Psalm 8

You can sponsor this page of The Text This Week

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV, Common Worship Psalter, ASB Psalter, and BCP Psalter) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Dominion," Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit.
  • Chapter CXIV, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
  • Chapter XV, Discourse to the Greeks, Tatian. (c. 170)
  • I.XIV.8, IV.XI.3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter XIV, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • Chapter IV, Exhortation to the Greeks, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • I.5, I.8, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • IV.3, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • II.27, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 208)
  • III.VII, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 209)
  • IV.21, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XIX, On the Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XIV, Chapter XV, On the Flesh of Christ, Tertullian (c. 211)
  • V.9, V.17, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • Chapter XVI, Chapter XXIII, Against Praxeas,  Tertullian (c. 213)
  • II.III.6, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • VI.XLIII, The Refutation of all Heresies (Philosophumena), Hippolytus of Rome. (c. 225)
  • From Augustine's Exposition on the Psalms.
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  • From Wesley's Notes.
  • What is Man? (Ps 8:3-4), What is Man? (Ps 8:4). Sermons by John Wesley.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  • From The Treasury of David by Charles H. Spurgeon. (1885)
• Contemporary References, Commentary and Comparative Links
  • Commentary, Psalm 8, Kathryn Schifferdecker, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
    • "'Are We Alone?' asks the December 2009 issue of National Geographic, against the backdrop of a sky billowing with stars..."
  • Commentary, Psalm 8, Fred Gaiser, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "A problem with our hearing of Psalm 8, as with so many other biblical texts, may be our affluence."
  • Psalm 8 (Trinity C), The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "As a hymn the psalm invites praise and wonder and a sermon on the psalm should seek to foster those very things as much as, or even more than, explore its questions."
  • "The Poetry of Creation," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2008.
  • "First Things First," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Catechesis," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003.
  • "Cloning Facts and Fictions," study guide for adults, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Cloning," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2005.
  • "Mindful," Mark Ralls, The Christian Century, 2007.
    • "God chooses to cherish humanity, and God never wavers in this decision. In a nutshell, I think what Psalm 8 suggests is this: Our Creator is mindful of each one of us, and we who are made in the image of God are called to be mindful of one another."
  • "Our God Is Awesome!" Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
  • "God's Majestic Name," Expository Essay, Psalm 8, Dr. William R. Long.
    • "The wonder of it all is that the God who formed the heavens and the earth, whose glory is shown in the silence of a sunset and the cry of an infant, who sustains all things by his power, actually has put his trust in us to manage the resources of the earth wisely."
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Psalm 8, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
  • Psalm 8, Joel Smeby, Prayer in Downtown, 2010.
  • "The Prayers of the Psalter," Henry Wansbrough, Introduction to the Psalms. (Scroll down for information about this Psalm.)
  • Environmental & earth-centered reflections, by Rev John Gibbs, from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota Environmental Stewardship Commission.
    • "God’s glory is never at the expense of human dignity and worth."
  • Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • "A Lot Lower than God," Daniel Deffenbaugh, Seeds of Shalom, 2008.
    • "If Christianity is as eco-friendly as some claim, then why do we see the worst environmental problems caused by those countries that are predominantly Christian?"
• Articles & Background:
  • "Bone of My Bone and Flesh of My Flesh," Phyllis A. Bird, Theology Today, 1994.
    • "The examples of Genesis I and Psalm 8 alert us to two dangers in appeal to biblical statements as authority for contemporary faith. Both appear to offer general pronouncements about the nature of humankind with universal applicability. In fact, both are concerned with a very limited question-the place of humans within the created order. Both also assume male models as representative of the species."
  • "What Are Human Beings?" Carl Schultz, Houghton College.
    • "This question of Psalm 8 is located in the context of the physical world. Psalm 8 is a night liturgy, reference only being made to the night sky, against which vastness the worshipper feels insignificant."
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
  • Abrahams, Samuel P., "Toward a Balanced Perspective of Creation," Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, 1995.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bird, Phyllis, "'Bone of My Bone and Flesh of My Flesh,'" Theology Today, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Childs, Brevard S., "Psalm 8 in the Context of the Christian Canon," Interpretation, 1969.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Edgerton, W. Dow, "Asking about Who We Are," Theology Today, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Guthrie, George H. and Russell D. Quinn, "A Discourse Analysis of the Use of Psalm 8:4-6 in Hebrews 2:5-9," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Hinson-Hasty, Elizabeth, "Between Text and Sermon: Psalm 8," Interpretation, 2005. See also other articles in Interpretation, October 2005 issue, The Image of God.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kelly, Caroline M., "A Little Lower than God," Journal for Preachers, 2008. (Sermon)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Mays, James L., "What Is A Human Being? Reflections on Psalm 8," Theology Today, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Morgenstern, Julian, "Psalms 8 and 19A," Hebrew Union College Annual, 1945/46.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Nordin, John, "Preaching Psalm 8," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1993.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Pitkin, Barbara, "Between Text and Sermon: Psalm 8:1-2," Interpretation, 2001. See also the rest of this issue: The Child, Interpretation, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Ralls, Mark, "Mindful," The Christian Century, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Smith, Mark S., "Psalm 8:2b-3: New Proposals for Old Problems," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1997.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tate, Marvin, "An Exposition of Psalm 8," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 2001.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tubbs, James B., "Humble Dominion," Theology Today, 1994.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Whitekettle, Richard, "Taming the Shrew, Shrike, and Shrimp: The Form and Function of Zoological Classification in Psalm 8," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Williams, Michael, "Man and Beast," Presbyterion, 2008.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wyckoff, Chris, "Have We Come Full Circle Yet? Closure, Psycholinguistics, and Problems of Recognition with the Inclusio," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2006.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "You Noticed!" Scott Black Johnston, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2010.
  • "Psalm 8," Nathan Mattox, First United Church, Morris, Oklahoma.
  • "Partners with God," John Jewell, 2002.
• With Children:
  • "Lunar Eclipse," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "O Lord, Our Lord, How Excellent Is Thy Name in All the Earth," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
  • "March with Palm Branches All the Way to the Altar," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
  • "The Whole Ocean in a Glass of Water," Tom Woodley, dramatix.
• Liturgy:
  • Responsive Liturgical Paraphrase at The Billabong by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • Trinity A
    • Trinity C
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
• Hymns and Music:
  • "O God, the Great, Wide Seas are Yours" Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.
  • "O Lord, Our Lord," hymn for the New Year based on Psalm 8, F. Richard Garland, United Methodist Church GBOD.
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Psalm 8. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • "Your Fingerprint," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, a new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
  • "Lord, O Lord, How Majestic Is Your Name," (Psalm 8), lyrics, midi, sheet music, mp3. Stephen J. Pearson, The Psalmistry. See Terms of Use.
  • Psalm 8 set to Ar Hyd Y Nos (84 84 88 84) by Dale A. Schoening, Metrical Psalms.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Creation
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Psalms