What is God's Economy?

[Nell]

The Psalms were a collection of poems set to music. Many were written by David and most agree that David wrote Psalm 8. For a hymn that begins and ends with "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!", a little context would be helpful.

Picture David, out stargazing, talking to his excellent Lord and telling him "3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;"...

David can't help but ask his Lord, "4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" David also might have had the thought "Who am I?" Do you think David had the thought "Oh I'm a man, I'm the meaning of the universe?" I think if he did, he would have written it down in this poem.

Or, why did you, the God of the universe, make me (v5) just a little lower than the angels, you crowned me with glory and honour. (v6) The man you made, Adam, you made to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (vv 7-8) All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. Wow! Lord! how excellent is your name in all the earth!

So the real question is not "what is man" but "who is this one with the excellent name in all the earth!" What is man...in his lowly, fallen state...who, in his own lineage, brought forth the Savior of mankind.

So, when you say, "I am curious - what do you think man is then . . . what is the accurate view from scripture?" I think man is fallen, sinful, narcissistic, and thinks of himself more highly than he ought.

When we stand before Him, in that day, we will declare "worthy the Lamb", not worthy the Lee.

Nell

[Sons to Glory!]

This is kind of a circular thing, is it not? Man was created with God's highest intentions, and Adam blew it. Christ came to take care of the problems Adam brought on us and through Him we are restored. I agree we are to look to the lifted up One and focus on Him, and thereby be healed. And what is His focus? His body, house & bride - us. Love God & each other with the love we've received.

My paraphrased/amplified take of Revelation 12:11 - "They overcame the deceiver by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony (which is Jesus), and they loved not their soul-lives unto death, because they see Him of peerless worth."

So yes, fallen man thinks of himself too high. But perhaps regenerated ones think of themselves too low . . . (e.g., 1 Peter 2:9, Eph 2:10) Regardless, He gets the glory! (which He shares with us)

[aron]

Originally Posted by Sons to Glory!

So yes, fallen man thinks of himself too high. But perhaps regenerated ones think of themselves too low . . . (e.g., 1 Peter 2:9, Eph 2:10) Regardless, He gets the glory! (which He shares with us)

Originally Posted by Nell

So the real question is not "what is man" but "who is this one with the excellent name in all the earth!" What is man...in his lowly, fallen state...who, in his own lineage, brought forth the Savior of mankind.

So, when you say, "I am curious - what do you think man is then . . . what is the accurate view from scripture?" I think man is fallen, sinful, narcissistic, and thinks of himself more highly than he ought.

It might be worth considering Jesus' answer to the question. When someone called him, "Good Master" he replied, "Why do you call me good. No one is good but the Father." If Jesus didn't allow himself to be called good, why would any of his disciples?

Of course we are called to glory, but the path to glory is by humbling oneself. Because of sin, those who lift themselves will be abased, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. The pattern is clear, and it is explicit.