day 56: Psalm 8-Dominion for his Majesty

​How Majestic Is Your Name
8 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
 
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
 
9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
 
Meditation
 
God has given the earth to humanity to rule, subdue, and cultivate. We are not to dominate the earth for our selfish gain but to establish dominion for the majesty of God’s name.  As the crown of God’s creation (5) we are to rule the earth and create culture for God’s glory.
 
To have dominion (6) is a fundamental aspect of humanity, woven into the fabric of what it means for us to be image bearers of God (Genesis 1:27, 5:1-2).  To rule, subdue, and cultivate creation is part of the original command in creation (Genesis 2:7-9; 15), what many people call “the cultural mandate.”   All things are under our feet (6) to be cultivated for the majesty of God.
 
When people look at the heavens they see a clear picture of the majesty of God (1, 3). We are humbled that the Maker of Heaven and earth is mindful of us, His creatures (4). Will we as Christians be mindful of the earth God has called us to steward? Will our ruling establish God’s dominion, making His majesty in all the earth?
 
Richly Dwelling
-What has God entrusted to you to rule in His name, for His majesty?  Be specific.
 
-How can you more fruitfully cultivate the majesty of God, the glory of His name, through creating Kingdom culture in what the Lord has entrusted to you?
 
-Much of the rule of humanity on earth is not faithful domain but selfish domination, abusing creation for personal gain rather than God’s glory and fame. How can you speak Kingdom corrective in the right stewardship of God’s creation?
 
Key Verse
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet.