angela hormberg

Tag: Creator

  • Psalm 8

    Psalm 8

    Commonplace –

    “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of mine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger” (Psalm 8:2).

    and

    “What is man, that thou are mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:4).

    “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens” (Psalm 8:1 and 9).

    David begins and ends this contemplative psalm with the same verse, praising God for his excellent name and His glory. In Psalm 8, David marvels over God’s kindness towards man:

    1. Even the children of men are recognized and loved by God, speaking God’s word in strength, stilling the enemy (v.2.).
    2. Even man, himself, is loved by God, placed a little lower than angels and above all creation.

    Why is God’s kindness so amazing? Because God as Creator does not have to love His creation, yet He does. Throughout the psalm, David recognizes God as Creator of all things: the heavens, the moon, the stars, beasts of the field, fowl of the air, fish and everything else in and of the sea. And God, Creator of all things, is mindful of everything He created. Note David’s emphasis on God’s recognition of children. Children were not prized, as they are often not prized today, but God takes notice of them and gives strength to children through his Word. Probably God’s recognition of His Creation is more of a marvel to David, who as King of Israel was aware of how difficult it is to keep an eye on his kingdom. It’s impossible for an earthly king to be attune to all the goings on of His Kingdom, yet God is mindful of the entire world and everything in it.

    But we can be mindful of the One, who is mindful of all things. We can acknowledge how excellent He is. And that is what Matthew Henry points us to in his summary.

    “This psalm is a solemn meditation on, and admiration of, the glory and greatness of God, of which we are all concerned to think highly and honourably” (216).

    and

    “When we are observing the glory of God in the kingdom of nature and providence we should be led by that, and through that, to the contemplation of his glory in the kingdom of grace” (216).

    This psalm is an excellent example of how to meditate on God’s word, thinking about an aspect of God and considering it.

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 8.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg

  • Psalm 121

    Psalm 121

    Commonplace –

    “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).

    In his description of this psalm, Matthew Henry writes:

    “…wherever we are, at home or abroad, we are exposed to danger more than we are aware of; and this psalm directs and encourages us to repose ourselves and our confidence in God, and by faith to put ourselves under his protection and commit ourselves to his care, which we must do, with an entire resignation and satisfaction, in singing this psalm” (593).

    In these opening verses, David is comforting himself with the understanding that his help comes from no earthly thing but from God, alone. Surely these words are a a comfort and encouragement when we feel alone and frightened. Whatever the reason, knowing we may at any time simply look to God for help is surely a thought to strengthen our spirit in times of need.

    David points out that God is the maker of heaven and earth, as a reminder that He who created everything is able to do anything. “He that made heaven and earth is sovereign Lord of all the hosts of both, and can make use of them as he pleases for the help of his people, and restrain them when he pleases from hurting his people” (594).

    Works Cited

    Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 121.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

    Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

    © 2025 Angela Hormberg