How Excellent Is Your Name

(Psalm 8:1)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 8:1 says, “O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens!”  Christians often incorporate this beautiful verse as an introduction to their prayers.  In the Psalm, David speaks of the greatness of God compared to the insignificance of man.  He points out later that God is so great and above human beings, and it is incredible God would even take note of us.  Yet, God has exalted us, giving us a place of honor on the earth.   Consider now a closer look at this short expression of praise by the Psalmist.

David refers to God as “Lord.”  The Hebrew word (yahweh), found here, occurs thousands of times in the Old Testament, and the typical rendering is  “Lord.” In fact, this is how God refers to Himself.  Exodus 6:2 says, “And God spoke to Moses and said to him: ‘I am the Lord’.”

We hear people who are not even religious regularly saying, “O Lord.”  Sadly, so many only use the phrase simply as an interjection and thus use God’s name in vain (Ex. 20:7).  David was certainly not doing this as he reverently cries out to God.

After starting with “O Lord,” David says, “our Lord.”  The Hebrew word used here (adone) can refer to a human master, but it also can refer to divinity.  It means “lord” or “master.”  God is not just David’s Lord He is Lord of all!

Next, the Psalmist proclaims, “How excellent is Your name in all the earth.”  (The Hebrew word, translated as “excellent,” is sometimes rendered “majestic” elsewhere in the Scriptures.)  Speaking of the name of God, the Psalmist seems to be using metonymy, which is a figure of speech where one idea stands for another.  The name of God stands for His character, person, works, and attributes.  Consider Psalm 5:11, which says, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.”  Here, those who “love Your name” refers to those who love God, not merely those who love the sound of his name.  Psalm 20:1 says, “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you.”  When he speaks of the “name of God,” defending them, he says God would protect them.

We are also told God’s name is “excellent,” or majestic, in “all the earth,” informing us that God’s works manifest themselves throughout the earth (Ps. 19:1-4).  Some people may not honor the name of God as they should, but this does not keep His name (Him) from being magnificent.

Further revealed is that God’s name is “glorified above the heavens.”  Some interpret this as referring to Christ.  However, the idea seems to be that the earth is too small of a theater to express God’s glory.  Thus, the earth displays God’s glory, but His real glory is above the heavens (Ps. 148:13, 108:5).

After exalting God, noting man’s insignificance, and expressing surprise that God is even mindful of us (v. 4), the Psalmist concludes the Psalm with verse 9.  Again, he says, “O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!” Thus, the Psalm ends as it started.  Verses 1 and 9 serve as bookends for the Psalm and what is in between illustrates God’s majesty and greatness.  Perhaps after stating what comes after verse 1, the Psalmist is even more motivated and writes verse 9 with greater feeling.

In summation, humans are simply specks relative to the universe which God created.  It is beyond comprehension that God is even mindful to allow us to have glory and dominion over the earth, and yet He does.  We should all be so motivated to exclaim, “How excellent is Your name!”