Friday, June 21 – Psalms 6, 8
1. How does David express the certainty of an answer from God? Psalms 6:9
2. In Psalm 8, what is the first thing David exalts about God? Psalms 8:1
3. How did Jesus apply the words of Psalm 8:2? Matthew 21:16
4. How does David relate man with the rest of creation? Psalms 8:5-8 (See Genesis 1:26)
Commentary and Reflection
Although Psalm 6 is similar to Psalm 5, it differs from the former in that repentance is present here. Therefore, this poem or song belongs to a group of penitential Psalms, seven in total (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143).
David pours out his soul in supplication during moments of distress. He asks for mercy from God because he is sick, yet he is more concerned about his emotional and spiritual sickness than his physical condition. We learn from his experience to have complete confidence in approaching God to present our distress, whatever its nature.
The psalmist uses the Hebrew word for soul, “nephesh,” several times, which refers to the whole being. Its meaning is broader in the original language than in our modern languages. “Nephesh” means soul, life, desire, will, feelings, and longing.
The apostle Paul refers to it as “spirit, soul, and body,” the complete being. The Bible does not establish a dichotomy or distinction between these terms. Human beings are an indivisible unit, not as the Greeks, Hindus, and Buddhists teach. One proof of this is in verses 4 and 5, “Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?” If the soul existed after death, independent of the body, it could praise or curse God.
Psalm 8 has been one of the most inspiring for me. Here, God’s glory is exalted along with man’s honor and dignity.
The poet’s introduction is significant as it exalts the name of the Sovereign God of the Universe. In the language of the Bible, the “Name” is much more than the word used to call or designate a person; it is instead the person revealed by their name. That’s why asking someone for their name is asking for their identity. We recall God’s encounter with Moses on Mount Sinai. When Moses asked the name by which he would present himself to the Israelites in Egypt, he directly said, tell them “I AM” has sent me (the Eternal, Yahweh). That great name represents his infinite, loving, and merciful character.
Since 1969, Psalm 8 has captivated me with its beauty and power. I was 20 years old at the time when I watched on a black and white TV the first American astronaut, Neil Armstrong when, upon landing on the moon, the first thing he did was pull out from his bulky spacesuit a note with Psalm 8:3, 4, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit[c] him?”
How different is the attitude of this scientist, a believer in the Creator God of heaven and earth. There is a significant difference between believing and not believing in God. Whoever believes in God as the cause and reason for everything that exists places man in his rightful perspective, where God placed him. The unbeliever pretends to play God.
David recalls that moment when man was created as the masterpiece of his Creator. Man was dignified and honored as a steward of this planet.
When our faith falters due to any circumstance, let us hold fast to the words of this psalm that exalt the power and greatness of God.