclude as he began, Lord, how
excellent is thy name in all the earth, which has been honoured
with the presence of the Redeemer, and is still enlightened by
his gospel, and governed by his wisdom and power! What words can
reach his praises, who has a right to our obedience as our
Redeemer?
od is to be glorified, for making known himself to us. (1,2)
And for making even the heavenly bodies useful to man, thereby
placing him but little lower than the angels. (3-9)