What is mankind that you are mindful of them? Psalm 8:4
His name is Dnyan, and he considers himself a student of the world. And “this is a very big school,” he says of all the cities and towns he’s passed through. He began a four-year journey on his bicycle in 2016 to meet and learn from people. When there’s a language barrier, he finds that sometimes people can understand just by looking at each other. He also depends on a translation app on his phone to communicate. He doesn’t measure his journey in the miles he’s traveled or the sights he’s seen. Instead, he measures it in the people who’ve left an imprint on his heart: “Maybe I do not know your language, but I would like to find out who you are.”
It’s a very big world, yet God knows everything about it and the people in it—fully and completely. The psalmist David was in awe of God when he considered all the works of His hands: the making of the heavens, the moon, and the stars (Psalm 8:3). He wondered, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (v. 4).
God knows you more thoroughly than anyone else possibly can and He cares for you. We can only respond, “
How do you feel knowing that God knows all about you and loves you? What does believing this truth look like in your life today?
Dear God, it’s awesome to realize that You’re all-knowing about Your whole creation. I love You for knowing me personally too.
INSIGHT
In the opening verse of this beautiful hymn of praise, David declares the greatness of God through His power and glory evident in heaven and earth. In Psalm 8:2 he states, “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies.” Some Bible versions put it this way: “you have ordained strength” (