Responsible to Care
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Key Verse: “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” Lesson Scripture: Psalm 8 |
THE CREATIVE WORKS OF God are beyond our understanding. They are so vast and spectacular that we wonder why he has paid any attention at all to planet Earth! Even as a planet, it is so small compared to the many suns shining as stars in the heavens. Yet earth was chosen to feature an important advancement in God’s work of Creation. It was selected to be the place where the Logos would be tested as well as those called to be associated with him. God could never risk granting immortality to any of his creatures unless he was sure that they would not rebel against him as did Lucifer, who became Satan, the adversary of God.
The psalm begins by saying, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” (vss. 3,4) The psalm tells of the wonderful creative works of God upon earth, and how he gave man dominion over them. Man was, in miniature, created to be like God—in God’s image—and was to rule over earth’s creation as God rules over the universe. He was to have responsible care over all earth creatures.
Man, however, has not cared for earth and its creatures as he should. For this reason we have pollution and wildlife refuge problems which endanger species of creation. Man is in a fallen condition and is not showing responsibility for the earth, its environment and wildlife. The Apostle Paul, in speaking of how we should appreciate the honor bestowed upon us to become sons of God in this present age, quotes from this eighth Psalm (vss. 4-6) in Hebrews 2:6-8. He says, “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.” (Heb. 2:8) Man has lost control of the dominion of earthly creation.
The apostle, however, gives us hope as he says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) By becoming the ransom sacrifice for father Adam (and his progeny), Jesus passed the test of obedience under very trying conditions, and received the Divine nature.
He also restored dominion to mankind which will be exercised after he walks up the “way of holiness” to perfection. (Isa. 35:8) It will then be possible for man to assume responsible care for all of God’s Creation upon earth. When that time comes, how fittingly does the eighth Psalm conclude with the words, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”—Ps. 8:9
It will be then that all men will be able to sing the words of the hundredth Psalm, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”—Ps. 100:1,2
Mankind will know, as expressed in this psalm, that the Lord is the one who has true dominion over the earth and they, as well as all creation, are his responsible care. “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”—Ps. 100:3