Reflecting on vs. 4 - after 14 years in the ministry, somehow God has chosen this time to take great pains with me, to invite me to pray - to learn to pray, to become empowered and refreshed, and convicted and rattled, and embarrassed by my fervor and naivete. God has enlisted all kinds of people and events, books and music - oh, surely I must be having some pre-vacation halucinations! For what am I that God is mindful of me?!!! (KBC in SC)
My calendar says this week is the U.N. Environmental Sabbath. I am thinking of connecting that with this text, using the idea of inheritance. Someone once said that you really come to know a person when you share an inheritance. We share the inheritance of this world--how will we use and care for and divide it? Jennifer
Glendon Harris has made the connection between God and His creatures in a memorable, thoughtful way: we are dust flirting with divinity.
Dave, Akron
Without a doubt, this is my favorite Psalm. What mind-boggling wonder to think of all the things God created. And then to think that God loves humankind so much. Oh that we would truly stand in awe of our Gracious God and live in ways which show our love for God. Ways of good stewardship of resources, love, hospitality, forgiveness.... What an awesome and Sovereign God we serve. Teek
26 MAY 99
Dominion includes Latin origins as of "dominus/i" which brings to mind the Lordship of Christ. To have dominion is to "treat like royalty" always looking to God for the example of how the world is cared for, rather than looking at the (traditional) role of humans (exploitive, self-serving)and suggesting that we have the model for God to follow. I like the Fromm reference to "evolution"; in teaching the commandments I sometimes mention that in following them we become more "lovable." Even though God's love receives and surrounds us "while we were yet sinners", to grow to become like Christ must be pleasing to the Lord and must also foster better relationships among people and between humanity and the rest of creation. Peter in CA
Date: 07 Oct 2000
Time: 05:15:12
I believe it was no accident that Psalm 8 was chosen to go with these texts. It has some connection to the coronary hardening in the Mark text. In Psalm 8, the word glory is used twice in the English translation, once to describe God, the second to describe man. In the original Hebrew, the words we translate as glory are not the same, they are two different words. The first word that describes God’s glory means just that, glorious, awesome, splendor. The second word that describes the glory of man has a double meaning: it can mean glory, but it also can mean to burden or to harden. Interestingly, it is the same word in Exodus 14:4 (I think - Idon't have my text with me now) that God uses to say, “I will harden Pharoah’s heart..." There is a fine line of opportunity between gaining glory and hardening our hearts. Linking to Job and the Exodus story, perhaps even God himself is involved in that hardening. And when we find ourselves in bondage to sin, in bondage to hardening our hearts, only Jesus can help us to forgive and thus gain glory. That is my slant - there are more with that word play.
Tigger in MN (used to be in ND)
Date: 07 Oct 2000
Time: 23:09:32
Psalm 8, As far as I have gotten is the titile and the theme, Dignified Sinners. The gospel I hear at the moment is contrary to the worms we often feel we are and are often so called by conservative evangelists, we are a little less than God. That of course is the real source of the other side of who we are, sinners. And as I see it both are true even without the attempt at conviction by the evangelist.
jbg Atl.
Date: 09 Jun 2001
Time: 14:51:10
No comments?
It is already Saturday morning!
I love that this psalm of praise is chosen as part of our celebration of the Triune God. Why has God blessed us so? Not because of our deserving, but because of his great love! No wonder we should bow down and adore God!
Date: 09 Jun 2001
Time: 16:07:28
I am choosing to focus on the verses that point to God giving us "dominion" and will seek to share the meaning of stewardship as a response to God's claim on our lives.
We are not only claimed by God, created in God's image, but we are called to be those who "care for God's property," so I will preach on what it means to be good stewards, responsible for the gifts we have received.
Bobby, Tx.
Date: 10 Jun 2001
Time: 00:40:05
This psalm's refrain is "how majestic is your NAME in all the earth"--on Trinity Sunday it is good to keep in mind that God has given us the privilege of a personal name, "God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
On a day when we can tend to be either too dogmatic or too vague, it is so important to keep in mind a simple truth: at its most basic, the "doctrine of the Trinity" is but a bucket in which we try to carry some of the freight of how mysterious and wonderful it is to worship and serve a personal, relational God.
I believe all the texts for this Sunday relate well. (See post under John 16:12-15).
TK in OK