Thought for Today

Psalm 8:3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4 what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? 5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.  

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  

Psalm 8 will be our Old Testament reading this Sunday during worship. I have long loved that psalm because it captures one of the eternal quandaries for Jews and Christians: “Why?” Why did God create Creation at all? Why did God create the incredible diversity of flora and fauna? Most of all, why did God create us and set us at the top of the food chain? As Christians, we know that God loved us and loved “the world” enough to send “his only Son” for our salvation . . . but why does God love us at all?

One of the most striking things about Psalm 8 is that if you read it in different translations, you will find verse 5 is most often rendered as “a little lower than angels.” I have always been intrigued by the difference. The footnote in my NRSV indicates that the Hebrew word used there is ‘elohim’ which is a Hebrew word for god. My Bible software, however, presents the word מלאך or malakh, which means messenger, or one who is sent. The Greek Septuagint offers the word ἄγγελος which means messenger, or one who is sent. Both מלאך and ἄγγελος are often translated into English as angel.

I am not a linguist, nor am I a scholar of biblical languages. I did take courses in both koine Greek and biblical Hebrew in seminary. I’m sure that I read both with a Texas accent. Since studying those languages, I have always been intrigued with the issue of all the issues involved in translating things between languages. In the case of the Bible, the issue is compounded by the temporal and cultural differences between Israel and western Europe and the U.S.A.

How do we capture the thoughts of a nomadic herdsman who lived in a mostly arid, desert region, spoke a Semitic language and lived 6000 years ago? Interestingly, for me, is the fact that much of what was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls was incredibly exactly like what I can read in my NRSV Bible. And, I often think and say that every time I read a scripture, I am amazed at how timely applicable that passage is to my life and the world around me.

Either way we read Psalm 8, we should be intrigued with the whole question, “Why?” Why did God create Creation at all? Why did God create the incredible diversity of flora and fauna? Most of all, why did God create us and set us at the top of the food chain? Whether we read “a little lower than God,” “a little lower than a god” (NAB) or “a little lower than the angels,” (KJV, NAB, NKJ), any way we translate that passage, the message speaks to God’s love for Creation, for creatures, and especially for all of God’s children. When, “Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being,” our very life itself resulted from God’s own breath. As God’s children, we are truly special.

There is another lesson we can learn from Psalm 8; and, it is emphasized by the Hebrew and the Greek words I noted above. Both מלאך and ἄγγελος have the basic meaning of messenger, or one being sent. Whether you understand angels as some other order of created beings or not, angels are messengers of God. I believe that all of us are presented with opportunities to be God’s messengers to other of God’s children. Whether it is through the mere offering of a needed smile, a kind word or a gesture of help, we all can ‘preach’ the truth of the love our Creator God has for Creation and for all creatures.

Even when we are not being particularly angelic, in our bad moods or in our good moods, in rain or in sunshine, we are messengers of God. On those days when I am not feeling especially angelic, I find it helpful to remember Psalm 8, John 3:16 and most especially Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” I can always convey messages of justice, kindness and humility. I can always convey the messages of God’s love expressed through God’s Son.

Stay safe, carry the message, trust God,

Pastor Ray