Psalm 8:3,4

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained.  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visits him? (KJV)

This is another psalm that we learn at an early age in our life.  This psalm speaks of a simple truth, the grandeur of God and the simplicity of man.  Then the ungodly try to consider the wonders of this universe the first step they must take is to put God in a box and limit his ability to speak the universe into creation.  However, as believers we must by faith understand that the universe was spoken into existence by God.  In Hebrews 11:3,6 “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.  And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek him.”  (NAS)

When I consider thy heavens the work of thy hands do I really truly believe that God is the creator of this universe?  As I study Hebrews chapter eleven the great chapter on faith I must consider the importance of verse three and verse six.  One of the importance of characteristics of our faith is truly believing in God as the creator of the universe.  In other words, God spoke, and the universe came into existent.  Reading the creation story in Genesis chapter the reader will realize that each day of creation started with the phase “then God said”.  God spoke and then the universe came into existence.  So, an important step in the developmental growth of a believer’s faith is to believe in God as the creator of heaven and earth.  Without this belief in God as the creator it is impossible to please Him since we must believe that God is who he says He is.

Peter also links the promise coming of Jesus to the belief a person has about the creation.    In II Peter chapter three we are given the illustration of the conditions of the latter days.  The last days will be characterized by scoffers following after their own lust.  In their eyes they are right and have all the answers and take pride in all of the knowledge.  They mock those who look for the second coming of the Lord.  They look to the second coming of the Lord as a myth, just like the teaching of Noah’s flood found in Genesis chapters six and seven that destroy the ancient world as a myth.  To them the world continues to evolve just as it has since it was created.  To some of these scoffers the world could be millions or even a billion years old.   They believe in the teaching of uniformitarianism that believes the geological ages tell the story of the earth and discounts the belief that God spoke, and the heavens and the earth came into creation.

So as your answer the question in verse three “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained” is your answer God or evolution?  Does the story of the creation of the heavens and the earth found in Genesis form the basic foundation for your belief in creation?  However, the second question address in verse four “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visit him?” opens up the question how mankind fits into God’s universe.  How can a very, very small part of God’s creation (mankind) fully understands how this universe came into existence.  The answer is (we can’t), so when it comes to my understanding of creation, I must make my decision faith and not by the beliefs of those that reject God.   

Psalm 61

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4 I will abide in thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.

7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. (KJV)

This is another Psalm that David wrote during one of the times that he was facing opposition from his enemy. It is interesting as one studies David life how much of his struggles dealt with those close to him, such as Saul, his own family, and his own group of advisors. Yet as we look at the struggles we face in life, they are usually with the close circles of family, whose whom we work with, neighbors, or the groups that we associate with in our free time.

As I study this psalm today, I realize the importance of a King in my life. Aging is a process in which we see the world of an infant expand from a small family unit into the community around him and then deflate in the later years back to the small family unit or a close inner circle of friends. In this process, man moves from a secure environment to a world of uncertainty and then tries to move back to a secure environment in his later days on this earth. Security is the second level on Maslow’s Hierarchic Pyramid of Needs. It is this area that people seek to conquer once their Physiological needs are met. However, the Psalmist realizes that it is the good Shepherd that meets both our Physiological needs as well as our secure needs. This good shepherd person is also our King Christ Jesus.

As we study the gospels we are introduced to Christ. So, as I study this psalm today my prayer is simply to be more like Christ. My prayer is to abide in him. John writes these words to us in I John 3:6-8:

Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen him, neither knows him. My little children let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Yes, I know I need a King in my life and that King is Christ. He is the one I praise and the one to whom I will seek to fulfill my vows. The key to serving him is for me to put off the old nature and strive to put on his nature. This starts by striving to live a blameless (however not perfect) life.