Psalm 8
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4-5. There is no place in the Old Testament where Elohim (God) means "angels;" and, though the LXX (Septuagint version) so translate in the present passage, and the rendering has passed from them into the New Testament (Heb. 2:7), it cannot be regarded as critically correct. Pulpit Commentary.
The way some translations now have it, it is actually correct. Namely: For You have made him lack a little from God (not angels as the KJV and many others have it), and have crowned him (mankind) with glory and honor. 8:5. This corresponds very well with the statement made by God Let us make men in our image. Gen. 1:26.
1. Some theologians say that the, him, refers to Christ. This interpretation should be a real problem for Bible students who accept the doctrine of the Trinity. If him refers to Christ, what the Bible is saying is that Christ was made, therefore He is not eternal, and that He lacks a little from God; in others words, He is not really God; but Trinitarians insist that Christ is "God of very God".
2. Correctly translated, some commentaries say that the him refers to humankind and that in the original, sinless state, humans were crowned with glory and honor and that Jehovah made him (mankind) rule over the works of His hands; You (Jehovah) have put all things under his feet. Psalm 8:6. God said to them, ... subdue it (the earth), rule over the fish of the seas, and over birds of the heavens, and over all beasts creeping on the earth. Gen 1:28.
Psalm 11+12
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3.
The reference is to a destruction of those things in a community, when truth is no longer respected; when justice is no longer practiced; when fraud and violence have taken the place of honesty and honor; when error prevails; when a character for integrity and virtue affords no longer any security. Barnes Commentary.
The moral and spiritual foundations of our society are being destroyed by the leaders of our educational system. I recall my older brother telling me that when he was in elementary school the stories in "The Reader" were based on Bible stories. By the time I got to grade one the stories had been downgraded to the "Dick and Jane" series. When the righteous precepts of the books of the great religions of the world are ignored, fraud and violence become the new accepted rules as we see in our society today.
However, education alone is not the answer! Leaders are supposing they can fix the problems of society with band-aid solutions without first laying a foundation on a rock. There is much talk about curing humanity's moral ailments by education. If that was successful surely all doctors, professors and lawyers would be morally upright because they have so much education.
In a University in Eastern Canada, there was a situation where some male students were, by deceit, forcing themselves on some female students. The counsellors are devising courses and "plans of action" to keep such things from happening again. Nothing, of that nature, will curb the evil intentions of those thus inclined. That is because, unless, and until, children are brought up on the solid foundation of the teachings of the holy books of the world's religions there is nothing in their moral fibre that will stop them from acting wickedly.
Help, O Jehovah, for the godly ceases to be; for the faithful fail from among the sons of men. They speak vanity, each man with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart (or forked tongue) they speak. Psalm 12:1-2.
Unless parents teach their children the fundamental rules of decency and honesty, from their birth and onward, the children do not even know what high moral standards look like or that it is expected of them.
However, we in Canada are not yet in a position in which we should despair. We may still worship as we wish to. We are still free to read and write anything we want to unless it is blatantly anti-Canadian or anti-racial. Our lawmakers, for the most part, are still enacting fair and just laws and, for the most part, our police forces are reputable and most will do their best to defend the innocent.
However, education alone is not the answer! Leaders are supposing they can fix the problems of society with band-aid solutions without first laying a foundation on a rock. There is much talk about curing humanity's moral ailments by education. If that was successful surely all doctors, professors and lawyers would be morally upright because they have so much education.
In a University in Eastern Canada, there was a situation where some male students were, by deceit, forcing themselves on some female students. The counsellors are devising courses and "plans of action" to keep such things from happening again. Nothing, of that nature, will curb the evil intentions of those thus inclined. That is because, unless, and until, children are brought up on the solid foundation of the teachings of the holy books of the world's religions there is nothing in their moral fibre that will stop them from acting wickedly.
Help, O Jehovah, for the godly ceases to be; for the faithful fail from among the sons of men. They speak vanity, each man with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart (or forked tongue) they speak. Psalm 12:1-2.
what can the righteous do? Sure, they can hold peaceful gatherings and demand action but basically, those meetings accomplish next to nothing. This we see repeatedly in the "anti-gun" meetings held, time and again, in the USA. The righteous are unable to do anything because if we try we are accused of being narrow-minded and religious bigots. Some are even physically attacked or killed because they make their viewpoints known.
Unless parents teach their children the fundamental rules of decency and honesty, from their birth and onward, the children do not even know what high moral standards look like or that it is expected of them.
However, we in Canada are not yet in a position in which we should despair. We may still worship as we wish to. We are still free to read and write anything we want to unless it is blatantly anti-Canadian or anti-racial. Our lawmakers, for the most part, are still enacting fair and just laws and, for the most part, our police forces are reputable and most will do their best to defend the innocent.
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