Humanity and the Created Order

Humanity in The Created Order

The Scripture reveals God's intention for humanity when describing the position of mankind in God's created order. 

What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him. You have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:4-8)

The reference in verse 5a, "You have made them a little lower than the heavenly beings," requires more deeper study. The Hebrew root word used in “heavenly beings” is "Elohim" (מֵֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים), God Himself. Different Bible versions have translated "Elohim" (מֵֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים) differently: For example, "slightly less than divine" (CEB), "little lower than yourself" (CEV), "almost like gods" (ERV), "angels" (NIV, NCB, NCV, NKJV, TLV), or "God" (NASV, NLT, RSV, ASV, AMP). The prevailing translations view human beings as an intrinsic part of the divine order within the creation. God breathed the breath of life (His neshama, נִשְׁמַ֣ת) into Adam's nostrils, and he became a living being (Genesis 2:7). Since then, God's divine neshama has been passed on genealogically to each human being.  When the divine origin of human beings is considered, the translation of this verse should say, "You have made them a little lower than God Himself." This renders human beings the same glory and honor that God possesses. His image and likeness, His glory and honor, have been passed on first to Adam and then to us. He is our Father. We bear His resemblance. He loves us. No wonder He died for us. 

Similarly, the translation of verse 5b brings further clarification of the status given to humankind upon creation, "You crowned them with glory and honor." Glory (כְּבוֹד), translated in Hebrew, is “heaviness." It is an authority that weighs a lot, heavy with presence and respect. The Prophet Isaiah saw this glory (כְּבוֹד) “kevod” of God. In a dramatic vision, he describes seraphim, flying above God's throne, calling to one another in reverence: 

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory (כְּבוֹד). (Isaiah 6:3, emphasis added)

God created Adam adorned with this same glory and honor. To rule and guard His creation, Adam had to have the same status and capability as God. This unique position in the created order gave Adam the authority to have dominion over God's creation.

The Roman Centurion displayed an astounding understanding of this order of authority in the spiritual realm. In the story (Matthew 8:5-13), Jesus called him a man of great faith and confirmed that this was the true spiritual order of things. 

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed, and in terrible suffering." Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard it, He was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. (Matthew 8:5-13)

The Roman Centurion recognized the power and the authority Jesus had in the spiritual realm, metaphorically referring to the power and the authority he had over his subordinates in the natural realm. 

Question: Do you recognize this same authority, and if you do, does your prayer life reflect your understanding? 

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