Feelings and thinking in Psalm 8: the advantage of awe re-elevated.

Feelings and thinking in Psalm 8: the advantage of awe re-elevated.

Psalm 8
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.[a]
1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,[b]
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?[c]
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God[d]
and crowned them[e] with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Awe has possibly lost its lustre. In American English the word ‘awesome’ flows from the tongue for nearly anything. It just seems to mean as little as a shallow approval. And yet there are things which really deserve the word awesome. The night sky and a very little knowledge of the stars, the planets, their sizes and its immensity should be awe inspiring. We are so little. Have you taken time to look closely at small things or ever looked through a magnifying glass or microscope? Mind boggling awesome is the proper response to the scale, beauty, intricacy and complexity. The feeling of awe concerning power, scope and scale is an important element in growing up, staying young, being creative, and driving forward gains in knowledge, technology, creativity, engineering and essentially all endeavours. Even the awe that comes from hearing an excellent musician or watching a gifted, dedicated, hard working athlete should inspire awe.

Awe makes us humble. But it also inspires us to reach further, learn more and enjoy life more.

The feelings of awe could lead to fear, anxiety or being overwhelmed. But they could also spark dreams, goals and plans that expand a whole life story.

It was once said or at least thought that children should be seen and not heard. But Jesus didn’t hold that point of view. And David tells us that God works directly with children. When I last read this following verse, I immediately thought that good children’s workers and teachers and parents are being godly just by teaching and even more so if they are teaching children praise or about God.

“You have taught children and infants

to tell of your strength”

Psalm 8:2

Have you ever tried to teach a child? Have you ever wanted to instil a bit of awe in a child? It is not an easy task. And should you have the pleasure of seeing it happen, you will be wise not to give yourself too much credit.

Think back to your childhood. What did you find awesome? I don’t want to reserve the word awesome or the feeling of awesome for some stale, sacred thing or even only a limited idea of God. God.

I could give examples of things I think are awesome. Some of those things scare me. I feel awe and I think about it too. I’m not throwing the word around aimlessly and just using it as a shallow affirmation. Not like, awesome, then, “let’s go for a burger.” Though if that actually is a thoughtful statement meaning, I recognise the importance of this time with you and the joy of having a meal with you and the skill of this particular chef and the flavour and purity of the ingredients, and that makes you thank God and praise Him for His goodness, then maybe “awesome, let's go for a burger” is the right use of the word.

What I mean to say is that the feeling of awe is essential to humanity. When someone is depressed or overworked or too focused or selfish or out of balance, the true proper sense of awe is one of the first things to go.

It is probably a bit odd that I am going on about awe when I was planning on focusing on thoughts and feelings in the Psalms about humanity and anthropology and the emotional and mental health issues that might come up. But I really, really think this area of awe is fundamental to our mental health and our emotional stability.

I have not yet chosen a work of art to illustrate this passage and accompany my text. And that is partially because I don’t feel the awe for any I’ve looked at this morning in this context. I have an idea of an awesome work of art on this theme but have been underwhelmed so far even by the so-called masters. Awe has to be earned and fit in context. If you read this and there is a painting with it, then see if you can find the awe I found. I’m still looking everywhere to be awed. I usually don’t have to look far, but sometimes I just can’t see clearly enough.

The Great Day of His Wrath, circa 1851 (oil on canvas h 196.5 cm (77.3 in); w303.2 cm (119.3 in)

John Martin  (1789–1854)

(right painting in the over 9m triptych)

The Last Judgement (Martin paintings)

William Bode working at Museums Sheffield John Martin Exhibition 2011