Who are we?
Psalm 8:4-9. February 7, 2023 - Tuesday, 5th Week
As we continue to listen to the story of creation narrated in the book of Genesis, another psalm helps us to contemplate the greatness of God. This time it is Psalm 8 that ponders the mystery of human beings. The psalmist stands outside in the night and looks at the cloudless sky. Many of us had similar experiences. Observing the full moon and countless stars, we feel insignificant in front of the vast universe. The question that the psalmist is asking also comes to our mind: who are we?
The story of creation portrays human beings created in the image and likeness of God. In the words of the psalmist, we have been crowned with glory and majesty (Ps 8:6). In ancient times, only the kings and emperors were considered to be the representative of gods. In China, the emperor was considered to be the son of Heaven and the Emperor of Rome was called “divine and the son of god”. But, in the Bible, everyone is assigned such divine status.
Moreover, in Genesis’ story, all sheep and oxen, the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea (Ps 8:8-9) have different origins than human beings. The earth and the waters brought forth at God’s command the plants, birds, fish, and other animals, but we were directly created by God. Thus, although we are part of creation, at the same time we are distinct from other creatures. This is highlighted in the story of the first man looking for a life partner. The Lord brought in front of him all the animals but, no fitting partner was found for him among all the wild beasts, the cattle, and the birds of the air (see Gen 2:18-20).
The psalmist also notices another difference between the animal world and humanity. God placed us above all other creatures to rule over His handiwork (Ps 8:7). Our divine attributes make us fit to take up the position of authority. Many see the root of our contemporary ecological crisis in this passage. But the author of Genesis and the psalmist, who meditates on Genesis 1:26-28, understand the action of ruling as stewardship. We are not the owners of nature but its stewards accountable to the Lord, the true Owner of the universe.
Our mystery and dignity are fully revealed in Jesus Christ. He is the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15). His life reveales to us the meaning of authority as service (Mark 10:45) and united to him, we sit together with him at the right hand of the Father (Eph 2:6), crowned with glory and majesty. Great is indeed the dignity of humanity.