Oxygen from Psalm 8 (Hymn to the Creator)

1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

      Your glory is higher than the heavens.

 2 You have taught children and infants

      to give you priase,

   silencing your enemies

      and all who oppose you.

 3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

      the moon and the stars you set in place—

 4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

      human beings that you should care for them?

 5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God

      and crowned them with glory and honor.

 6 You gave them charge of everything you made,

      putting all things under their authority—

 7 the flocks and the herds

      and all the wild animals,

 8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

      and everything that swims the ocean currents.

 9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

(Psalm 8)

O Lord, our Lord:

Your name, the name above all earthly names,

known to us only by Your revelation,

and not to all the world as yet,

but to those called into covenant,

to those You've chosen to be Your own,

claimed not by any work of ours,

but by the blood of Him whose name is 

Faithful and True.                        (Rev. 3:14)

Your name, the name that infants sing,

the sweet glossolalia of innocence

silences Your ancient enemy

who lets loose the lies of fear,

haunts the aged with destitution,

persuades star gazers there is only dark and dust,

while You sustain the birds and flowers,      (Mat. 6:26)

You who rule the Pleides.

Your name, the name of celestial glory,

the universe performs the symphony of spheres,

and from the singularity of this one, tiny world,

abuzz with all creation's praise,

men launch into inter-galatic silence

ships that bear our earthling greetings,

radio waves hailing some intelligence in the void,

confused by transcendence.

Your name, the name echoes down wide prairies

in ancient paths of vast ruminating herds,

whispered on the air by feathered wings

in vast numbers of migrating birds;

great schools of fish ride sea-deep currents

and learn of Your providential care;

and in them all, the fear of man,

fallen from grace to weeping predator.

Who are they, Lord, who have dominion?

Who are they, God, who name Your name?

Religion is what we say we do for You,

but for the birds and herds and stars,

only what You do matters, only who You are,

to which we mortals can add nothing

but a song of blessed assurance,

that You will put this planet right. 

Your name, the name that fills creation,

fill human hearts as you fill the sky;

break through the cosmos of our selfishness,

reveal the True Man Who orders all,

that we may no longer be enthralled

by the enemies of His cross,

but captivated, trace the finger of Your love

around the whole created realm.

Amen.