God cares for us.
I am in awe of the God of this Psalm. Each time I’ve read it lately, I’ve had to give pause at this one thought that the Psalmist is seeking to express. Namely that God, as great as He is and as great as His works may be, would take interest in us.
Many take note of the sun, moon and stars and marvel at their wonders for wonders sake. They look at the great expanse of the universe and are aghast at the multitude of brightly shining stars in the heavens. They may even stand in awe of the manifold nature of the plant and animal kingdoms. They are right to find these things compelling. But they fall short of what is truly worth their wonder because they fail to mix their wonder with faith.
The ungodly do not believe that there is a Creator. And because they do not believe that there is a Creator then there is no reason for them to consider His reason for creating. It would be natural to wonder what purpose a person has in creating one thing or another; but if something were created solely by accident, then there would be no right reason to wonder.
Yet, we who understand that something, particularly something with such complexity, could not possibly have come about without an initial cause; believe that the cause is in fact a person with a plan and purpose at heart. Furthermore that this person’s plans and purposes include us, who – as great as we think we are – in the big scheme of things are really only a small part of His vast created universe; is truly a thing of wonder. It would be something like us building a vastly complex ant farm in which there were little ant cities, towns and countries; placing a few small ants in the farm, at various locations, and then tending to each one’s particular real need. (I say real need to distinguish from the “felt needs” that some of my brothers and sisters believe that we ought to cater to in order to reach some with the gospel. Real needs are those things which God determines are our needs…paramount is our need for Him in the gospel and not necessarily temporal ease.) I’d give them charge over the entire farm, placing other “inhabitants” of the farm under their charge. Then I’d give them a special relationship with me above all of the other inhabitants of the farm. Such that they can communicate with me and I with them, they can know me relate to me.
Crazy huh? I mean, why on earth am I taking time to build an ant farm of such complexity for these ants to inhabit? Why not just give them a mound of dirt? Why would I take time to see that each of their needs is met? Why would I even give them charge over the farm? Just because its called an “ant farm?” And why would I give them of all the inhabitants of the farm, the opportunity to know me?
“Oh Lord, our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth.” When was the last time that you thanked God, worshipped God, praised God; because He has chosen to bestow His grace upon you? Before you understand why its so great that God has chosen to bestow grace upon you; you must first understand how incredibly small you are in the context of this vast creation. Thats where most people miss it. Pop pshychology will tell you that you are to be made much of. Pop culture will tell you that your wants/desires are most important.
God’s grace teaches us that we have nothing to offer and everything to lose; but that He has chosen to purchase our good with the death of His own Son. His grace teaches us that there is no one righteous; but the One who had no sin and was made sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. God’s grace teaches us that it is not our name that ought to be made much of; but that it is His. For He alone is worthy of praise for the grace that He has bestowed on us, who are but dust.
God’s grace teaches us that though we are a small part of His creation, we are not a small part in Gods mind. And as great as our problems may seem to us, as vast as the universe at times, we have a God who is infinitely greater and whose love for us makes us infinitely more secure no matter the trouble.
“Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Rom 8
Thus we may praise with David: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name, in all the earth!”
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