There is a heart of awe in the majesty of God as it magnifies his works in creation. Considering the incalculable significance of God, David is amazed by His immense care of insignificant creatures such as man, “what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” How does God’s creation of man give us dignity and identity? The remaining verses of this hymn provide us insight.
Made in the Image of God. In the beginning, God created man to be his representatives in the earth. He established man with identity and authority, “…Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over livestock and over all the earth and over every thing that creeps on the earth” (Gen 1:26). David is filled with wonder that God gave man such an honor and position over creation. He was to serve in the likeness and image of God, but underneath Him, “Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” Further, God had subjected all things to him, “you have put all things under his feet.” Sound familiar? This was granted to our first parents, the first Adam and Eve.
The Second Adam, Jesus. The place of honor and responsibility of dominion over creation was never realized by our first parents because of their fall to sin. As a result of their disobedience, sin and death entered the creation. As a result, this is the reason why Jesus is referred to as the “Second Adam” who obeyed God perfectly (and atoned for all sin) that restoration of place and identity in our creator could be fully realized. Paul affirms this truth when he taught, “…The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (46) But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. (47) The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. (48) As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. (49) Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Cor 15:45-49). Additionally, Hebrew writers quote (ref. Heb 2:6-8) this Psalm (v4-6) as they highlight the first Adam failure in contrast to Jesus who is what humanity was intended to be. On our behalf, he carried out the will of the Father and fulfills his plans for creation.
If David can stand in awe of God’s work and immense care for finite man without living to see Jesus walk the earth, how much more should we, the beneficiaries of his redemptive plan? How much more should we praise God as David does in the closing of his hymn, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Yes, we glorify HIM and are filled with joy in God who restores dignity, honor, and purpose to us through his precious Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com