4 what is man, that you think of him?
What is the son of man, that you care for him? 5 For you have made him a little lower than God, [1]
and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You make him ruler over the works of your hands.
You have put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and cattle,
yes, and the animals of the field, 8 The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea,
and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 8:4-8
Commentary on Psalm 8:3-9
(Read Psalm 8:3-9)
We are to consider the heavens, that man thus may be directed to set his affections on things above. What is man, so mean a creature, that he should be thus honoured! so sinful a creature, that he should be thus favoured! Man has sovereign dominion over the inferior creatures, under God, and is appointed their lord. This refers to Christ. In Hebrews 2:6-8, the apostle, to prove the sovereign dominion of Christ, shows he is that Man, that Son of man, here spoken of, whom God has made to have dominion over the works of his hands. The greatest favour ever showed to the human race, and the greatest honour ever put upon human nature, were exemplified in the Lord Jesus. With good reason does the psalmist conclude as he began, Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth, which has been honoured with the presence of the Redeemer, and is still enlightened by his gospel, and governed by his wisdom and power! What words can reach his praises, who has a right to our obedience as our Redeemer?