The Excellent Name of God (Psalm 8)

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth (v.1). God created the heavens and the earth: the sun, moon and stars (v.3,4; Genesis 1). He created man, breathing into him the breath of life (v.5,6; Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:25,28). He created the animals, birds and fish (v.7,8). How excellent is the name of God!

An interesting note to this Psalm is found in verse 8. “And the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the sea.” It wasn’t until about the mid 1800’s that man recognized there were “paths of the sea,” that is streams or currents within the oceans and seas. A man who is famous for mapping the currents of the sea Matthew Fontaine Muary, joined the Navy when 19 years old. In 1842, he became the Superintendent of the Depot of Charts and Instruments. He wrote a book in 1855 entitled The Physical Geography of the Sea. In his study, he found and charted the paths of the sea. It is said his basis for his research was this very verse, Psalm 8:8.

The Navy scientists found the paths of the sea and have been able to learn much about the ocean and ocean life as a result of this great find. We have the technology and equipment necessary to make these discoveries. Yet, the Psalmist was able to know these things about 3,000 years earlier. How? How did he know these truths? He knew because God directed him in what he wrote in the pages of the Bible through inspiration.

God created the world and everything in it. Within His word, we find everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). His word makes us mature and thoroughly furnished unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17). His word is able to save our souls (James 1:21). How magnificent is the word of God! How magnificent is the name of God!