Sermon Notes — November 3, 2024
November 3, 2024
Psalm 8
A Little Lower Than the Angels
Dr. Craig Goff
We are continuing our Grace Wins series today which will run through the beginning of Advent — if you can believe it — just 50 shopping days before Christmas, assuming stores will be open on Christmas Eve.
Our text today is from Psalm 8. It is a beautiful hymn of praise, meant to be sung at night when you can see the moon and the stars up in the sky. But it is also a psalm that speaks to human dignity.
The Psalmist sees the moon and the stars and all that God has created and it causes him to wonder “what are human beings that YOU should care about them.”
So, this is an ideal passage for today because it is about worship and the adoration of God which is what worship is about every Sunday, but it also speaks to the connection between God and human beings: “you have created us a little lower than the angels.”
So it is a perfect passage for All Saint’s Sunday as we remember those who have gone on before us.
Now, just to lay all my cards on the table, there is another reason I think Psalm 8 is a perfect passage for today. I actually already had another message already prepared for today when I realized this is November 3, which means November 5is just two days away which is also known as Election Day.
So I think there are three reasons Psalm 8 is a perfect passage for today.
1. It is about worship. It is a song of praise to God.
2. It is about human dignity. “You have created us a little lower than the angels.”
3. Election Day is in two days.
I can’t think of a better time for us to remember we have all been created just a little lower than the angels. We have all been created for a special relationship with God. All means all. All Republicans, all Democrats. Kamala people and Trump supporters have all been created a little lower than the angels.
Long, long, ago the psalmist looked up into the night sky with it’s cool refracted light… saw the moon and the stars and the milky way pointing to a vast universe.
And asked that question many of us have asked, “When we try to take in all that God has done. What are human beings to the creator of such a vast universe, where even light tires trying to reach across. “
What are human beings to the One who has seen stars born and die? …To the one who is to be praised and held in awe.
Psalm 8 is a psalm of praise.
But it is also a psalm about human dignity. We were created a little lower than the angels.
So that even an infant, even a tiny child can speak to God’s glory.
I have a college friend who was having a really tough time in his life and ministry; in fact he was having one of those pity parties that “some people have from time to time.” During that period in his life, while he was reading a Bible story book with his young daughter, his daughter pointed to a page where Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers. “Look, Dad,” she said, “he must have felt pretty bad.”
Her dad looked at the picture and agreed that he probably did. He said, ‘yes, he must have felt pretty bad.” She kept turning the pages until she got near the end of the book and a picture of Joseph ruling Egypt and embraced by his brothers, restored and reconnected to his brothers. “But look,” she said, it all turned out okay.” Her dad said, “Okay, God, I get it.”
Out of the mouth of babes comes such wisdom sometimes.
According to Psalm 8 (and other scriptures) even infants, the smallest and most defenseless of all human beings, can speak to God’s glory and grandeur.
We were created a little lower than the angels for a special relationship with God and for a special place in God’s kingdom.
In the Upper Room at the Last Supper as Jesus helped prepare the disciples for his own death. He invited them all to share in the bread and cup which has become a sacrament for us, food for all of us as we seek to claim our sacred identity as those created a little lower than the angels.
This morning as we share in that bread and cup, we will be remembering and honoring members of our church who have died this year and be offered an opportunity for all of us to name others to be remembered and honored.
In the United Methodist Church we invite anyone who would seek to draw strength from Christ to join us at this, His Table. Amen.