3 When I consider H7200 thy heavens, H8064 the work H4639 of thy fingers, H676 the moon H3394 and the stars, H3556 which thou hast ordained; H3559
The works H4639 of the LORD H3068 are great, H1419 sought out H1875 of all them that have pleasure H2656 therein.
For G1063 the invisible things G517 of him G846 from G575 the creation G2937 of the world G2889 are clearly seen, G2529 being understood G3539 by the things that are made, G4161 even G5037 his G846 eternal G126 power G1411 and G2532 Godhead; G2305 so G1519 that they G846 are G1511 without excuse: G379
He appointed H6213 the moon H3394 for seasons: H4150 the sun H8121 knoweth H3045 his going down. H3996
In the beginning H7225 God H430 created H1254 H853 the heaven H8064 and H853 the earth. H776
To him that made H6213 great H1419 lights: H216 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 The sun H8121 to rule H4475 by day: H3117 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 The moon H3394 and stars H3556 to rule H4475 by night: H3915 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769
And God H430 made H6213 two H8147 great H1419 lights; H3974 the greater H1419 light H3974 to rule H4475 the day, H3117 and the lesser H6996 light H3974 to rule H4475 the night: H3915 he made the stars H3556 also. And God H430 set H5414 them in the firmament H7549 of the heaven H8064 to give light H215 upon the earth, H776 And to rule H4910 over the day H3117 and over the night, H3915 and to divide H914 the light H216 from the darkness: H2822 and God H430 saw H7200 that it was good. H2896
[[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 The heavens H8064 declare H5608 the glory H3519 of God; H410 and the firmament H7549 sheweth his H5046 handywork. H4639 H3027
Is not God H433 in the height H1363 of heaven? H8064 and behold H7200 the height H7218 of the stars, H3556 how high H7311 they are!
And lest thou lift up H5375 thine eyes H5869 unto heaven, H8064 and when thou seest H7200 the sun, H8121 and the moon, H3394 and the stars, H3556 even all the host H6635 of heaven, H8064 shouldest be driven H5080 to worship H7812 them, and serve H5647 them, which the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath divided H2505 unto all nations H5971 under the whole heaven. H8064
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 8
Commentary on Psalms 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 8
This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honourably. It begins and ends with the same acknowledgment of the transcendent excellency of God's name. It is proposed for proof (v. 1) that God's name is excellent in all the earth, and then it is repeated as proved (with a "quod erat demonstrandum'-which was to be demonstrated) in the last verse. For the proof of God's glory the psalmist gives instances of his goodness to man; for God's goodness is his glory. God is to be glorified,
This psalm is, in the New Testament, applied to Christ and the work of our redemption which he wrought out; the honour given by the children of men to him (v. 2, compared with Mt. 21:16) and the honour put upon the children of men by him, both in his humiliation, when he was made a little lower then the angels, and in his exaltation, when he was crowned with glory and honour. Compare v. 5, 6, with Heb. 2:6-8; 1 Co. 15:27. When we are observing the glory of God in the kingdom of nature and providence we should be led by that, and through that, to the contemplation of his glory in the kingdom of grace.
To the chief musician upon Gittith. A psalm of David.
Psa 8:1-2
The psalmist here sets himself to give to God the glory due to his name. Dr. Hammond grounds a conjecture upon the title of this psalm concerning the occasion of penning it. It is said to be upon Gittith, which is generally taken for the tune, or musical instrument, with which this psalm was to be sung; but he renders it upon the Gittite, that is, Goliath the Gittite, whom he vanquished and slew (1 Sa. 17); that enemy was stilled by him who was, in comparison, but a babe and a suckling. The conjecture would be probable enough but that we find two other psalms with the same title, Ps. 81 and 84. Two things David here admires:-
In singing this let us give God the glory of his great name, and of the great things he has done by the power of his gospel, in the chariot of which the exalted Redeemer rides forth conquering and to conquer, and ought to be attended, not only with our praises, but with our best wishes. Praise is perfected (that is, God is in the highest degree glorified) when strength is ordained out of the mouth of babes and sucklings.
Psa 8:3-9
David here goes on to magnify the honour of God by recounting the honours he has put upon man, especially the man Christ Jesus. The condescensions of the divine grace call for our praises as much as the elevations of the divine glory. How God has condescended in favour to man the psalmist here observes with wonder and thankfulness, and recommends it to our thoughts. See here,
In singing this and praying it over, though we must not forget to acknowledge, with suitable affections, God's common favours to mankind, particularly in the serviceableness of the inferior creatures to us, yet we must especially set ourselves to give glory to our Lord Jesus, by confessing that he is Lord, submitting to him as our Lord, and waiting till we see all things put under him and all his enemies made his footstool.