What Is Man?

October 19

Jeremiah 32-33

Psalm 118:1-4

Proverbs 25:13

Hebrews 2

What Is Man?

“What is man, that You remember him?  Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?  You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”  Hebrews 2:6-8  LSB 

Psalm 8:4-6 is a prophecy foretelling the coming of the Messiah.  The author of Hebrews quoted this passage and explained the fulfillment of that prophecy in Hebrews 2. In these few short verses we see God’s design for humanity and how it was fulfilled in the person of Jesus.  It provides a look backward to creation and glimpse forward to the coming reign of Jesus during the Millennial Kingdom.  God created man in His image, different from every other created being.  He was made a little lower than the heavenly beings.  God placed man in the Garden and gave him dominion over the rest of His creation to rule, reign, multiply and subdue.  God gave him authority and stewardship over the Earth.   God’s design and purpose was perfect.  Unfortunately, man chose to follow his own plans and desires instead of fulfilling his God-given role.  David’s question, “What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?” stresses the insignificance of man in the vastness and splendor of the universe and emphasizes God’s intentional care and love for man. 

Hebrews 2 explains that Jesus became like man in every way except He was without sin. For a brief time, while He was on Earth, He was made a “little lower than the angels.”  He willingly subjugated Himself taking on human form so that through His death on our behalf He was able to deliver us from sin and death.  Ultimately, Jesus fulfilled the destiny God intended for humanity.  He did what Adam failed to do.  He is the king promised through the line of David who will rule and reign over the Earth and bring perfect peace and order.  During His Millennial Reign He will sit on David’s throne and will be crowned with glory and honor.  All things will be placed in subjection under His feet.  The Earth will be as it was intended to be from the beginning of creation.