The Weak Made Strong
Opening Prayer
Spirit of God, breathe new life in me today. Fill me with vision, courage to follow and boldness.
Read Psalm 8:1-9
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[1] For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. [2] Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. [3] When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, [4] what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? [5] You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. [6] You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: [7] all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, [8] the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. [9] LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Where is God’s power seen?Our world is often a place of conflict, where enemies emerge to threaten us (2). How do we respond to such threats? With counter-threats of our own? Even children praising God can, in God’s wisdom, silence the foe. There is awesome power in weakness. Looking forward with a prophet’s vision, the writer captures how the demonstration of such “weak-power” will be for our ultimate good (3-5). Hebrews 2:5-9 interprets these verses as referring directly to Jesus, and specifically to his death on the cross. Jesus “taste[d] death for everyone” and in this becoming “lower than the [sinless] angels” silenced the foe of human sinfulness. Rising from the tomb, he is crowned with glory and honor. There is awesome power in weakness. This psalm gives confidence to all of us, made in God’s image, of our generous place in his world. In Christ, everything is under our feet (6-8), because we have been raised up to reign with Christ (Eph. 2:6). Others may imagine they are powerful, but the Lord alone is majestic (1,9).
Apply
Bow before God today, whether prostrate or on your knees. Trust him to meet you where you are weak.
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