When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
When the heavens are considered as the work of God's fingers, with the moon and the stars ordained by Him, that contemplation is joined to consideration of His works on earth and His love shown for humanity, leading to praise of the excellence of the Lord's name in all the earth and His glory set above the heavens. The heavens, moon and stars are His created handiwork, made and ordained by Him and ordered and sustained by His power. Their grandeur, beauty and brightness display His mighty power, wisdom, greatness, goodness, parental love and benevolence, and the superiority of the true and living God who made heaven and earth, and they are more precious than human workmanship.
Their greatness leads to wonder that God is mindful of human beings and visits them and cares for them. Considering their beauty and greatness turns the mind toward the Creator and magnifies Him, teaching His greatness and human littleness so that people humble themselves before Him rather than take pride in wealth, talents or appearance. Considering them calls people to recognize God's greatness and submit reverently to His authority, studying and obeying His lessons. Beholding them leads those truly converted to praise and glorify His name.
The picture of God's fingers at work in the heavens and on earth links the created world with the truths Christ taught, so that natural sights can direct people to God's wisdom and keep His lessons fresh in their minds. Their grandeur points to the Sabbath commandment, which identifies the true God as Creator of heaven and earth and stands as a memorial of His creative work. In the setting of the psalm, the dominion over creation once consigned to Adam and forfeited by him will be given to Jesus Christ when He comes the second time in glory as King and Deliverer over all the earth, when the animal kingdom will have its nature changed and be subdued to Him, the groanings and lamentations of creation will cease, universal peace will prevail with songs of praise and thanksgiving, and the Lord will again look upon the earth and declare it very good.
When the heavens are considered as the work of God's fingers, with the moon and the stars ordained by Him, that contemplation is joined to consideration of His works on earth and His love shown for humanity, leading to praise of the excellence of the Lord's name in all the earth and His glory set above the heavens. The heavens, moon and stars are His created handiwork, made and ordained by Him and ordered and sustained by His power. Their grandeur, beauty and brightness display His mighty power, wisdom, greatness, goodness, parental love and benevolence, and the superiority of the true and living God who made heaven and earth, and they are more precious than human workmanship.
Their greatness leads to wonder that God is mindful of human beings and visits them and cares for them. Considering their beauty and greatness turns the mind toward the Creator and magnifies Him, teaching His greatness and human littleness so that people humble themselves before Him rather than take pride in wealth, talents or appearance. Considering them calls people to recognize God's greatness and submit reverently to His authority, studying and obeying His lessons. Beholding them leads those truly converted to praise and glorify His name.
The picture of God's fingers at work in the heavens and on earth links the created world with the truths Christ taught, so that natural sights can direct people to God's wisdom and keep His lessons fresh in their minds. Their grandeur points to the Sabbath commandment, which identifies the true God as Creator of heaven and earth and stands as a memorial of His creative work. In the setting of the psalm, the dominion over creation once consigned to Adam and forfeited by him will be given to Jesus Christ when He comes the second time in glory as King and Deliverer over all the earth, when the animal kingdom will have its nature changed and be subdued to Him, the groanings and lamentations of creation will cease, universal peace will prevail with songs of praise and thanksgiving, and the Lord will again look upon the earth and declare it very good.