Daily Worship

When I look at your heavens

Katy Emslie-Smith June 17, 2019 0 0
milky_way_stars_trees
Image credit: Pixabay

Psalm 8 (NIVUK)

1 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honour.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

When did you last spend time gazing at the stars on a clear night? 

It is not very long, when looking up at a dark sky, before we begin to feel very small within the scale of the universe, when we consider how ancient the planets and constellations are and how many billions of miles away they are. It is both humbling and exhilarating to feel like a tiny speck of dust, yet know at the same that we belong in the immensity of the universe. For it is here, rooted in the wonder of creation, which shouts aloud the majesty of the maker of it all, that God is mindful of us. He remembers us and cares for us. Not only that, but into our tiny lives he imparts glory and honour. 

We belong to the giving God, the creator, whose reach and power extend far beyond the boundaries of the universe, who yet hears the cries of babies and counts the hairs on our heads. We are honoured and glorified by Him alone. That is both exceedingly humbling and exceptionally exhilarating. 

Perhaps, tonight, we should go star-gazing again.

Sovereign God,
We bow before you in awe
At the breadth and scope 
Of your majesty, as maker of the mysteries of the vast universe,
We name you as king, creator, Lord,
To whom all of creation shouts its praise.

Compassionate God,
We bow before you in need,
Knowing you remember us and care for us.
With your finger under our chin,
You lift our heads to receive the crown  
Of glory and honour.

Humbled and exhilarated,
We worship you.