Background   First of all, I’m sorry I didn’t get this out earlier.  I think I had it all planned in my head and then forgot I hadn’t actually done it.  Psalm 8 moves from God being aware of us to actually giving us dominion over his creation.  It is important to understand that this “ruling” isn’t about our power, but our responsibility.  God has put his creation into our care.  We are honored and humbled. The last part of the Psalm is also one of my favorites because it shows how the old words can be seen anew with new truths for today as well.   The Psalmist didn’t know about global climate change, or loss of the rainforests, or pollution.  The Psalmist didn’t understand that reshaping the environment would change the species in it, potentially destroying them. He couldn’t have foreseen the power humanity now has to really control, for better or worse, the fate of all the birds and fish and animal of wild.  But we know this and this Psalm is our prayer that we remember who gave us this power, and that we are called to find ways to care for God’s creation.

Reading Psalm 8:6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their^[g] feet:

Reflection.  The Psalm ends, as it began, with “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”  It ends not talking about our power, but God’s.  Still one could read the question in the middle of who is humanity that he would give us power over creation as “what were you thinking!!!”  There is certainly evidence that it doesn’t seem like a wise choice to let us do what we want to with this earth.  Have you ever had a teacher that had more faith in you then you did in yourself?  Perhaps this is what the Psalmist felt.  That we must try to live up to the astonishing faith God has in us.