The Son of Man (Ps. 8)

[Sung Psalm: 8]

When you hear the question, "what is man?" you might expect a discussion of Genesis 1-2, and the creation of man in the image of God.

But in Psalm 8, the question "what is man?" has a different tone than we might use. To understand the question, think about how it is used in the OT – for instance, 2 Samuel 9:8.

When Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul) comes before David, he falls on his face and pays homage. When David promises kindness to Mephibosheth for the sake of his father, Jonathan, Mephibosheth says, "What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?"

Likewise, in 2 Kings 8:13, when Elisha speaks to Hazael of Syria, prophesying of how Hazael will torture and destroy Israel, Hazael responds, "What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?"

So the phrase "who, or what, am I" is used frequently to express a sense of subordination – a posture of humility.

It is also used that way with God, the great King. In Exodus 3:11, we have perhaps the most famous: Moses says to God, at the burning bush, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

David also speaks in 2 Samuel 7:18, after God has established his covenant with him, saying, "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?"

The question, "who am I," that you should do such kind things for me, is the background to Psalm 8.

What is man, that God would give him dominion over all things?

Who are we, that God would crown us with glory and honor?