Sunday, June 5, 2011

Day 156: Psalms 5, 6, 7 and 8

What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:4)

Many years ago I was in a discussion when another man in the circle said, rather snobbishly: I don't believe in an interventionist God. And I thought, How sad for you.

The Psalmist here acknowledges not only man's smallness compared to the vastness of the heavens and earth God has created, but also draws attention to the truth that God takes special notice of humanity... his crowning creation.

This highlights God's transcendence - his otherness (he is above and separate from the created order) - and his immanence (the idea that God is close to and involved with his creation).

Thinking of God's attentiveness to his creation always takes me back to the story of Hagar in the desert when she spoke to God. You are the God who sees me (Genesis 16:13).

What is man that you are mindful of him? The writer is literally declaring that God's mind is filled with thoughts of and care for you.

How does it make you feel to know that you are on God's mind?

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