Showing posts with label Psalm 8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 8. Show all posts
Monday, March 10, 2025
Psalm Meditation 1291
¶Second Sunday in Lent
¶March 16, 2025
¶Psalm 8
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%208&version=NRSVUE
(NRSVUE)
¶“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” is a statement that can be used as a compliment, or an insult. Much as we sometimes wish it were not true, it does seem to be the case. Having friends and colleagues with more wisdom or information than we can be helpful when we get stuck in a project, especially those who are willing to share with us. Knowing someone who can put in a good word for us at an opportune moment is a great help. Knowing that God is standing with us in every time and place is a great source of comfort.
¶The psalmist is appropriately humbled by the knowledge that God is with us. God’s presence and advocacy is not something to be taken lightly or to be taken advantage of. God is not likely to come down and flick our enemies in the head, or to magically/miraculously lift us out of a situation unscathed. God is going to stand with us, reminding us that we are loved and treasured beyond measure. God is mindful of us, knows who we are and what we need, and opens us to see beyond our own resources to those who are willing and able to help us in time of need.
¶We humans are pretty special in the eyes of God. Not in a privileged, elitist way, more in a having the skills and sense to look out for those around us, human, flora, and fauna. Some believe that their privilege gives them the freedom to treat others as disposable, interchangeable things. I believe, that having a divine privilege is for the sake of all those around us We are to serve and lift up those around us so that they become more deeply aware that they are children of God.
¶March 16, 2025
¶LCM
Monday, May 23, 2022
Psalm Meditation 1145
¶Seventh Sunday of Easter
¶May 29, 2022
¶Psalm 8
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 humans that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God 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!
(NRSV)
¶Somehow, those of us from European backgrounds in particular, have taken the gift of, “dominion over the works of your hands” as entitlement to use any part of creation as we see fit. We have abused and damaged so much of the world we have been given, it is likely we will be called upon to answer for the ways we have lived in the world we were supposed to have cared for. I am sure we each have a list of the ways everyone else has abused our home planet without taking responsibility for our own actions.
¶In at least some tribal societies, the community leader owns everything within the group. A part of exercising dominion over people is to care for their needs out of the resources held for the sake of the whole group. When that happens, all is well and the people of the community are happy to keep the leader in place. When the leader takes on an attitude of entitlement, and hoards the community resources for selfish gain, the community is forced to rebel for the sake of all, over against the one.
¶God has given us dominion over the earth, not as an entitlement, rather as a responsibility. We are to care for the earth’s resources for the benefit of all with whom we share this place. God’s majesty continues in every arc and corner of creation, continues to let us exercise dominion over creation when we do it well and when we don’t. “O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
¶May 23, 2022
¶LCM
Monday, February 3, 2020
Psalm Meditation 1025
Fifth Sunday of Epiphany
February 9, 2020
Psalm 8
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, mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, 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!
(NRSV)
Sometimes we forget how wonderful God is and we need a psalmist or other poet to remind us how majestic God is. Since humans are adaptable we get used to the conditions around us and we see them as normal. When we are exposed to wealth we begin to view our condition as normal and wonder why all these other people don’t live in the same style we live. When we are exposed to God we come to see God’s presence as normal and get so used to God being around we forget how majestic and wonderful God is.
A good thing about having new people in a group is their ability to see what we have gotten used to in our area. Whether it is something that has faded so slowly that we have gotten used to the decay or something/someone who has retained the glory and majesty that drew us in at first we need to be reminded from time to time.
A fresh set of eyes helps us see the reality around us. In the case of God and the psalmists we are reminded of the extremes of God’s presence. God is both distant and judgmental, as well as glorious and majestic. We do well to remember that when we get too chummy. God is also a very present help in time of need. We need to remember that when we allow ourselves to be intimidated by the glory and majesty of God.
February 3, 2020
LCM
Fifth Sunday of Epiphany
February 9, 2020
Psalm 8
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, mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, 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!
(NRSV)
Sometimes we forget how wonderful God is and we need a psalmist or other poet to remind us how majestic God is. Since humans are adaptable we get used to the conditions around us and we see them as normal. When we are exposed to wealth we begin to view our condition as normal and wonder why all these other people don’t live in the same style we live. When we are exposed to God we come to see God’s presence as normal and get so used to God being around we forget how majestic and wonderful God is.
A good thing about having new people in a group is their ability to see what we have gotten used to in our area. Whether it is something that has faded so slowly that we have gotten used to the decay or something/someone who has retained the glory and majesty that drew us in at first we need to be reminded from time to time.
A fresh set of eyes helps us see the reality around us. In the case of God and the psalmists we are reminded of the extremes of God’s presence. God is both distant and judgmental, as well as glorious and majestic. We do well to remember that when we get too chummy. God is also a very present help in time of need. We need to remember that when we allow ourselves to be intimidated by the glory and majesty of God.
February 3, 2020
LCM
Monday, September 26, 2016
Psalm Meditation 850
World Communion Sunday
October 2, 2016
Psalm 8
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, mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, 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!
(NRSV)
This is a celebration of the place of humanity in creation. With a much more narrow view of the scope of creation than we have today, the psalmist is aware that humans are a relatively small part of it in terms of size. Despite our seeming insignificance God has given us a glory and honor more grand than we seem to warrant. In addition, humans have the added responsibility of caring for parts of creation with whom we share time and place. Even as the psalmist celebrates the place of humans in creation there is an awareness that it is all under the auspices of God.
