The Psalmist Reflects on Genesis

In my previous post, I asked, What exactly is meant that people are in the image of God? The answer Psalm 8 offers reinforces these thoughts. As the psalmist reflects on the creation described in Genesis 1 and our place in it, he wonders what makes humans so special. He then responds, “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet” (verse 6).

In reflecting on the Psalm, I rendered it this way to express the role God has given us in his world which our choir sung in church recently:

Your glory fills the highest heavens.

The praise of children fills the skies
Building up a mighty fortress
Against which nothing can arise.

When I think of your whole creation,
The galaxies flung out in space–
Who are we that you should notice
And give to us your loving grace?

You made us almost like the angels.
Your kingly image marks our lives.
So you crowned us as your servants
To rule with loving sacrifice.

The grace you gave us, Lord of Heaven,
We now give to the world you made,
Earth and sea and skies above us,
To glorify you, we have prayed.

Photo credit: Galaxy cluster Abell 370, NASA