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INTRO
A hymn of praise
His people praising the God of creation
Who He is and What He has done
This is a hymn of praise enabling the Lord’s people to celebrate their privileged place in the created order, a place that speaks of the glorious Creator. The structure is straightforward: verse 9 repeats the first part of verse 1, providing an envelope that guides us in seeing the meaning. In other words, the entire psalm is explaining one way in which God’s “name” is “majestic” in all the earth: through the dignified role God gave to man at creation.[1]
How Majestic is your name – v. 1
The glory of His creation v.1, 3
Glory set above the heavens
The work of your finger. Personally involved.
Set is place. Sovereignty and Providence.
The uniqueness of His creation – vv. 2, 4-8
His chosen people (Israel. Believers)
Babies, Infants (could be a reference to the nation of Israel in comparison to the Gentile nations)
You care for him.
Made him lower
Crowned him with glory and honor
Mans exalted status
Closer to God than all of creation
Genesis 1:27 Image of God.
Likeness. Capable of having a relationship.
Given him dominion Genesis 1:28
Human beings are God’s appointed governors (vassals) over creation. Their function on earth is to maintain order, to shine God’s light on creation, and to keep a beneficent relationship with all that God has created on earth and in the sea. The Great King has appointed the human race to maintain dominion over creation and not be controlled by creation.Kenneth L. Barker and John R. Kohlenberger III, Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition: Old Testament) (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 803.
How majestic is your name – v. 9
To summarize: God the Father created us to be kings, but the disobedience of our first parents robbed us of our crowns. God the Son came to earth and redeemed us to be kings (Rev. 1:5–6), and today the Holy Spirit of God can empower us to “reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:17). When you crown Jesus Christ Lord of all, you are a sovereign and not a slave, a victor and not a victim. “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent in your name in all the earth!”[2]
[1] C. John Collins, “The Psalms,” in Psalms–Song of Solomon, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. V, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2022), 80.
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, 1st ed., “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004), 43.
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