Psalms 8

Great was the work of creation, but greater the work of redemption: it cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking a word, in the other shedding of blood (Luke 1:51). The creation was but the work of God's fingers (Psalm 8:3). Redemption the wor…

There is in God all that may draw forth both wonder and delight; he is [illegible], there is in him a constellation of all beauties; he is Prima Causa, the original and spring-head of being, who sheds a glory upon the creature. This is to glorify God when we are God-admirers; we…

1. When God made the world he met with no opposition; as he had nothing to help him, so he had nothing to hinder him: but when he comes to convert a sinner, here he meets with opposition; Satan opposes him, and the heart opposes him: a sinner is angry with converting grace. 2. T…

3. God made all things at first very good (Genesis 1:31). No defect or deformity. The creation came out of God's hands a curious piece; it was a fair copy, without any blot, written with God's own fingers (Psalm 8:3). So perfect was God's work. 2. The adorning of the world.

12. We hallow and sanctify God's name, when we give the same honor to God the Son, as we give to God the Father (John 5:23): That all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father. The Socinians deny Christ's divinity, saying, that he is [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], a b…

In the redeeming us there was shedding of blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). The creation was the work of God's fingers (Psalm 8:3). Redemption was the work of his arm (Luke 1:5).

Where we learn, that whosoever is endued with saving faith, is also touched with fear and reverence at the consideration of God, and his glorious works; whether they be works of his power, his wisdom, his mercy, or his justice, or of all together. For the first: David could not…

And as we are thereby made unconceivably more nigh to God in our nature, than we were upon our first creation, or than angels shall ever be; so by virtue thereof, are we in our persons brought in many things much nearer to God, than ever we could have been brought by the law of…

1. What is this first estate from which they are departed. I answer their original condition of holiness and happiness; every creature which the Lord made, he saw it to be good, much more the angel whom God created for his own train and company, they are called the sons of God (…

The God of Abraham, Jacob, &c. (Exodus 3:15). Hence, because the Lord in excellency is remembered in his works, by likeness they are called his name (Psalm 8:2; 2 Chronicles 6:32). Much more his Gospel (Acts 9:15).

1. Sovereignty of power and might: this the phrase "sitting at God's right hand" implies, (Matthew 26:64), where Christ himself expounds the purport of it: Hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power: And so, (Ephesians 1:20-22), this is made the pr…

The proof of it needs not so much to be spoken to as the improvement of it, which we are called upon for everywhere. 1. It is a mercy that being so great, he takes notice of us (Psalm 8:3-4): When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars which you ha…

Literally the words run, Out of the mouth of infants and sucklings thou hast founded strength, (Psalm 8:2;) by which David means that, though every tongue were silent, “Quand toutes bouches seroyent closes, et toutes langues se tairoyent;” — “though every mouth were closed, and…

Those blessed women that anointed the body of Jesus [reconstructed: are] represented as in a very high exercise of religious affection, on occasion of Christ's resurrection; Matthew 28:8. And they departed from the sepulchre, with fear and great joy. It is often foretold of the…

Christ did not chuse the eloquent Orators, or men of Authority in the Courts of Kings and Emperours, but twelve poor Mechanicks, and Fisher-men; and these not sent together in a troop, but some to take one Countrey to conquer it, and some another: the most ridiculous course (in…

Never was man so magnified before. If David could say, Psalm 8. . When I consider the Heavens the work of your hands, the Moon and Stars which you hast ordained, Lord, what is man?

The expression is metaphorical, and is to be interpreted and applied variously, according to the nature and condition of the enemies with whom he has to do. The allusion in general is taken from what was done by Joshua his type, towards the enemies of his people (Joshua 10:24);…

Cajetan insists on that of the first Chapter, verse 5. I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son, taken from (2 Samuel 7:14) or (1 Chronicles 17), which words, as he supposeth no way belong to that, in whose confirmation they are produced by the Author of this Epist…

The place of their first habitation which they left (Jude 6) was the highest heavens, the most glorious receptacle of created beings; in opposition whereunto they are said to be cast into the lowest hell (2 Peter 2:4). Whereas man was placed in the earth, which although then bea…

But to return; it is evident that in this Psalm much light was communicated to the Church of old, into the office, work, grace, compassion and rule of the Messiah, with the calling, and glorious access of the Gentiles to him. There is mention likewise made of him in the Targum o…

In the one, there was only the speaking a word (Psalm 148:5); in the other the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). The creation was the work of God's fingers (Psalm 8:3); the redemption, the work of his arm (Luke 1:5). In the creation God gave us ourselves; in the redemption he ga…

The Sun has no glory, the Moon and Stars no beauty, the order and influence of the heavenly bodies, have no excellency in comparison of it. This is that which the Psalmist designs to declare (Psalm 8): O Lord our Lord, how excellent is your Name in all the earth! Who has set you…

