Psalms, 8
5. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
5. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Psalm 8 is a song of praise to God for His greatness and for granting man the position of dominating upon creation. The Psalm begins and ends with the same statement, "O Lord, our Lord, how admirable your name is in all the earth!" (v.1 and v.9). The chosen verses, in order of proximity to the themes of the chapter, are:
Genesis 1:26: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, over domestic animals, all earth, and all over all reptiles that crawl on the earth. " This verse relates to Psalm 8 because they both highlight man's high position in creation as an image and likeness of God, and his role of dominion over the earth.
Job 7:17-18: "That is man, that he may give him importance and attention, that Examines may every morning and the proves every moment? Not even while swallowing saliva? " Job expresses his anguish in the face of pain and suffering, contrasting with Psalm 8 that celebrates God's greatness and goodness in giving man a high position in creation.
Hebrews 2:6-8a: "What is man, why do you remember Him? And the Son of man, that you may visit him? You constituted him about the works of your hands; you all subjected under your feet. " The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8 to speak of Jesus' supremacy about all things, such as the one who fulfilled the mission given to man to dominate over creation.
Psalm 144:3-4: "O Lord, who is the man, that he may take him into account, the Son of man that he may consider him? The man is like a breath, his days are like a shadow that passes." This psalm highlights the brevity of human life and the insignificance of man before the greatness of God, contrasting with the position of honor that Psalm 8 attributes to man in creation.
Isaiah 40:26: "Raise your eyes up and see. Who created these things? He who makes his army out of stars, all well -told, which he calls by name; for being great in strength and strong in Power, not only one is missing. " This verse highlights the greatness and power of God in creation, in tune with the theme of Psalm 8, which celebrates God's greatness in giving man a high position in his creative work.
“A prática das bem-aventuranças não requer atos de heroísmo, mas a aceitação simples e humilde das várias provações pelas quais a pessoa passa.” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
