July 14
Live as the Crown of Creation
Psalm 8; 100
KEY
VERSE: What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care
for him?
n
Psalm 8:4
More than any
other person, Professor Boone Bowen kindled in my heart a love for the Old Testament.
I knew very little about this portion of the Bible when, almost 50 years
ago, I walked into his class on Old
Testament Studies as a student in the Candler School of Theology at Emory
University
Professor
Bowen loved the Psalms. So far as I know he never began a class without first
reciting from memory the beloved eighth Psalm. Those were the first words out
of his mouth each day, no matter what Old Testament book we might be studying
that day.
I can close
my eyes now and hear that dear man speaking the words of the eighth Psalm with
such awe and wonder that a reverential hush came over the classroom. So much so
that I can never hear this Psalm read without thinking of that gracious
Christian gentleman who first inspired me to love the Bible of Jesus.
The good
professor loved the Hebrew language so much that he joked about it being the
language which God spoke. He argued that if we wanted God to understand our
prayer requests right off that we should learn to pray in Hebrew.
We do know
that Jesus loved the Psalms too. On the day of his triumphal entry into
Jesus used a phrase from verse four of Psalm 8, “the son of
man,” to describe himself. As we read this Psalm we may think of
ourselves with great benefit. What an honor God has bestowed upon us, to have
“crowned us with glory and honor.”
To consider
the works of God’s “fingers” should inspire us to make sure the works of our
hands are acceptable in His sight.
Linking these
two Psalms together for today’s study is an excellent idea. To read them and
reflect on their rich meaning is enough to cause anyone of us to “shout for
joy,” and to enter into His presence “with thanksgiving and….praise”!