Psalm 8 Continued…
Psalms 8:2 reads, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” This verse was quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21. “But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” (Matthew 21:15-16)
This phrase has become synonymous with the fact that children speak truth without any prompting. Even to this day someone may utter the words, “Out of the mouth of babes” to convey such a thought. The religious leaders were upset at what the children were doing in their impromptu praise of Jesus as the “Son of David.”
This “babbling from babes” is so much better than the bitterness and unbelief of the religious people. The truthful innocence displayed by children was something Jesus loved. “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children…’” (Luke 10:21) “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15)
This is the way God operates. He “chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) Such things put to “silence the foe and the avenger”. One faltering prayer from faith-filled trusting lips has more value, and more weight before God than all the litanies of unbelief from even the most religious legalist.
In Psalm 8:2, the phrase translated “you have ordained praise,” is actually worded: “You have ordained strength” in Hebrew. But when Jesus quotes it in Matthew 21:16, he changes it to “you have ordained praise.” I believe that our strength from God lies in our praise to God. The more we praise Yahweh Adonai, the more strength He imparts for us in our daily battles.
PRAY
Father, let you praise always be on my lips. Let me never be silenced in giving you the adoration you deserve!