And if we do (as there is occasion) with humility and sincerity, and from a principle of zeal for God, and his honor, appear in defense of religion, and its injured cause, we may doubtless take encouragement from that promise (Matthew 10:19): it shall be given you in that same h…

1. In regard of Christ, the more to magnify his love. Our former estate, before he cast the wings of his mercy upon us, shows our unworthiness, our vileness, and wretchedness, and in that respect it opens our heart and mouth to think and say, O Lord our Lord, what is man that yo…

Before the foundation of the world] This we understand by faith, that the world was framed by the word of God; although the learned probably think it evincible by human reason, yet some of those that have gloried most in that, and are reputed generally masters of reason, have no…

As a man is known by his name, so God's titles and attributes, his ordinances, his works, his word, are his name; chiefly the two latter. For his works, they are a part of the name of God (Psalm 8:1): the burden of that Psalm is twice repeated — O Lord, our Lord, how great is yo…

It is notable, David does (in two Psalms especially) contemplate heaven — [reconstructed: one] seems to be a nightly, the other a [reconstructed: day]-meditation. The night-meditation you have, (Psalm 8:3). When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the…

He is appointed the Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2). God has set him over the works of his hands, and put all things in subjection under his feet (Psalms 8:7). And upon this account he gives commission to his messengers, to preach the Gospel to all Nations (Matthew 28:19), or,…

His speaking here of the subjection of the whole world, is to show, that whatever thing we have need of, if we can resort to our Lord Jesus Christ, he is able to succor us, for he has wherewith to do it. Indeed we must mark well how it is said in Psalm 8, that God has care of al…

1. That to us, who can neither hurt him, nor help him. (Psalm 8:3-4), Lord, what is man that you are mindful of him? and the son of man that you visit him? What a poor sorry creature is man? will you set your eyes upon such a one?

Thus the creatures lift up our minds to the Creator. David had his night-meditation (Psalm 8:3). When I consider the heavens, the work of your hands, the moon, and the stars which you have ordained, etc. The sun is not mentioned.

(Psalm 19:1): The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. (Psalm 8:3): And when I consider your heavens, the work of your [reconstructed: fingers], the moon and the stars which you have ordained. David when he walked abroad in a moonlit night, he…

2. To study it so as some good may come of it: we should keep our thoughts on this holy subject. 1. Till we admire God. The degree of the saints' knowledge here below is only to proceed to admiration (Psalm 8:1). O Lord our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! When…

There is no part of the world that we can set our eyes upon, but it speaks praise to God, and the thoughts of his bounty to the creatures, especially to man: for all things were either subjected to man's dominion, or created for his use and benefit. If we look to the Heavens, al…

1 Sin has degraded man by defiling him, and tantum non almost unmanned him; for as our text speaks of sin as a man, so the holy Scripture speaks of man as if he were sin, and every man were a man of sin (made up of sin) whether we consider the outer or inner man. Man was a very…

He is set over the works of God's hands, and all things are put in subjection under him (Hebrews 2:7-8). And what are those all things, or what are among them, you may see in the place of the Psalmist from which the Apostle cites those words (Psalm 8:6-8). And did he die for all…

The sun has no glory, the moon and stars no beauty, the order and influence of the heavenly bodies have no excellency in comparison of it. This is that which the Psalmist designs to declare (Psalm 8): "O Lord our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth! Who has set you…

For in that very nature, God has set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities, and powers, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. This is that which is so celebrated…

When we consider God, we should be so far from admiring ourselves, that we should with an humble thankfulness wonder that God should regard such inconsiderable nothings as we are. (Psalm 8:1, 3, 4) O Lord our God, how excellent is your name in all the earth! who hast set your gl…

Of all the creatures in this visible world, man is the chief; and what is said of Behemoth, or the Elephant (Job 42), in respect of his great strength, and the vast bigness of his body, is only true absolutely of man, that he is, divini opificii caput, the chief of the ways of G…

How great then is the mercy of God, which regards us, who are so far below him, which takes into consideration such inconsiderable nothings as we are! We may say with David (Psalm 8:4), Lord! What is man, that you are so mindful of him, or the Son of Man that you visitest him! A…

His argument from (Psalm 8:5-6) and (Hebrews 2:6-9) is built on those words, "You have put all things under his feet." He was of the opinion that those words mean, by the universality of the terms, that even sin itself shall be subjected to Christ; and that sin cannot be subject…

9. If they feel a want of all these, then they dig within themselves for power to leave sin, power to be more holy and humble, and so think to work out themselves in time, out of this estate, and so they dig for pearls in their own dunghills, and will not be beholden to the Lord…

So again, for continuing the peace and prosperity of the land (1 Kings 8:62,66). 6 For general blessings on mankind, David praised God (Psalm 8:1,6). 7 For God's blessings on his family, Jacob is thankful, and in testimony thereof built an altar to God (Genesis 35:7).