Psalm 8—This psalm of David nicely ties
together the three appointed readings for Trinity Sunday. The first two verses
tell how the entire creation proclaims the majesty, glory, and strength of the
Lord, the Creator of all things, as testified to in the Old Testament reading.
The rest of the psalm speaks of Christ, the second Adam, our Savior, of whose
redemption Peter preaches in the Epistle reading, (Acts 2: 14a, 22–36) and who
commissions His Church to make disciples by baptizing and teaching about Him in
the Gospel reading.
The psalm
begins by crying out the name of the one and only true God, and then confesses
Him to be our ruler. The name of Yahweh
is rightly described. Yahweh alone is always has been and always will be the
one who exists and, by extension, is always present to act on behalf of
humankind for our salvation. God’s majesty is tangibly revealed on earth in the
wonderful detail and design of creation and extends beyond our view into the
heavens.
The
characteristic beauty of creation is meant to draw our attention to its
Designer. Everything around us that we appreciate through our senses is a gift
of God to be enjoyed. That also includes the food we eat, art, architecture,
literature, technology, and medicine – things designed by humans by God-granted
creativity. It’s meant to be enjoyed for the pleasure it brings us. But
creation is also a reminder to all people at all times and all places that God
is the architect of its grandeur. He is the recipient of praise and worship.
“Oh LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name
in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. When I look at 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, and the son of man that you care for him?”
(Psalm 8:1; 3-4)
It should be
obvious that however creative humans can be, we are incapable of anything as
wondrous and complex and awe-inspiring as God’s created order. And yet
incredibly, God has granted us responsibility for tending to earth. Our farmers
are stewards of our natural resources. By His help you feed the world.
“Yet you have made him a little lower than
the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him
dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens,
and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.”
(Psalm 8:5-8)
We are made
care-takers of this world, to watch over all the plants, animals, and seas. The
name of Jesus will be exalted in all the earth because all the earth bears his
trademark.
As you take in
the beauty of creation look at the good gifts around you. Even better, open the
Scriptures which make abundantly clear the good news of Jesus Christ. You don’t
have to take a special camping trip to experience the joy of the glory of Jesus
Christ. His glory never fades. His goodness never diminishes.
“Oh LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name
in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:9)
A Prayer for Agriculture: Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper; we implore You, the work of farmers, especially in this planting season. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness
Image of the Trinity copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher
Things
Collect for Agriculture, Lutheran Service Book
copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
The Lutheran Study Bible copyright © 2009
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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