In Psalm 8, the phrase “O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” is a magnificent begin and end to a praise song with the gospel snugly hidden inside.  Jesus quotes verse 2, “Out of the mouths of babies and infants…” to clearly identify himself with the LORD being praised in the psalm.  There is an echo of the Creation in Genesis 1-2. The creator is praised for his handiwork: the heavens; the seas; birds and sea creatures; beasts of the field; and man is given dominion over every living thing that moves in all the earth. The curse of Genesis 3 is also present with the foes, enemy, and avenger of verse 2.  It is clear that God is mighty and man is small – “what is man that you are mindful of him?”- and the coming Messiah is hinted at, using Jesus’ phrase for himself  – “son of man”. 

 The writer of Hebrews uses this psalm as additional description of the fullness of the gospel message.  Readers are warned In Hebrews 2.3-4, not to “neglect such a great salvation, which was ” announced by Jesus himself, confirmed by eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ, affirmed by God’s miracles, and surrounded by distributed gifts of the Holy Spirit. That is quite a positive testimony. 

 Beyond all that evidence, Hebrews 9 ties to Psalm 8.5 to emphasize two things – the mighty sacrifices made by Jesus and the appropriateness that He would be “crowned with honor and glory.”  Not only did Jesus taste death for everyone (by the grace of God), but to do so, He needed to be “Made lower than the angels for a little while.”  Jesus becoming fully man was a definite demotion, even if temporary. The appropriate response from those of us for whom the sacrifice was made is Thanksgiving, along with praise and honor, to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Hebrews is right to emphasize that we ignore this awesome assistance at our own peril.