1. “The Psalm of the Astronomer” & “The Marks of a True Worshiper” Lesson 4: Psalms 8 & 15

2. Psalm 8 To the Chief Musician. On the Instrument of Gath. A Psalm of David O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.When I consider Your heavens the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen even the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

3. Psalm 8  A Psalm of David  Possible meanings of “Gittith” – “probably the title of the melody to which the psalm was to be sung or a musical instrument.”  “An instrument of Gath” (NKJV)  “After the tune of the treaders of the winepress” (Leupold)  Compare Psalms 81 & 84

4. Outline of Psalm 8 Praise God’s Name (8:1-2)  The Psalm begins and ends by declaring, “O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is your name in all the earth” (cf. 8:9)  Note the different words for “Lord” – transliterated it would read “Jehovah our Adoni.”  “Excellent” is from the Hebrew word addiyr (אדּיר) meaning “great or majestic.” (BDB Lexicon)  The greatness of the NAME of God is being extolled! (i.e. His character & reputation, Heb. 1:4)  His glory is above the heavens!  The praise of infants silences the enemies of God (Matthew 11:25; 21:15-16, quoted from LXX )

5. Outline of Psalm 8 God’s Place for Man in Creation (8:3-8)  Man’s apparent insignificance (vs. 3-4)  In contrast to the glorious heavens which God made (Job 9:9-10; Psalm 136:7-9)  Yet the Lord is “mindful” of man and “visits” Him (Psalm 40:5)  God gave man dominion over creation (vs.5-8)  Made him a little lower than the angels, who excel in strength (Psalm 103:20)  Placed man over the creatures (Genesis 1:28)  Including everything that passes through the “paths of the sea”.

6. Matthew Fontaine Maury (January 14, 1806 – February 1, 1873) He was nicknamed "Pathfinder of the Seas" and "Father of Modern Oceanography and Naval Meteorology” Maury made many important new contributions to charting winds and ocean currents, including ocean lanes for passing ships at sea. Matthew Maury's seagoing days came to an abrupt end at the age of 33 after a stagecoach accident broke his hip and knee. Thereafter, he devoted his time to the study of naval meteorology, navigation, charting the winds and currents, seeking the "Paths of the Seas" mentioned in Psalms 8:8 -- Wikipedia

7. Outline of Psalm 8 God’s Place for Man in Creation (8:3-8)  Yet man’s potential was not realized due to his fall in the garden – death had dominion (Hebrews 2:5-15)  Through Christ man is led back to the exalted position for which he was originally created!  God’s name is above all (v. 9).

8. Psalm 15 “The Marks of a True Worshiper”  This Psalm was written by David  Probably after the Ark had been moved to Jerusalem [Zion] (2 Sam. 6:1-19; 1 Kings 8:1-4)  Two parallel questions are asked.  “LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?” “Who may dwell in Your holy hill?”  In other words, what kind of man will have an abiding relationship with Jehovah in which the man and his worship are continually accepted?

9. Psalm 15 “The Marks of a True Worshiper” In general, the true worshiper is one who… “Walks uprightly” STRONG’s DICTIONARY: without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly), whole Note the relationship of the Lord with the upright in Genesis 6:9; Ps. 101:6; 84:11; 18:23. “Works righteousness” (1 John 3:7) “Speaks the truth in his heart” As he speaks with others (Psalm 12:2) And as he speaks within himself (James 1:26)

10. Psalm 15 “The Marks of a True Worshiper” Specifically he…  Does not backbite  Does not do evil to his neighbor  Does not take up a reproach against his friend.  Despises the vile person (Ps. 139:21-22; Prov. 8:13)  Honors those who fear the Lord.  Swears to his own hurt and does not change  Does not exact usury (Lev. 25:35-37)  Does not take a bribe against the innocent (Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19; Eccl. 7:7) He who does these things shall never be moved.