O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth!
יְהוָ֥ה אֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ מָֽה־אַדִּ֥יר שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse
He concludes his address in the same manner as he commenced: ‘O Lord our God!’ employing the same phrases both prior to and following his explanation. Let us similarly and continually echo these words, in awe of God's providence, His wisdom, His humanity, and His diligent concern for us. This serves as our reflection on the psalm.
Let us reiterate the closing verse, which is also introduced at the outset of the psalm, and offer our praises to God by declaring, O Lord our Lord, how marvelous is Your name in all the earth! After considering the theme of the discussion, it is appropriate to return to the title, as it serves as the ultimate focus of our reflection.
Astonished by the divinity manifested in humanity, he echoes the previous words, thereby intensifying the miracle.
The elements of the prayer are frequently encapsulated within a single psalm, notably Psalm 8. It opens with the exclamation: O Lord our Lord! How wonderful is Your name throughout the earth! (Ps 8:2). This serves as the initial section of the prayer. Next comes the reflection, I will look to the heavens, the works of Your fingers (Ps 8:4), which indicates, 'I will glance upon the heavens': referring to the moon and stars that You have established. He does not mention 'I will look into heaven,' but rather emphasizes 'I will look into the heavens,' where the splendor of divine glory begins to emerge. The prophet anticipated that these heavens would be accessible to those who had received heavenly grace from the Lord. Then consider his supplication: What is man, that You are mindful of him?
Or the son of man, that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor, setting him over the works of Your hands (Ps 8:5-7). He further expresses gratitude: You have placed all things under his feet: the sheep and oxen, and even the beasts of the field, among others.
"You have placed everything under His authority": "Sheep and oxen, all creatures of the earth." "The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and the pathways of the ocean." This serves as a definitive testament to Your humanity and might, demonstrating that You have imbued the humbled nature of humanity with profound wisdom, enabling mankind to have dominion not just over terrestrial beasts, but also over avian and aquatic life. Through ingenuity, humanity captures both those soaring aloft and those dwelling in the depths, exerting control over creatures that soar in the skies and those that conceal themselves within waters.
Just as the right to rule these beings is granted to humanity at large, so too does the Word of God, having taken on the essence of our humanity and transformed it into His dwelling, declaring it His very flesh, foster an indescribable unity. He reigns "far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is mentioned, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He will place all things under His feet" (Eph. 1:21-22); encompassing not merely sheep and oxen, but the entirety of both the seen and unseen creation. This is affirmed by the divine Apostle, who proclaims: "Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, was crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death" (Heb. 2:9). Just a bit earlier he notes, "You have put all things under His feet" (Heb. 2:8). In the Epistle to the Corinthians, it states, "But when He says that all things are put in subjection to Him, it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him" (1 Cor. 15:27). The uncreated nature alone is exempt from this subordination as it is inherently free. Nevertheless, every created being, whether seen or unseen, derives its existence from the uncreated and is thus subject to Christ the Lord, both in His divinity and His humanity. This is the dignity bestowed upon human nature by the Almighty. Hence, the Prophet, at the conclusion of the psalm, reiterates the opening lines: "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth."
This psalm foretells the profound mystery of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, who descended from heaven to earth and later ascended back to His heavenly home, journeying throughout the world and returning to His original glory. Consequently, this psalm encapsulates a singular theme. The prophet opens and concludes with admiration for the majesty of God's name.
He reiterates the initial declaration, positioning it as the focal point and demonstrating that it embodies the primary purpose of the entire psalm. Let us, too, express, "Let us persistently reflect, awestruck by His love, His wisdom, His incarnation, and His consideration for us."
The name of Christ is truly magnificent, for there is no other name under heaven among men by which we can attain salvation (Acts 4:12). He has provided us with a new birth and adoption, illuminating the path, the truth, and the life that lead to the Kingdom of Heaven.
THEOSIS