While we are quick to accept our place at the top of the ladder of evolution and the food chain, we are not always so quick to recognize our responsibility to those on the rest of the ladder. Some folks excuse a lack of concern for creation by allowing that God will bring an end to us before we get a chance to use up all the resources available. Our attitudes can be compared to the way we view any set of rules. As children and youth, as those under the rules, we see rules as attempts to squelch our fun and creativity. As adults, as the makers of the rules, we see rules as a way to keep everyone safe, to keep the playing field as level as possible and to give the greatest number the greatest chance to succeed and excel.
Celebrate the place of humans in creation. Celebrate the majesty of God and the blessings bestowed on us by God’s creative power. Recognize, too, that we are a part of creation and have some responsibility for it. We are not over and above the creative process, something other than creatures, free to use and abuse it as we see fit. We live under the majestic authority of God rather than in the place of God.
September 26, 2016
LCM
World Communion Sunday
October 2, 2016
Psalm 8
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, mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, 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!
(NRSV)
This is a celebration of the place of humanity in creation. With a much more narrow view of the scope of creation than we have today, the psalmist is aware that humans are a relatively small part of it in terms of size. Despite our seeming insignificance God has given us a glory and honor more grand than we seem to warrant. In addition, humans have the added responsibility of caring for parts of creation with whom we share time and place. Even as the psalmist celebrates the place of humans in creation there is an awareness that it is all under the auspices of God.
While we are quick to accept our place at the top of the ladder of evolution and the food chain, we are not always so quick to recognize our responsibility to those on the rest of the ladder. Some folks excuse a lack of concern for creation by allowing that God will bring an end to us before we get a chance to use up all the resources available. Our attitudes can be compared to the way we view any set of rules. As children and youth, as those under the rules, we see rules as attempts to squelch our fun and creativity. As adults, as the makers of the rules, we see rules as a way to keep everyone safe, to keep the playing field as level as possible and to give the greatest number the greatest chance to succeed and excel.
Celebrate the place of humans in creation. Celebrate the majesty of God and the blessings bestowed on us by God’s creative power. Recognize, too, that we are a part of creation and have some responsibility for it. We are not over and above the creative process, something other than creatures, free to use and abuse it as we see fit. We live under the majestic authority of God rather than in the place of God.
September 26, 2016
LCM
Monday, April 28, 2014
Psalm Meditation 724
Third Sunday of Easter
May 4, 2014
Psalm 8
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, mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, 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!
(NRSV)
There are those who believe that since God has given us dominion over the earth and all its inhabitants, we are free to have our way with the earth in any way we choose. Imagine how long any sovereign would last ruling with that attitude about the people of the realm. Folks would rise up in rebellion, find a way to escape from the clutches of this despot or be killed off in short order. In some cultures which have rulers for life, the understanding is that the ruler has complete control of all the assets of the group and that the needs of the group are to be met out of those resources. The problems arise when the ruler believes the first part and forgets the second.
God has given us dominion over the earth. The question is, what kind of dominion are we to exercise? Are we to be rapacious despots who take what we want out of a misguided sense of privilege or are we to see ourselves as called to serve the greater good of meeting the needs of all those under our care? The example we have from God is one who serves to meet the needs of those of us under the divine banner.
There are folks who believe we have dominion over the earth and we have the right to take all that it offers with no thought of consequences. They think it is likely that the earth will end before we ever need to pay the price for our actions. There are other folks who believe we have no real rights on the earth and we do well to be as invisible as possible. Do not eat or drink or use any resource beyond the barest of minimums. A middle way is probably the way God calls us to follow. Take what we need, without being selfish, put back what we can without depriving ourselves. See ourselves as living with the earth and all its inhabitants and resources so that we can live long in the land that God has given to us.
April 28, 2014
Third Sunday of Easter
May 4, 2014
Psalm 8
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, mortals that you care for them?
5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, 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!
(NRSV)
There are those who believe that since God has given us dominion over the earth and all its inhabitants, we are free to have our way with the earth in any way we choose. Imagine how long any sovereign would last ruling with that attitude about the people of the realm. Folks would rise up in rebellion, find a way to escape from the clutches of this despot or be killed off in short order. In some cultures which have rulers for life, the understanding is that the ruler has complete control of all the assets of the group and that the needs of the group are to be met out of those resources. The problems arise when the ruler believes the first part and forgets the second.
God has given us dominion over the earth. The question is, what kind of dominion are we to exercise? Are we to be rapacious despots who take what we want out of a misguided sense of privilege or are we to see ourselves as called to serve the greater good of meeting the needs of all those under our care? The example we have from God is one who serves to meet the needs of those of us under the divine banner.
There are folks who believe we have dominion over the earth and we have the right to take all that it offers with no thought of consequences. They think it is likely that the earth will end before we ever need to pay the price for our actions. There are other folks who believe we have no real rights on the earth and we do well to be as invisible as possible. Do not eat or drink or use any resource beyond the barest of minimums. A middle way is probably the way God calls us to follow. Take what we need, without being selfish, put back what we can without depriving ourselves. See ourselves as living with the earth and all its inhabitants and resources so that we can live long in the land that God has given to us.
April 28, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)