What is Man?

Sermon Text

Psalm 8

For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.

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 honor.
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!

New International Version (NIV). Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

• Psalm 8 begins and ends with God's majestic name, teaching us to understand humanity by first looking to the sovereign Creator rather than making ourselves the standard.
• God has given human beings a distinctive dignity within creation: we bear his image, are crowned with glory and honor, and receive a calling to exercise dominion as his stewards.
• Sin has deeply damaged human life and frustrated our stewardship, but it has not made people worthless. Every human being remains deserving of care, regardless of age, ability, or usefulness to others.
• Dominion means cultivating and caring for God's world under his authority; it does not mean that we are the earth's saviors or are free to redefine God's created order for ourselves.
• Hebrews 2 directs us to Jesus, crowned with glory and honor. Christ entered our broken world, tasted death, rose, and reigns, securing the restoration that humanity could not accomplish.

• How does beginning with God's majesty correct either pride or a sense of human worthlessness?
• Where are you tempted to act as though you are in control instead of receiving your identity and calling from God?
• What is the difference between faithful dominion and trying to be the savior of creation?
• How should the image of God shape the way you speak about and care for people whose abilities differ from yours?
• Why is intelligence, independence, or social usefulness an inadequate foundation for human dignity?
• How does Hebrews 2 answer the tension between Psalm 8's glorious calling and the broken world we presently see?
• What part of your stewardship—in family, work, land, body, or community—needs to be brought more clearly under God's authority?
• How can the church uphold both the truth of God's created order and the grace of the gospel for people affected by sin?

Image of God

The God-given distinction and dignity of human beings, reflected in our relationships, moral calling, and stewardship. The sermon stresses that this dignity rests on God's declaration, not on intelligence or usefulness.

Majesty

God's sovereign greatness and splendor. Psalm 8 frames every statement about humanity with worship of the Lord whose glory is above the heavens.

Dominion

The responsibility God gives humanity to cultivate, govern, and care for the created world as his representatives. It is stewardship under God, not independent ownership or control.

Fall

Humanity's rebellion against God, which brought sin, death, and frustration into human life and the created order. The image remains, but its moral expression and our stewardship are deeply corrupted.

Human dignity

The worth God gives every human being as his image bearer. It belongs equally to infants, adults, people with disabilities, and the elderly; it is not earned by function or achievement.

Restoration in Christ

The renewing work secured by Jesus, the true and victorious man. Hebrews 2 shows him crowned with glory and honor, overcoming death and bringing God's purpose for humanity to fulfillment.