Thoughts
The Majesty and Glory of Your Name
Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Psalm 8 (NKJV)
A question— “Oh, what is man that you are mindful of him?”
That question is from verse four contained within the hymn “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name” by Linda Lee Johnson (lyrics) and Tom Fettke (music), reflecting David’s writing of Psalm 8.
And it is a feeling we have each probably felt before in our lives.
Does God really care?
Does God know where I am?
Does God even see me?
However, following David’s God-inspired words penned in Psalm 8 the hymn shares the heart of God as we read—
“When I gaze into the night skies, and see the work of Your fingers.
The moon and stars suspended in space.
Oh, what is man that You are mindful of him?
You have given man a crown of glory and honor,
And have made him a little lower than the angels.
You have put him in charge of all creation:
The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea.
Oh, what is man? (Oh, what is man?)
Oh, what is man that You are mindful of him?”
Words reflecting the heart of our God who loves us.
Reminding us that no matter what we go through, or what we face, how often we are criticized, persecuted, or knocked down or around in life—we remain made in the image of God and are highly valued by our Creator.
The same God who threw the stars into the sky, and who created the universe with all its planets and galaxies beyond any limits which our minds try to fashion, loves us.
Then, our loving God sets us over and in charge of everything of His creation here on earth.
Leading David to remember and believe, something also for us to remember and believe for our lives, that in the heart and mind of God—we are each His highest priority.
I wonder if in our better moments we really do know and believe that, as well.
You and I are His highest priority.
God really does care. God knows where we are. God does see us.
Always.
The song concludes, following David’s inspired words in the last verse of Psalm 8, with these words—
“O Lord, our God the majesty and glory of Your name
Transcends the earth and fills the heavens.
O Lord, our God; little children praise You perfectly,
And so would we. And so would we.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The majesty and glory of Your name.
Alleluia! Alleluia!”
Again, a question— “Oh, what is man that you are mindful of him?”
The answer—To our God, we are precious, loved, and just a little lower than the angels, and crowned with glory and honor.
And our response—Thank You, Lord.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Amen and Amen.
In His Name–Scott
You will find peace and assurance in this performance of “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name” by the First Baptist Dallas Choir and Orchestra.
Recent Thoughts
Time Out!
During a strategy meeting on the mound in the sixth inning of the semi-final game of the championship playoffs, our catcher happened to mention to those of us gathered that Jack was pitching a no-hitter—with one inning yet to go. Superstition has it that the sure way to break up—or jinx—a no-hitter is to mention it while it’s in progress. The antidote to break the jinx—is to “knock on wood” somewhere, quickly and before the next pitch.
Winning – What or Why?
This past weekend some of the top-ranked college football teams in the nation won, some lost. They showed up, kicked off, ran and passed the football up and down the field for three-plus hours—and many won. And for many football fans of the winning teams, their world was still in good shape. Their hopes for a championship were still intact. Winning is the key, of course—and many won.
Or, is winning the key?
Got this Friend?
For all of you who aspire one day to be paperboys or papergirls, remember this—when collecting on your paper route, avoid the area where your friends and the Good Humor ice cream truck are located—at least until you’ve had a chance to count how much money you really have to spend on ice cream for one-and-all gathered.