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This language of the Psalmist shows that there were two facts in his mind that had settled down as undebatable convictions. The first is, that God is the Creator and Proprietor of the heavens. "Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers." He was neither Atheist, Polytheist, nor Pantheist. The second is, that God pays special regard to His creature man. "Thou art mindful of him," etc. Now with these two facts in his mind, he studied; "considered" the heavens. A wonderful study are these heavens! Who can compute the number of yon flaming orbs? Think of their infinite variety. No two alike. Think of the swiftness and regularity of their revolutions. What is man?

I. NEGATIVELY. He does not mean to imply that man constitutionally is a contemptible being — a creature too insignificant for notice. The very next verse shows that he could not mean that, for he says, Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, etc. Man is an immortal intelligence, and therefore great. He does not mean that man is insignificant in comparison with the heavens. The heavens are incapable of studying their Maker; man can. The heavens have no power of self-modification — they cannot move slower or faster, grow brighter or dimmer, of their own accord; man can. The heavens will not continue their identity forever. "The stars shall fade away," etc.; but man will abide.

3. He does not mean to imply that there is a probability of man being overlooked amidst the immensity of God's works.

4. He does not mean that it is essentially inconsistent with God's greatness for Him to notice man. This cannot be entertained. Great and small are relative terms to creatures only. To the Infinite they have no meaning.

II. POSITIVELY. What, then, does he mean?

1. The great sentiment in his mind at the time was undoubtedly the infinite condescension of the great Creator and Proprietor of the heavens. This condescension would impress him as he thought of man as a spiritual creature.

2. This condescension would impress him much more as he thought upon him as a mortal creature, a creature only of a day, "who cometh forth as a flower and is cut down," etc.

3. This condescension would impress him most of all as he thought upon man as a sinful creature — ungrateful, disobedient, rebellious.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

WEB: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;