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Neither Pride Nor Despair
By Peter J. Louie

One of the challenges of the Christian life is to stay balanced. God’s word is gracious and helps us to fight the tendency we have to sway to one side or the other. It does us good to view both sides of theological precepts and see the larger and balanced picture. For example, look at the admonitions in Philippians to have a spirit of “fear and trembling” and “rejoicing,” or observe the balance of “sovereignty” and “human responsibility” of Romans 9-10.

Psalms 8 helps us keep a balanced view of our view of mankind. Man is not simply another animal. Man was created in the image of God. But we are also made “lower” than God. Chuck Colson describes man as neither ape nor angel. We must remember to keep this balance to avoid pride or despair. Psalms 8 reminds us to live lives of humility and hopefulness.

God is transcendent. He is not limited like we are. God is the creator. We are the created. We need to study God’s immensity, holiness, and purity. How does God differ from us? Our lives are like a mist that appears and vanishes. 1 Peter 1:24 says; “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.” Thomas Watson stated that one of the ways we are to remain humble is to “contemplate our mortality.” He goes on to explain:

Shall dust exalt itself? The thoughts of the grave should bury our pride. They say that when there is a swelling in the body, the hand of a dead man stroking that part cures the swelling. The serious meditation of death is enough to cure the swelling of pride. – A Godly Man’s Picture, p.87

God is also immanent. He is near and close to us. He is not like a clockmaker who sets the world off and watches it from afar. The Psalmist expresses his awe that God would care for us. “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” God’s care is most exhibited by his Son, for by Him, humanity’s appointed destiny will be realized. Jesus came so the redeemed may participate with his rule.

A proper understanding of God’s transcendence and immanence will result in us proclaiming; “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” Our God is far above us, yet he loves us– how humbling and hope stirring.

Psalm 8
1 O LORD , our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD , our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!