The work of your fingers
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Psalm 8:3-4
I know very, very little about astronomy. However, whenever I hear about it, I find it mind-blowing. I totally understand where David was coming from in this psalm. Let me give you a few facts about our amazing universe. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second, so it covers 671 million miles per hour. In a year light travels about 6 trillion miles. Even if you managed to travel at the incredible speed of light it would take 96 billion light years to get from one side of our universe to the other. Let’s leave it there! All we need to conclude is that David asks a really good question. Why on earth should God take the tiniest bit of interest in those miniscule specks of dust that we call human beings?
The psalm doesn’t offer an explanation as to why God has acted in this way. It simply affirms that that’s the way it is. God has chosen to give human beings this phenomenally important status and asked us to look after his creation. The punch line of this psalm is simply an outpouring of worship. “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!” (v9).
If you ever feel unimportant, then go out on a clear night and gaze at the sky. Without using a telescope it is possible to see the planet of Saturn, which is 746 million miles away. The furthest it is possible to see with the naked eye is the Andromeda Galaxy, which is 2.5 million light years away. Look hard and remember that, tiny as you are, God cares for you. And if that doesn’t convince you, why not get a telescope?!
QUESTION
How do you respond to the incredible scale of the universe and the importance that God has placed on your life?
PRAYER
Majestic God, I praise you for your amazing creation. Thank you that you love me so much. I am simply astonished that I am so important to you. Amen
Flowers – courtesy St Colman’s, Dunmurry