Thursday 1 January 2026

Psalm 8

Background
Happy New Year!

Today’s reading invites many questions. As we begin a new year, perhaps we can look forward to all that will unfold on our faith journeys – questions, mystery, perhaps even clarity!

I remember an older ordained colleague, head down in his office having just come off the phone after a difficult conversation. He looked me in the eye, quietly saying, “Why do people not believe? What is so difficult to understand? Why would you not at least want to believe in a God who loves you?” We silently acknowledged the mystery of seeing things either with or without eyes of faith.

Today’s reading can also be something a mystery for people, as the shepherds’ story raises a series of questions:

• What was behind the interaction of angels and lowly shepherds?
• Why were shepherds the first outsiders to see the baby?
• What did the shepherds experience for them to want to glorify and praise God?
• Why did Mary name the baby 'Jesus' eight days later?

Those of us who read these nativity readings with faith will find a truth that is as radical now as it was 2000 years ago. The love that God has for the created world, including we humans, involves the most lowly elements as much as the most celebrated. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16) is saying that God is for everyone, which is probably why so many Christians would declare that verse to be their favourite – or most meaningful. Believing that God loves the world so much does not take the big questions of life away, but enables Christians to view life through a purposefully gracious lens.

With such a perspective, a gracious God would intentionally send his angels to go to one of the lowliest groups of workers, the shepherds, with good news. A gracious God would naturally want the least respected in society to engage in the opportunity of a lifetime. A gracious God would not demand, but would be very grateful for, their unquestioning response of “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” (v. 20).

Verse 21 is almost a postscript to today’s reading. Eight days later, at the time of circumcision, the baby is named 'Jesus', which means 'saviour'. A gracious God loved this world so much that he wanted to save it, and us, by living, loving, dying and rising among us.

To Ponder:

• Read Psalm 8 today. “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?”(v. 4). Reflect on just how much God loves us – all of us. Where, or in whom, might you experience ‘goodness’ today?
• John Newton’s hymn 'How sweet the name of Jesus sounds' (StF 322), is a love song to Jesus. Verse 4 expresses different ways of describing Jesus that he finds helpful. Like the shepherds in today’s reading from Luke's Gospel, Newton can do nothing other than praise God.

Prayer
John Newton describes Jesus as "My Shepherd, Brother, Friend, my Prophet, Priest and King" and calls on him to "accept the praise I bring." Lord, we too this day ask you to accept the praise we bring. Amen.

Bible notes author: Michael King
Michael is a Methodist local preacher in Salisbury and was Vice-President of the Conference in 2012/2013.