“LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME…”
April 2, 2023 – Palm Sunday – PSALM 8
INTRO.: We totally agree with the Psalm writer, David: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” The name of the Lord is glorious in all the earth. Not just among believers. Of course, only believers recognize God’s truths. The prophet Isaiah was in the temple. Suddenly God’s angels appeared. "One called to another and said, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!’" (ISAIAH 6:3). Again, the whole earth is fully aware of God’s glory! “LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME…” I. Glory from the heavens. II. Glory in the Son of Man, salvation.
I. GLORY FROM THE HEAVENS.
A. Verse 1. The Lord inspired David to pen these words of praise. David was king of Israel.
1. Even as king David knew that the Lord’s name filled the earth with glory. Not his name.
2. God’s glory, majestic name, could and would be seen by looking up. Stars declared.
B. Verse 2. Children and infants declared the glory of God. It was God’s Word with strength.
1. People in biblical times valued life. Knew that children were precious gifts from the Lord.
2. The very presence of a child revealed God’s goodness. Stopped anger and enemies in tracks.
C. Verse 3. The heavens were the works of God’s hands. Creation. Sun and moon set in their places.
1. Verse 4. The greatness of heavenly creation was far more glorious than human beings.
2. Why would God even remember humanity? At least, humanly speaking.
D. We certainly agree about the greatness and grandeur of God’s creation all around us. How majestic is the name of our Lord! It might even seem overwhelming when we look at the heavens. Stars. Sun. Moon. God has put all of the heavens together exactly as needed to provide life here on earth. The Lord God has done this. The Lord God still preserves his creation to this very day. This truth does not stop so many today from thinking they are god. Experts desperately warn the word about the doom and gloom of climate change. Death of the planet. Nothing new. "Such people have traded the truth about God for the lie, worshipping and serving the creation rather than the Creator, who is worthy of praise forever…" (ROMANS 1:27). The sky is NOT falling. We always want to worship our Creator not his creation.
E. To think that one is not in control challenges many people today. Honestly looking at our lives, how much control do we really have? King David was a powerful king. Defeated enemies. Confessed: How majestic is the name of the Lord in all the earth. It was the Lord and his wisdom that provided for God’s people, Israel. Today the Lord God of all creation still provides for us in his way. His perfect way. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are strong" (1 CORINTHIANS 1:27). God’s wisdom is that he wants all people to be saved. To come to a knowledge of the truth. The world thinks this us foolishness. Salvation in death? Death on a cross? Worldly weakness. God’s strength. Wisdom. Love!
F. Now back to our insignificance. Compared to creation and to the rest of the world, how significant are we, really? One person among billions of people might seem pretty unimportant. It is if one coldly looks at the numbers. Our loving, heavenly Father also looks at the numbers. There is more rejoicing in heaven over sinner who repents. In God’s estimation every soul is significant. Valuable. Worth saving.
"At one time you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. At one time you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy" (1 PETER 2:9). We belong to God. His people. Shown mercy!
“LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME…” The heavens declare your glory.
II. GLORY IN GOD’S SON, SALVATION.
A. Verse 4. What is man that you remember him? Son of man that you pay attention?
1. Verse 5. Son of man: suffered for a time. Apart from God for a while. Son of man is Jesus.
a. Suffered humility. b. Endured shame. c. Crucified. d. “My God…why forsaken me?”
2. The heavenly Father also crowned his Son with honor and glory. Resurrection.
B. Verse 6. Christ is ruler over all things. Greater King than David. Last enemy, death, is destroyed.
1. Verse 7. Flocks, cattle, and even wild animals are subject to the King of kings. Creator.
2. Verse 8. Not only the creatures on earth but birds in air and fish in sea under Jesus’ authority.
C. Verse 9. “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
1. David arrived at the same fitting conclusion with which this Psalm began.
2. Glory of heaven reveal God’s majestic name. Son of man, Jesus, declared Father’s majesty.
D. Our human minds tend to focus on the things we can see. Touch. Feel. Hold. These are physical, solid objects. Glory of nature, as it were. Our spiritual nature focuses on what the Lord says. Word. Salvation. Faith. These qualities are not physical objects. Certainly, the spiritual is far superior to the physical. Always has been. Always will be. We have a good example in today’s second reading (Philippians 2:5-11). "…at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (PHILLIPIANS 2:10, 11). The Lord’s name is majestic. The name of Jesus is also glorious. Jesus means the one who saves. Christ means anointed. Messiah also is anointed (from Old Testament). God provided only three offices that required anointing. Prophet. Priest. King. Jesus fulfilled all three. Majestic names!
E. We can only discover God’s glory with faith. The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts. Saved by faith alone. How do we actually see God’s glory today? At Jesus’ baptism the heavenly Father declared Jesus to be his Son whom he loved. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. We have the privilege of observing the majesty of Jesus every day. "The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth" (JOHN 1:14). What majesty and glory that the Lord Jesus became flesh and lived among us. Still does live among us. Word made flesh. Full of truth. No one like this. Saved by Scripture alone. Majestic!
F. All too many today want to work out their own of salvation. My way. Not the Lord’s way. Saved by grace alone. The early apostles were very clear about this Jesus. This Jesus whom the people of God crucified. This Jesus who rose again on the third day. Israel saw their sins. Confessed. Wondered what to do next. How to be saved. "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved" (ACTS 4:12). No other majestic name can save. Only Jesus!
CONCL.: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8 begins with these powerful words of praise and confession. Ends with them. On Palm Sunday the crowds heaped their praises on Jesus, the Son of David: “Hosanna in the highest!” By the end of the week came their condemnations: “Crucify! Crucify!” Lord, give us the faith and strength to always praise and never deny your majestic name. "Daniel said, ‘May the name of God be blessed forever and ever, because wisdom and power are his’" (DANIEL 2:20). “O LORD, OUR LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH!” Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PALM SUNDAY readings: ZECH. 9:9, 10; PHILIP. 2:5-11; MATT. 21:1-11; (PSALM 8)
SERVICES: 8:00am @ McCook (Sun) / 10:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) / NCF 1:00 Min. (Sat) & 12:00 Med. (Sun)
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