Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Psalm 8 (NIV)
For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory
in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants, you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
How are humans a “little lower” than heavenly beings?
Heavenly Father, You are the Creator of all things. How majestic are You, Your power and glory? When I look to the heavens on a quiet stary night It is overwhelming. You spoke every star, the immense cosmos, and innumerable planets into existence. You created all of the splendor and beauty of this earth and all of the creatures that live on the land, sea and in the air. It does make me feel very small, and insignificant in comparison. You also created the heavenly Angels as spiritual beings to be Your servants. You gave them great authority and power to do Your will. Then You created man. We are the only creatures You made in Your likeness and image. Although humans are limited to the confines of our bodies, You entrusted us with the important task of ruling over the earth and the creation that You have made. When You became man, You too lowered yourself to be below the angels and took on the limitations of a human body. Only becoming human could You serve as a sacrifice for humanity. By sending us Your Holy Spirit You continue to live in our hearts and lives. This is all too wonderful to even get my head around. All I can do is to thank you and praise You. I am nothing without You. Lord, You don’t need me, You have all of creation. But You desire me, You intimately know every part of me and You want to be in a relationship with me. You died on the cross so that I could spend eternity with You. That is even more awesome than all the stars in the beautiful sky. Someday You will raise us up with spiritual bodies to live with You along with the angels in heaven. But until that day, I submit my life in all my limitations and trust You to lead me and guide me. I will love and serve You with all my heart. Help me to be a good steward of all that You have entrusted me with and care for people, creatures, and creation in need. In Your glorious name. Amen