I have read Psalm 8:1 so many times over the years. I have sung the song that includes the first phrase of the verse. I have even blogged about it. I’ll include the link below if you missed it.
Anyway, this morning the last phrase of this verse jumped off the page at me. In fact, I was drawn back to it and read it over and over. “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens”.
“Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens.”
How have I missed this phrase before?! I love how fresh and new the living Word is every time we open it!
Before I get into what really got me about this phrase, I wanna point out the reference to the Trinity. Did ya catch it? Notice that the subject and verb don’t grammatically agree (it says Who “have”, not Who “has”). I love the subtleties of the Scriptures.
Ok, moving on to what really impacted me in that phrase — “displayed Your splendor ABOVE the heavens.” People are naturally drawn to beauty – they snap pictures of rainbows, they take pictures to capture beautifully colorful sunrises and sunsets – and all that beauty is in the lower sky that we can see. Can you imagine the breathtaking beauty in the heavens where God dwells?!!
The Hebrew word for above (ʿal) means above (in excess). Above, where God dwells, and where we as believers will one day dwell too, is so much “more than”!! Where God displays His splendor is so much “more than” any beauty we have beheld living here on earth.
“But, as it is written, ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
neither has entered into the heart of man,
the things which God has prepared for them that love him’,”
(Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9)
Another facet of the Hebrew word (ʿal) is above (in pre-eminence). The dictionary defines preeminent as having paramount rank, dignity, or importance. The word “dignity” caught my attention. I looked it up in the dictionary and it means: the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed. “Above the heavens” is where the King of Kings dwells. His splendor is displayed there because HE is there and He is WORTHY.
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power:
for you have created all things, and for your pleasure
they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)
So, to make this practical, the next time you look up into the sky and are struck by the beauty you see there, remember that “above” those heavens is Someone more splendorous than the beautiful thing we are looking at, and in response, praise HIM!
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens”