Week 1: God’s Creation of Us - Charlaine Martin
Read: Psalm 8
Focus verse: Psalm 8:3-4
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
My Boaz and I went for a walk the other evening in a local town square. The soothing breeze brushed past us, rustling the palms overhead at twilight. Streetlights glowed over this scene with a backdrop of serenading crickets. Strolling along the sidewalk, we noticed the moon and what appeared to be stars as we talked. But my husband revealed to me that the smaller lights were Venus and Jupiter on a heavenly stage with the Moon in its first quarter. How minuscule we are compared to the universe. Our lights are but an imitation of heavenly bodies reflecting the rays from the sun. Our streets, buildings, and all we could see pale compared to God’s glorious creation. We are but dust, so why did God choose to create us? Why does He focus His attention on us? How incredible!
Focusing In
King David wrote Psalm 8 for Israel’s use in Temple worship. He depicts God as the Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer of all Creation. In it, we are called to give God glory and praise for Him revealing Himself through His creation. Our enemies are silenced before Him in His kingdom through His children’s praise! King David shows us in this Psalm just how puny we are in all creation, yet God chooses to focus His attention on us. We are but frail dust from the ground. Yet, He made us a level lower than the angels, giving us responsibility as stewards of His creation, to rule over it including the animals. I can’t help but marvel that we hold particular glory and honor, having been created in God’s image. (Baker & Kohlenberger, 1994).
The term “mindful” is not the same as the popular mindfulness meditation today. God wants an intimate relationship with us. It’s so much more than awareness. Rather it’s a loving focus of His attention toward us, reaching out to us as a father reaching out for his child. His intent love elevates us—that is, He lifts us up—to Himself. There is nothing within ourselves that makes us “gods” nor that a “spark of the divine” resides in all people, not even in all of creation. We are created in God’s image, His likeness (Genesis 1:26) In fact, we are just below the angels, who are not gods either (Revelation 22:8-9). Instead, we, along with all of Creation, give God the glory, honor, and praise!
Meditating on God’s Word in Light of Our Situation
How far different from what New Agers believe. Why would we want to be “gods” anyway? Christians have the Holy Spirit who resides in us because of our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. We can look up at the stars and moon and consider the very ground we walk on as God’s, yet He designed it for us, revealing Himself through it that no one has an excuse not to believe. None of Creation is worthy of our worship, but God alone.
Amazingly vast as the universe is, we are compelled to give God the credit because only He is above everything. It’s as if Father God lifts us up on His shoulders! Our great Creator and Ruler of all Creation gives us the responsibility and honor to rule over all creation under His sovereign reign, “Dear Child, this is all yours. I give it to you.” Would you credit the wood for the table or chair your father made? Would you credit metal for a tool or jewelry he crafted? How about worshipping the paint for a scene he depicts on canvas? How about deifying our earthly fathers for what our Heavenly Father has gifted them? Or call upon angels for only what God can do? Of course not.
Let’s consider the systems God set in place at creation, and how He fashioned stars, planets, and other solar systems. Let us consider all we see that He’s created and praise Him for His self-revelation to us. May we thank Him for His immense love for us, drawing us to Himself.
For Reflection
- Read the creation account in Genesis 1-2. What are your thoughts as you consider this passage and Psalm 8 as you gaze upon a beautiful natural scene?
- When considering how you spend your time, where does God fit into your schedule?
- As you sit quietly with Psalm 8 before you, what words or phrases would you highlight?
- What is God showing you from His Word that speaks to your life right now?
Action Point: Set aside a time and space each day to prayerfully read and consider God’s Word beginning with this passage. Write the thoughts you have as you reflect on Scripture. Look up other passages about God’s creation and our place in it. Ask God questions that come to mind about it. Thank Him for coming to sit with you and lovingly showing you something today.
References:
- The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
- Barker, Kenneth L, & Kohlenberger III, John R. Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Old Testament. Copyright 1994, Grand Rapids, MI. P.p. 802-803.
