Family Bible Series for Sept. 11: Find purpose and perspective in Christ

Posted: 8/30/05

Family Bible Series for Sept. 11

Find purpose and perspective in Christ

• Psalm 8; Hebrews 2:8-10, 14-15

By Donald Raney

Westlake Chapel, Graham

We all are on a quest. Each one of us is looking for real purpose in life. We all want to know why we are here and what life truly is all about.

At times, the meaning and purpose of our lives are clear, and we experience true joy as we live out the life God has called us to. At other times, the sense of calling and purpose are elusive despite our best efforts. At still other times, the events in the world can cause us to question the meaning of life itself.

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Four years ago, nearly every American found himself or herself asking these questions. As thousands of innocent lives were taken through the violent acts of a few, everything we thought we knew about the world was thrown into confusion. The writers of both the Old and New Testaments knew this feeling of uncertainty. They have much to teach us about finding purpose in life by realigning our perspective and reconnecting with the One who has done everything to reveal the purpose of life to us.

Psalm 8

We first meet the writer of Psalm 8 at the end of a period of soul-searching. Perhaps this time of questioning was sparked by feelings of persecution. Perhaps he was feeling a sense of futility or insignificance in his life. Whatever had led to the writer’s questions, he came to the end of this period with a realization that God has indeed created humans to fulfill a very special purpose within creation. That realization elicited spontaneous shouts of praise over the majesty of God’s name at the beginning and end of this psalm.

The name the psalmist praises is the divine name YHWH, which most often is translated “Lord.” This is the name God revealed to Moses; God’s personal name. This is the name closely connected to the covenant relationship between God and his people throughout the Old Testament. This is the name that speaks of God’s self-revelation and desire for intimate relationships with individual humans.

This God does not remain distant but has demonstrated his majesty in a way that even infants recognize and praise him, and his enemies are unable to stand. Although the psalmist may have specific people in mind, these “enemies” of God may be the attitudes and desires of sinful human nature.

While humanity may think of itself as the master of the cosmos, a simple glance into the night sky often overwhelms us with feelings of insignificance. With our modern scientific advances, we have a clearer picture of the sheer vastness of the universe. Yet for all of its size, all of creation can be manipulated by the fingers of God. With such a thought of the size of God, it is no wonder the author asks, “What is man that you are mindful of him?”

Yet in God’s perspective, humanity is no insignificant part of creation. According to the New International Version of the Bible, God has assigned humanity to a place a little lower than the “heavenly beings” (v. 5). Many other translations translate this as “angels.” Yet the Hebrew term used here is Elohim, one of the words used as a name for God. While this term can be translated as “heavenly beings” or “gods,” the psalmist seems to suggest God made humanity a little lower than God.

Indeed, by creating humanity in the image of God and breathing into humans the divine breath of life, God gave humanity a place a little lower than God. In this position, humanity thus not only possesses a unique ability to relate to God but has the specially assigned divine purpose of reflecting the character of God within creation while acting as the overseers and care-takers of God’s creation (vv. 6-8).

Hebrews 2:8-10, 14-15

Centuries after the psalmist penned Psalm 8, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews reflected on this psalm in light of human history. While the psalm states God had placed all things in subjection to humanity, it was clear to the writer of Hebrews that all things were not subject to humanity. Many events in the world occurred over which humanity had no power or control.

Perhaps the clearest example of this was death, which no human could prevent and from which no one could return. Death became the thing most feared by all humanity. Humanity was thus lost and unable to fulfill the purpose for which God had created them.

To resolve this conflict within the heart of humanity, God sent Jesus to show us how we can live with purpose. Although he was God, he became fully human by taking on our flesh and blood and experiencing all the suffering and pain humans experience. He temporarily took on a position “a little lower than the angels” (v. 9).

According to this passage, Jesus did this specifically so he could experience what frightens humanity the most, death. Yet the death of Jesus was unique. Not only was it the most humiliating and degrading form of death, but he voluntarily experienced this death “for everyone” so that many who followed him might be led into the glory of God’s purpose and plan for humanity (vv.9-10).

Through his life and death, Jesus revealed to humanity what God had intended for them from the beginning. In doing so, he also destroyed the power death held over us and liberated us from our greatest fear (vv. 14-15). Thus regardless of what life sends our way, we can continually live with real purpose simply by accepting God’s gift that was revealed in the life and death of Jesus.

Discussion questions

• Discuss man’s position as “a little lower than God.”

• How was Jesus “made perfect through suffering” (Hebrews 2:10)?

• What other biblical texts can help us deal with events like 9/11?