Psalm 8 ...What is Man?



Psalm 8 ...What is Man?

Reading:
Psalm Chapter 8

1. Introduction

In Scripture the question: ‘What is man?’ is asked several times. It is important to know the answer: because until you know who and what you are, where you are heading and what you are supposed to do with your life, there is little point in setting moral standards or keeping them once they are set. You may as well do as you please. What is Man?

According to evolutionist Sir Julien Huxley: ...
Quote: “Man is just as much a natural phenomenon as an animal or plant; that his body, mind and soul were not supernaturally created but are the products of evolution, and that he is not under the control or guidance of any supernatural being or beings, but has to rely on himself and his own powers.”

Is Huxley right? Is man (mankind) the product of evolution? Is man just an intelligent ape: a monkey that wears clothes? If you read our article entitled Evolution you will see that many leading scientists are doubting and forsaking the theory of evolution: simply because the theory doesn't hold water. It cannot be proved. It is hopelessly unscientific and only the uninformed still cling to it. The Bible says of atheists, and by implication, atheistic evolutionists:

Psalm 14: 1: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
But the question remains: What is man? If he isn't just an intelligent ape, then what is he? In Scripture this question is penned in the following passages:
Job 7: 17: “What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?”
Job 15: 14: “What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?”
Psalm 8: 4: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
Psalm 144: 3: “LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!”

From these verses we can see that the Almighty has:

With the help of Scripture we will endeavour to answer the question, What is man? I will also examine a few other points as to Why was he made? What is his destiny?

2. Created in God’s Image

The Scriptures tell us that mankind was created in the image of the Almighty God. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1: 27) In other words, man didn't evolve, he was created. More importantly, he was created in the image of God! It wasn't simply that man's body (head, arms, legs etc.) were a physical copy of the Creator's spirit body. No it was far more that that: man was created to be like God - in mind, character, occupation and interest. The first man Adam is referred to in Scripture as a ‘son of God!’ (Luke 3: 38) Just as sons are like their fathers with similar hair, colour, build etc., the Almighty created man to be like Himself! Not that every one is going to look identically like God. But rather, we were made to be like Him in character.

3. Why was Man Created?

The answer is: man was created to glorify the Almighty. That is the main purpose of our existence. Later, at the resurrection, we ourselves will be glorified: but right now the main reason for our being here, is to glorify God!

Isaiah 43: 7: “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

The word ‘glory’ encompasses things like ‘honour,’ ‘dignity’ and ‘splendour’ which bring ‘joy’ to the One being glorified. In other words, the Almighty created mankind to bring Him happiness: to keep Him company through the endless cycles of time. The Almighty could no more find lasting pleasure in a universe inhabited by animals or robots than you could endlessly enjoy the company of a cattle shed full of cows or a house full of furniture. The Creator made man for His own glory, with the express purpose that man would live a righteous life that would make His own divine heart happy! Note the Saviour's words:

John 17: 4: “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5: And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6: “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”
Mark 2: 12: “And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; inasmuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”
Luke 17: 15: “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice, glorified God.”

In other words, all these witnesses recognized the true source of wisdom and power - God above - and were not afraid to voice the fact. By glorifying God they made Him happy. It's a thought you must spend time on. Because when you act on it, the results are amazing.

4. Out of the Mouth of Babes

Most people, including many, many believers, hesitate to give the Almighty credit for what He has done and is still doing. They are quick to accept the benefits of His bounty; but to publicly voice their thanks - they are very reluctant. It is just too much for them: they feel embarrassed and sometimes even ashamed. This is a tragic but common condition which every true believer should avoid. The fact is that we ourselves benefit greatly when we openly give credit where credit is due. It's not a case of flattery, which is giving credit where none is due. It’s recognizing things as they really are. It's a case of pointing out the source of blessing to others, in order that they may go and drink of the living waters themselves.

Yahweh doesn't seek our praise in order to boost or bolster His ego. Oh No! The Almighty wants us to publicly voice our thanks and praise His holy Name in order that the unbelieving or doubtful bystander may see and hear, be converted - and live! And it is the salvation of souls that rejoices His heart. That is the real reason why the Almighty God wants His people to praise and thank Him for what he has done. But, Oh! tragedy of tragedies - many are reluctant to do this. They remain silent, almost contemptuously silent!

However, the salvation of the unbeliever is so important to God that often he uses children or inanimate objects (i.e. stones) to witness to His truth.
Luke 19: 37: “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38: Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39: And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40: And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

5. A Grave Mistake

Is it a fault not to give God glory? Or to boast of what we have done and remain silent as to what He has done for us? Is it a fault? Believe it or not, it is a sin!

Daniel 5: 22: “And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this.
23: But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breadth is, hast thou not glorified.”

Self praise is pride in disguise. We are all guilty of this subtle sin. We often take credit for what God has done for us. But we must wake up and put an end to it: else we may fall into the Belshazzar bracket.

6. How Excellent is Thy Name!

There is much discussion these days about the Almighty's Name: on how it ought to be written and pronounced. The article entitled the Sacred Names outlines our understanding on this subject. But this Sabbath I will briefly consider what the Saviour meant when he said:

“Father glorify thy name.
Then came there a voice from heaven, saying,
I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (John 12: 28)
Obviously this statement goes far beyond just making known the true name of the Almighty and how to write or pronounce it. In my opinion it means: To live in such a way that the Almighty’s Name (His character, His reputation, His Word, His law, His church etc.) are not reviled, smeared, defamed and blasphemed by His enemies. Instead we must live in such a righteous way that, in effect, we will be saying: “How excellent is thy name!” How great are thy deeds, how gracious, kind, merciful, just and holy are thy thoughts, words and actions!

Psalm 8: 1: “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2: Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4: What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5: For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6: Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8: The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9: O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”

7. What kind of a God do we Worship?

Man was made in God’s image. A greater privilege is hard to imagine. The very idea of making the Almighty's heart happy is stunning to say the least. How do we go about doing that? Where do we start? One safe route is to study His character and - after praying for His Holy Spirit - seek to be like Him by obeying His will. This is what God is like:

Exodus 34: 5: “And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6: And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7: Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
8: And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.”

Endeavour to be like God. That's why you were created.


AMEN!

In the Son’s Name — For the Father’s glory.

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