Psalm 8 : the power and depth of David's song

Then I ask, "Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings?"(psalm 8:4)

In Psalm 8, the musical instrument symbol is the "gittith," thought to have originated from Gath. As "gittith" sounds like "guitar," it's easy to imagine the psalm being sung and played with a guitar.

Two children boast about their fathers. One child brags that their father studied well, went to a good university, and is now the CEO of a big company. The other child boasts that they have experienced many things and been to many places with their father. Which child is David singing about in Psalm 8?

David's song can be seen in the difference between these two children. The first child doesn't have much experience with their father, while the second child is close to their father. When David was young, he worked as a shepherd, and he was so good at it that he could distinguish between the sheep, even if they were mixed together, and he gave them all names. He protected them from wild animals, led them to green pastures, and found water for them when they were thirsty.

If we imagine David as a sheep, we can see that the Lord, the shepherd, provides him with everything he needs, from the grass he chews to the water he drinks, and even the sun, moon, and stars in the sky. With this in mind, David is moved to ask, "Why do you care about us humans? Why bother with mortals?"

David's psalm of praise is also found in the New Testament: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). The New Testament expanded the idea of humanity in the world beyond David's time. Nowadays, the church can be more narrow-minded than in David's time, as it focuses on distinguishing itself from the world.

Ultimately, the power and depth of David's song come from the hymn that bursts out of his experiences. 

Lord, please allow me to sing David's powerful and deep song, like a spring of water flowing from a deep well, today. Amen.