When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4
When the astronauts on the Apollo 8 program were speeding back to planet earth from their rendezvous with the moon, they reflected on the vastness of what they had seen in space by reading the words of the eighth Psalm where David wrote, “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You are mindful of him? and the son of man, that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor” (Psalms 8:3-5).
You don’t have to take a journey into space to be impressed with the vastness of the heavens. But you do have to get away from the lights of the city on a moonless night to look into the expanse of the heavens above and marvel at God’s great handiwork.
It was the shepherd boy of Israel turned king who wrote the words of Psalm 8. Undoubtedly, David had spent many a night on the rocky hills of Judea with his father’s sheep, pondering the vastness of creation. David probably didn’t realize the closest star is Alpha Centauri, 26 trillion miles away.
If you are tempted to feel that you just don’t amount to much in the sight of God because of the vastness of the world and the greatness of population, try to remember there’s a great deal of difference between space and value. We are overwhelmed by the vastness of creation, but the vastness of empty space is not as significant as the importance of human life.
Think of it in these terms. A very wealthy couple live in a home filled with valuable paintings and art objects, but they have no children. One day God blesses their home with a little baby boy—their only child. The nursery is on the third floor of the great mansion—it’s as nice as any nursery anywhere. Then one night, the smell of smoke fills the house and the father awakens to realize his home is on fire.
What is his first concern? The paintings hung on the wall, or the stocks and bonds hidden in the safe? Not for a moment! He would run for his baby boy in the nursery, because what money can buy is not as important as life—human life. That child is his flesh and blood.
Friend, that is why you were important enough for God to be willing to send His Son to speak to you of a Father’s greater love. In Psalm 8, David contrasts man and the Son of Man who came to planet Earth. The “Son of Man” was a prophetic term that spoke of a coming redeemer who identified with our humanity—His name is Jesus. Luke, writing in the New Testament, said, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
Settle it in your mind once and for all. God is far more concerned with the inner space of your heart than the outer space of the great universe. The created universe—the starry hosts of the heavens—do send a message. They speak of God’s great power; but the message of the cross speaks far louder. It speaks of God’s willingness to bring you into harmony with Him. It reminds us of the Father’s greater love. Yes, as David cried out, “How excellent is Your name, O Lord, in all the earth.” (Psalm 8:1) But going beyond that, God so loved the world, He gave His one and only son for you.
Resource Reading: Psalm 8:1-9
