What does Psalm 8:1 mean?
As David looks on nature, he exclaims that the Lord's name is majestic in all the earth. David addresses God using the Hebrew term YHWH, also known as the tetragrammaton. This is the biblical name of the One True God, the God of Israel. Here, David indicates God is the God of all mankind by virtue of creation. Because this psalm is a hymn addressed to the choirmaster, the ascription, "our Lord," is appropriate for the entire congregation.The word, "majestic" is from the Hebrew ad'dir, which may be translated. "wonderful," "great," or "exalted." As David viewed God's creation, he was impressed with how wonderful or great or exalted God is. Nature worshipers are wrong to exalt the creation instead of the Creator (Romans 1:22–23).
The beauty, orderliness, and infinite variety we find in nature should lead us to bow low before our God and ascribe praise to Him. The apostle Paul indicates in Romans 1:19–20 that the creation offers a revelation of God so that those who fail to believe in God are without excuse. Psalm 19:1–6 also credits the creation with a similar revelation of God. When we observe the stars and planets, we gain a deeper appreciation of God's glory.