Psalms 8

The allusions in ver. 3 have led many to suppose that David wrote this Psalm in his early life, when his nightly watches as a shepherd gave him frequent opportunities of observing the wonders of the heavens. The subject is the glory of God as manifested in Nature, and especially in the capacities and the dignity which He has bestowed on man; who is here contemplated in his true ideal, apart from his sinfulness, such as he was before he fell, and such as he is to be when restored in Christ. To Him, as the great representative of perfect human nature, the Psalm is emphatically applicable: see Heb. ii. 6-9.

TITLE. Gittith. The word “Gittith” is derived from “Gath,” a winepress. The reference is probably to a tune used at vintage-festivals.

1. O Lord, our Lord. O Eternal, our Lord (Adonai).

2 the avenger. Or, “the vindictive.” “Babes and sucklings” may be understood as meaning, the instinctive admiration of Thy works which is shown even by very young children rebukes those who would question Thy being, or obscure Thy glory: see Matt. xxi. 16; 1 Cor. i. 27. “Thou hast perfected praise” in the former of these passages is from the LXX translation of the Hebrew.

3 the work of Thy fingers. Expressing the skill and delicacy of the work.

5 a little lower than the angels. Perhaps, “but little lower than God” (R.V.). But the Hebrew word “Elohim,” rendered “God,” when applied to the Supreme Being, and also “gods,” when applied to idols, is supposed by some to be used here, and in a few other places, so as to include any superhuman beings: see 1 Sam. xxviii. 13; Zech. xii. 8.

6. Thou madest him to have dominion, etc. See Gen. i. 26.

7 oxen, etc. “Oxen” is a generic term for larger cattle. “Beasts of the field” are always, in Scripture, wild beasts.