Sermon Topic – Psalm 8
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We have all had the experience of standing beneath the clear night sky and being struck by its incomprehensible vastness and how apparently insignificant we are. It is a healthy challenge to that unfortunate human desire to be the centre of the universe.
Socrates said ‘Wisdom begins in wonder’ and Psalm 8 is wonderful (it is literally full of wonder). It says “When I consider your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?”
And yet despite our apparent insignificance, the more we study the universe, the more we are are aware that there is something utterly astonishing about being human “v5 You made us a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned us with glory and honour.” Human beings reflect the glory of God. The brightest light in the universe might be the person next to you. And the response of the Psalmist is worship, giving honour to the only one who is worthy of it, the one who’s glory is above the heavens.
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
So we need to learn to worship too – a little every day, as we pray ‘Hallowed be thy name’, perhaps read a psalm, sing a song, or simply give thanks for the beauty of creation and the blessings of life. Worship is how we remember who we are, and take our right place in the universe.