Chapter 8

Ps.8:1. Finally, O sharpeners, a psalm to David. It is said: “at the end”, because the prophecy contained in the psalm was supposed to come true at the end of the ages. For the psalm speaks of Christ and of the Churches after His incarnation; since the Only Begotten is called the vine, and the faithful - birth. If the Jew insists that the psalm speaks generally about man; then in this case, let it be known that everything was subjugated to man, because He had to become man in the image of God. Anciently, in the subordinate service there was one precinct, that is, the altar in the temple; according to the calling of the pagans, they sharpened a lot, and these are the essence of the Church, gathering the fruits of those who are successful in godliness. Ps.8:2. O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is Your name throughout all the earth. The Prophet was amazed at the knowledge of the name of God given to people. For it is no longer only those who live in Judea who know God. Ps.8:3. From the mouth of a child and of those who piss you have made praise, that is, from the lips of those who are infants in malice according to God. This, as is clearly written in the Gospels, was what the Savior said when the Pharisees stopped the mouths of His children blessing Him. For your enemy's sake, destroy the enemy and the local. Understand either the sensual or mental enemy, or the Jewish people. For the Jews persecuted Christ as an enemy, and pretended that they were doing this out of jealousy for the Father. Therefore, in order to deprive them of all justification, the Lord said: “You hate Me, and you hate My Father” (John 15:23). “The enemy and the local”, that is, or the devil, because he, having forced them to commit a sin, punishes those who sin, presenting before their eyes the severity of sin - or the Jewish people, this enemy of truth and the local, due to his imaginary zeal for the law. Ps.8:4. For I will see the heavens, the works of Your finger. They are indignant at infants performing praise; and I, a small thing in Your creation, look at this great and wonderful thing, that is, at heaven. Ps.8:5. What is a man, since you remember him? Or son of man, because you visit him? Ps.8:6. Thou hast made him a little less than an angel. Since Paul clearly interpreted this about our Savior, we must be content with this explanation. Ps.8:7. You conquered everything under his nose. God, having said: “Let us make man in Our image and likeness,” added: “And let him have the fish of the sea,” and other things numbered in detail (Gen. 1:26), and after this he continues: “Grow and multiply, and fill the earth, and rule over it” (Gen. 1:28). For he gave dominion over everything to the rational nature, as God-like. And man, having received power in the image of God, was also made the prince of everything on earth, just as God is the King of all. If it is said at all: Thou hast placed him over the works of Thy hand, and in another place he says: “And the works of Your hand are the heavens” (Ps. 101:26); then it is clear that he placed him above the heavens, and, without concealing, he already calls the stay in heaven of those who departed from here from the earth, when, according to the promise, they inherit the heavenly kingdom. Paul also says: “Heirs to God, heirs to Christ” (Rom. 8:17). This is how the following should be understood: “Thou hast subjected all things under his nose.” Now he has subdued the animals; but, since a life equal to the angels in heaven is prepared for man, then man, even there, placed “over the works of His hand,” will be a spectator of heaven and everything that is in them. Blessed Paul interpreted that this too would be fulfilled on the Savior in the next century. Therefore the Father says to him: “Sit on My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Heb. 1:13). Ps.8:8. All the sheep and oxen, This makes clear those who believed among the Israelites. also Polish cattle, - this means pagans. Ps.8:9. birds of the sky, that is, those who exalt themselves with worldly things and the most foolish, but highly sophisticated people. Ps.8:10. O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is Your name throughout all the earth. Brought, as it is said, into amazement by the knowledge of God that has been revealed to people, he repeats the previous words, and thereby worsens the miracle. You might be interested in: