DIGNITY AND DOMINION

During his shepherd days, David had plenty of time to consider the wonders of creation. We notice that he joins the glories of the heavens to the excellence of Jehovah’s Name, v. 1. In God’s Name, we find enshrined His nature and character. The glory of created things displays His excellence. His Name is Wonderful (Secret), Jud. 13. 18; Isa. 9. 6. Yet His glory is revealed. The psalmist, in an interesting way, links earth and heaven together in extolling the majesty of God.

Because God is great and His Name excellent, His sovereignty is evident in the means that He can use to declare His strength or praise. Here is a thought of beauty. Strength is ordained out of infant mouths to still or silence the voice of the enemies of God. Note how the Lord Jesus used this psalm in Luke 19. 39-40. Such was His appreciation of the praise of “babes and sucklings”, that to silence them was to invite praise from the very stones.

Against the backcloth of the glory of creation, the question is asked, “What is man?”. Why should God consider frail man, son of the earth-born? Insignificant in size and attraction, he is so valued in the divine purpose, that he is given the dignity of dominion over all God’s works. The theory of evolution provides no satisfactory answer to the uniqueness of man. The Bible revelation sets man in his right place in the creation of God. Unfallen, man reflected the perfect image of God.

We pause today to reflect that man was the crown of a perfect creation, with delegated authority to control it. Verses 5-8 describe the extent of man’s dominion; cf. Gen. 1. 26-31. When Adam fell, his rights to dominion were forfeited and Satan usurped the power. Thus he is “the god of this world”, 2 Cor. 4. 4; “the whole world lieth in the evil one”, 1 John 5. 19 R.V. We do not see these evidences of authority today—rather the reverse. Such is the tragedy of sin. Yet God’s purpose is that in the Second Man, the Last Adam, man’s dignity and dominion will be recovered and restored. The Lord Jesus, the Son of man, is the centre of God’s purpose for man’s redemption. By faith we see Him crowned with glory and honour, Heb. 2. 9. How good to realize that He will never fail.

Let us reflect today, “we shall be like him”, 1 John 3. 1-2.