Psalm 8 is a magnificent hymn of praise to God’s greatness. But praise can be hard when things are going wrong around us. 

This week's news 

A week of stories about the harder edge of marriage, sex and children: a teacher who falls in love with a 15 year old pupil is found with her in France and faces extradition and serious charges; a celebrity (deceased) is accused of inappropriate behaviour with teenage girls; a 5 year old child is abducted and everyone fears the worst. Even Monday’s episode of New Trickson BBC1 involved a story about a tennis coach having a relationship with a teenage tennis star. And the aftershocks of Rochdale are still reverberating – a report that shows how reluctant the authorities were to listen to the children and how quick to label them.

In the Gospel, people bring little children to Jesus so that he can touch them – but that is something quite different! Words acquire new meanings. ‘Touching children’ has a different meaning in the news stories. 

The stories in the news and all the readings for today challenge us to think about who we are: who we are in relation to each other; who we are in relation to God; who we are in relation to God’s creation.

Psalm 8 creates a context for reflecting on these questions and gives us a way to respond – in praise. 

Reflection

Psalm 8 shows God as both creator and ruler of the universe. The holy name itself, Yahweh, spelled out in this psalm (v.1), shows how glorious God is, how majestic. The whole creation shows God’s majesty. God is a personal presence, someone who relates to us. God is shown in very human terms, to the extent of having fingers that shape the sky and the moon and the stars (v.4). God is like us, because we have been made to be like God. 

Who God is matters, because it says something about us. Who are we, that God should care about us and seek us out? Humankind is made by God, created to care for the rest of creation and not to exploit it, a little lower than the angels in God’s order of things (v.6). We stand half way between the apes and the angels. We are not God, and we should never assume that we are – so we can’t play god when we are caring for the natural world and for each other, in our relationships with those closest to us, or with children. 

But there is also a dark streak in this psalm. The enemy and the avenger lurk in verse 3. The enemy is the one from whom all enmity to God arises – and for that matter – enmity to God’s creation, to God’s children, to us, to stolen children, to children whose innocence is taken way too soon. 

What can dispel the activity of the enemy? I want to rage and curse against those who bring harm to children and young people, even to those who are trying to grow up too quickly. I shout at God about those who abuse their partners and spouses, leaving the debris of broken hearts and shattered lives. And it is good to have a go at God sometimes. But in the end, that isn’t enough. 

We need to listen to the children. ‘Out of the mouths of babes’ (v.2) we say when a child has spoken a truth that the adults would rather suppress. We don’t always listen to children, especially when they are telling us something we don’t want to hear. That has been a feature in some of the news stories. 

What keeps the enemy at bay is praise. That’s what the mouths of babes proclaim (v.2). Even in the darkest moments, children can step outside the pain and recognise the glory, God’s glory in creation, God’s glory simply in who God is. Praise makes a difference. It is an important part of our relationship with God. We need to receive the kingdom of God as a little child (Mark 10.15), and that includes the ability to praise.

Prayer

This prayer could be used to sum up a time of open intercession or a discussion about the difficult issues in our world today.

When we see the magnificence of your creation,
Lord,
how glorious is your name.

When we know your presence with us,
Lord,
how glorious is your name.

When we remember everything you have done for us,
Lord,
how glorious is your name.

When we reflect on the job you have given us to do,
Lord,
how glorious is your name.

Even when bad things happen in our lives,
Lord,
how glorious is your name.

And when we see all kinds of trouble in our world,
Lord,
how glorious is your name.

When you transform the lives of children,
Lord,
how glorious is your name.

Renew us in the work you have called us to do,
Lord,
how glorious is your name.
Amen.

Questions

• Do you find praising God easy or difficult to do? And why?
• Why does praise make a difference, do you think?

Action

Perhaps, this week, you could listen to a child, really spend time with her and listen. See if she can lead you into a place of praise – and, whether you will let her!

Or write your own psalm of praise – not always as easy as it sounds!

Young People

Think of all the ways in which you and your various communities praise God. This could include words, songs, music, actions, dance, service – loads of things. 

Try and find one new way of praising God, either on your own or with a group.

Meg Gilley is a parish priest working in a deprived area of Gateshead.

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