Psalm 8
This is the only praise Psalm which is addressed entirely to the LORD. No call to worship like Psalm 95:1, ‘O come let us sing unto the LORD’. No asides to the congregation like Psalm 107:2, ‘Let the redeemed of the LORD say so’. David just breaks out into unhindered praise of the Lord.
He begins and ends this psalm with the same words: “O Lord, our Lord…” which literally is rendered, “Yahweh, our Adonai…” David maintains this awareness of God’s presence throughout this entire psalm. It is a bold declaration, referring to Sovereign God on such personal terms.
But this is a reflection of the intimacy that David experienced in his relationship with God. The Hebrew writer proclaimed: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) And David did just that. David knew that the excellent name of God was a place of refuge, a fortification, a strong tower. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
It is a gift of pure grace that God would tell us what he is called. God’s names are an invitation to intimacy. In fact, in the Greek language, the very word for name comes from the verb that means “to know something” or someone. You see, to give somebody your name means to say I am knowable.
When God gave us his names, he is asking us to get to know him. He is saying, “I want you to check me out and become close to me.” God doesn’t want to be a mystery to us. He wants to be known by us. God isn’t interested in you just knowing a lot of facts about him. God doesn’t want to be worshiped at a distance. God wants a personal relationship with each one of us. He wants to be known by you. He wants to be closer to you than anyone else you could ever know. And he wants you to know that you can always count on him.
David understood this profound truth about the majesty of God’s name and how wonderful over all names was the Lord’s in all of the earth.
PRAY
Father, may we know your majestic name in the same way that David did! Help us to run to you always in boldness knowing you have given us Your name as our place of refuge!